ITU launches master’s programme in Data Science
Starting next summer, the IT University of Copenhagen will be offering a two-year master’s programme in Data Science. Future graduates will be highly sought after in the industry, which is currently experiencing a shortage of specialists who are able extract valuable knowledge from vast amounts of data.
About ITUComputer Science DepartmentEducationdata sciencePeter SestoftBarbara Plank
Written 21 October, 2020 07:30 by Vibeke Arildsen
Highly educated Data Scientists who can bring new insights and products to the table are in short supply among Danish companies and organizations. Starting next summer, ITU will offer a master's programme in Data Science, which will help meet this demand. Future graduates will have ample choice once they have their diploma in hard, predicts Peter Sestoft, Head of the Computer Science Department at ITU.
The companies we are in contact with describe a great demand for Data Science graduates, and we are happy to be able to help meet the needs of the industry with the new master’s programme.
Peter Sestoft, Head of Department
“Data Science skills are incredibly valuable to employers in almost all industries, from the banking sector to the healthcare sector and retail. The companies we are in contact with describe a great demand for Data Science graduates, and we are happy to be able to help meet the needs of the industry with the new master’s programme,” says Peter Sestoft.
The programme is a continuation of ITU's bachelor's programme in Data Science, which has been offered since 2017. Bachelors from here will automatically gain access to the master's programme, but also students with Data Science-related bachelor's degrees from other universities can apply for admission.
ITU will be the first university in Denmark to offer a coherent, 5-year education in Data Science.
Focus on real issues
A degree in Data Science gives access to a wide range of job opportunities. Graduates will be equipped to work with everything from big complex network data to language technology solutions – which are for instance found in voice-controlled electronics – to optimizing online sales or hardware use, developing robots for the industry, and using data to improve treatments in the healthcare system.
In ITU's master's programme, there will be a particular focus on providing students with the ability to apply their technical knowledge to real problems in collaboration with other types of specialists, and learn about challenges at the research frontiers in data science. Thus, in addition to algorithm design, statistics, data collection, annotation and visualization, the mandatory coursework comprises cross-disciplinary collaboration and how to develop responsible machine learning solutions taking fairness, accountability and ethics into account.
[R]esponsible development and use of Data Science and AI is of paramount importance. It is one of the pillars of ITU’s Data Science education.
Barbara Plank, Head of the MSc in Data Science programme
“AI, machine learning and data science are increasingly being adopted by society and decision makers. With this power comes great responsibility. Therefore, responsible development and use of Data Science and AI is of paramount importance. It is one of the pillars of ITU’s Data Science education. In the MSc, students will delve deeper into both algorithms and theoretical discussions around fairness, accountability and ethics to develop responsible technology” says Barbara Plank, Head of the MSc in Data Science programme.
The Data Science master’s programme will open its doors to the first students in August 2021, and the application deadline is March 1, 2021. Read more about the programme on ITU's website.
Vibeke Arildsen, Press Officer, phone 2555 0447, email viar@itu.dk