MSc Data Science Launching

By 13 January 2021February 8th, 2021Events

The Global College of Engineering and Technology (GCET) represented by the Department of Computing and IT officially launched its Master of Data Science programme, in partnership with the University of the West of England, in the United Kingdom on 13th January 2021. The programme is unique in the MENA Region and the first of its kind in the Sultanate.

The launching event was conducted virtually on Wednesday, 13th January 2021. The Dean of the College, Professor Geoffrey Elliott, welcomed all participants and explained about the growth of the College over the last 5 years and the position of GCET in the Oman Higher Education arena.

Dr. Mehmet Aydin, Senior Lecturer from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology from the University of the West of England provided an insight into the new programme which has been designed to bring together skills in data management, analytics, and artificial intelligence, to develop the skills needed to design and implement data science projects in fields from business and management to engineering and technology. This field is expected to make-up at least a quarter of all digital jobs and has been highlighted as a major skills’ gap both locally and internationally.  Dr. Eihab Bashir, guest speaker from the University of Sohar, focused on the importance of Data Science in the context of the sultanate of Oman and the MENA Region. Mr. Mamoun Osman working as a Data Scientist in the USA expressed the importance and future of Data Science across various industries around the world.

It is worth noting that the GCET strategic plan (2021-2026) emphasises the introduction of postgraduate programmes in line with the comprehensive development plans of the Oman Vision 2040 and the directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik, which emphasises economic diversification, innovation, and scientific research, as an important engine for the development in the Sultanate.