STORYTELLING WITH DATA
MALAYSIA aims to produce 2,000 data scientists and 16,000 data professionals by 2020. Currently, there are more than 300 data scientists in the country, both local and foreign.
Many have the wrong perception that a data scientist is just a glammed-up term for a data analyst. In today’s world, analytics plays a big role in the provision of high-end and value added services, with huge margins of profit.
The use of technology in various walks of life and the Internet in particular led to an unprecedented data boom.
Financial institutions and investment and industrial companies and even small businesses and startups produce lots of data.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Big Data Centre director Professor Dr Siti Mariyam Shamsuddin said: “New technologies have made interpreting such vast amounts of data possible. Businesses see the availability of data as a source of competitive advantage. Companies which utilise this data effectively to make better decisions will be ahead of the curve.
“Career-wise, when there is data, there is always a need for data scientists.”
A data scientist requires a mix of multidisciplinary skills including mathematics, statistics, actuarial science, information technology, computer science, programming, machinelearning, data visualisation and even business.
To make sense of data, the need for the new skillset of a data scientist arose.
School-leavers who want a career in the field should possess critical thinking as they not only analyse data but also need to interpret the results in a “storytelling” (descriptive analysis) form.
“As it requires a certain set of skills, the first step is to acquire basic certifications such as managing or analysing data,” she added.
Universities such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, University of Malaya and Sunway University as well as polytechnics in the country offer degree-level data science courses.
“As a data scientist, you don’t work alone — you collaborate with people from different backgrounds and with varied skillsets.
“A good data scientist calls for strong visualisation skills and the ability to convert data into a business story. Good communication skills are essential for data scientists and business analysts.”
But not only is the country lacking in data scientists, their salaries are also unattractive.
Salaries for fresh diploma and degree-holders in this field range between RM1,500 and RM3,000 per month.
Those with certifications in artificial intelligence or programming and database such as SQL, NoSOL, Python (scripting language), R (statistical computing packages) and higherlevels such as Hadoop, command higher pay.
“Those with more than 10 years of experience earn RM15,000 compared to data scientists in the United States who are paid RM30,000 per month.”
Siti Mariyam added that the Public Services
Businesses see the availability of data as a source of competitive advantage.
Companies which utilise this data effectively to make better decisions will be ahead of the curve. SITI MARIYAM SHAMSUDDIN, UTM Big Data Centre director
Department should review the salary scale of data analysts.
UTM Big Data Centre in Skudai, Johor offers professional training, certificate courses in data sciences, data analytics, programming and cloud computing.
“We only have 10 places for each course because we focus on quality and not quantity. The junior data scientist course comprises 85 per cent hands-on training.
UTM will be offering the Master of Science in Data Science course this year.