Implementation of ‘IT Initiative’: Training program in fundamentals of data science

Wednesday, 5 December 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Another successful implementation of the National Budget 2018 though ‘IT Initiative’, marked with the inauguration of the Training Program in Fundamentals of Data Science was held on 29 October, at the Senate Hall of University of Colombo.

Vice Chancellor, Senior Professor Lakshman Dissanayake

SLASSCOM Chairman Jeevan Gnanam

The Vice Chancellor, Senior Professor Lakshman Dissanayake graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Dean Faculty of ScienceProfessor K.R. Ranjith Mahanama, SLASSCOM Chairman Jeevan Gnanam, M.K.S.K. Maldeni representing Indira Malwatte, the Chairperson and Chief Executive of Sri Lanka Export Development Board, members of the Board of Management of Centre for Data Science, academic staff of the Department of Statistics, industry representatives and the participants of the program attended this event. The 50% of the program fee will be paid by the Sri Lanka Government via Sri Lanka Export Development Board.

This training program is a series of short courses carefully designed by the Centre for Data Science, Faculty of Science, and University of Colombo in collaboration with SLASSCOM (Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies) to introduce fundamental concepts of data science to those individuals who are interested in venturing into the field of data science. Through this course the students will get a comprehensive knowledge on the introduction to Exploratory Data Analysis using R: including R-studio interface, syntax, entering data and accessing spread sheet data, writing functions, installing and using libraries, database concepts, SQL, data cleaning and manipulating, data statistical models, Machine learning and Data Visualization and Big Data. The course concludes with a mini project submission.

The ICT/BPM services industry has a goal to reach $ 5 billion with a workforce of 200,000 by 2022. To achieve this industry requires a significant year on year increase of employable workforce, who will possess the knowledge and skills in the new and emerging technologies.