Digital transformation projects launched in response to the impacts of Covid-19 are driving a surge in demand for data science skills, according to newly-published research from Le Wagon.
A provider of coding and data science bootcamps, Le Wagon surveyed its own alumni in addition to UK employer partners and found that a majority of organisations are planning to significantly increase their data science headcount this year. Key drivers for the increase in demand for data science skills include the urgent need to increase operational efficiency, to develop potential new revenue streams and to grow existing capabilities.
Other key findings from the research include:
- Over half (64%)of alumni took a data science course in order to gain the right skills required for the future
- Just under half (43%) of alumni have said they have benefitted from more career opportunities as a result of the data science course
- The skills gap remains.Employers are still finding it difficult to recruit the right talent with the right skills
With this last point in mind, Le Wagon has partnered with Imperial College London to offer a new intensive, ten-week data science course that will teach the fundamental skills that employers are currently demanding, and will help professionals looking for new opportunities to start their career in data science.
Classroom to market
The new course, developed in partnership with the Data Science Institute at Imperial College London through Imperial Projects, is a full-time, online and immersive learning experience which will equip participants with the skills to explore, clean and transform data into actionable insights and to implement machine learning models from start to finish.
Boris Paillard, CEO, Le Wagon, comments: “While data science skills have been sought by organisations for several years, the demand is only getting higher — especially now that many companies have had to accelerate their digital transformation projects in light of COVID-19. But becoming a data scientist requires a wide range of both technical and soft skills. By partnering with Imperial College London and bringing together a significant number of people with expertise in data science, we will be able to help teach the skills needed in an immersive, unique online format.”
Dr Mark Kennedy, Co-Director of the Data Science Institute and Director of Imperial Business Analytics at Imperial College Business School added: “We are excited about the new co-branded intensive data science course because it will offer the participants a rapid route to marketable skills which are now in high demand to a population who might otherwise miss out. In short, by attending this course you will go from the intention to learn new skills, from classroom to market.”
The first edition of the Imperial Data Science Intensive Course organised by the Data Science Institute at Imperial College London and Le Wagon is due to start on 12th April 2021.
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