How Colleges and Tech Are Grooming Analytics Talent

Facing a predicted shortfall of many thousands of qualified candidates for analytics and data science positions, leading colleges are partnering with technology companies help fill the talent gap. They are engaged in data-focused educational initiatives designed to bring young professionals into the data science field, and to provide training and certification to tech professionals who wish to advance their skillsets.

Those colleges and universities are among more than 200 US schools now offering data science degree and certificate programs.

Why does this matter? Organizations of all types -- businesses, non-profits, Silicon Valley giants, and local retailers -- are recognizing that the use of data and analytics is crucial in decision making and customer relationship management. There are more job openings than there are candidates, and the competition for talent will only become more intense in the next two years.

Education will be one of the key themes at the SAS-sponsored Analytics Experience conference in September in Las Vegas. More than a dozen schools with data science programs will be exhibiting, including Oklahoma State University.

Goutam Chakraborty is director of the data science programs at Oklahoma State, and joins All Analytics Radio to discuss the ways that colleges are working with companies such as SAS to groom tomorrow's analytics professionals.

In this interview you will learn about the types of programs available online and on campus for professional development and certifications, how technical training and the application of data in business are being integrated into curricula, where there are opportunities for internships as part of business/university collaboration, and how businesses and universities can work together to build a talented workforce.

Join All Analytics Radio on Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 2 pm EDT, for this informative discussion with Goutam Chakraborty.