The Faculty of Science is providing a new programme to attract data science students

This modern and specialised field reflects the current needs of the labour market and the emergence of artificial intelligence. “The primary motivation behind the establishment of this programme is the recognition that statistical data science is evolving into a distinct scientific discipline, diverging from both traditional mathematics and pure data engineering. The labour market demands professionals who can not only code and handle data, but more importantly, think critically, accurately analyse problems, and possess a solid theoretical foundation”, stated Jan Koláček from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, who is overseeing the study programme.

“The labour market demands professionals who can not only code and handle data, but more importantly, think critically, accurately analyse problems, and possess a solid theoretical foundation”.

Jan went on to emphasise that data science currently extends into almost every area of life, from business to ecology. Those interested in pursuing this path should possess a keen interest in understanding the underlying workings of the world around us, a commitment to finding practical solutions to problems, and a passion for logic and analytics. “It is important that they enjoy mathematics and programming”, he added, “as these form the foundation of our field”.

Compared to a typical data scientist, graduates of the new Statistical Data Science programme will have the ability to understand the deeper mathematical and statistical background of models. This will enable them to assess the correctness of their use, choose the most appropriate approach, interpret the results correctly, predict future developments, and quantify the uncertainty associated with any statistical output.

In their third year, students will also have the opportunity to gain practical experience and work on real-world problems as part of their bachelor’s thesis. The faculty has established a wide network of partners from various fields, including finance, automotive, construction, environmental science and medicine. These partners are not only willing to participate in final theses, but also frequently offer students employment opportunities. “We aim to bridge the gap between academia and industry by inviting many of our graduates who are already working in companies to deliver lectures, demonstrating to students how statistics can be applied in real-world settings”, Jan Koláček stated. He also added that students in their final semester of study have the option of pursuing internships.

The new study programme has been developed through close collaboration between the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Informatics. Approximately one-third of all courses in the programme will be taught directly at the Faculty of Informatics. A substantial proportion of the programme comprises exclusively IT courses, which will equip students with comprehensive programming skills. Another part of the programme consists of mathematics courses, which are tailored to the specific needs of data science and informatics.

Successful graduates of the Statistical Data Science programme will be able to progress to a follow-up master’s programme of the same name, which the Faculty of Science plans to open in 2027. “We anticipate that the master’s programme will serve as a compelling next step for bachelor’s degree holders from other universities, providing them with the opportunity to broaden their understanding and proficiency in sophisticated contemporary analytical techniques”, stated the guarantor of both programmes.

Those interested in developing their skills in data analysis are invited to apply for the programme until the end of February this year.