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EMC Adding Big Data Training to Academic Lineup

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 12/08/11

Storage company EMC is adding cloud computing and "big data" analytics as topics to its training and certification program, which will also be made available to the 700 institutions that are part of its Academic Alliance program. The new curriculum will teach non-product-specific principles, best practices, and technologies relevant to organizations moving to the cloud and managing large amounts of data.

At the same time the company has released results of a new global survey among members of the data science community, including scientists, analysts, and engineers. Data science, according to the report, applies to advanced analytical tools and algorithms "to generate predictive insights and new product innovations that are a direct result of the data."

Among the findings: Two-thirds of respondents indicated they believe the demand for data science talent will outpace supply for the next five years. Most said the shortage will be best addressed by new college graduates; among those respondents, 34 percent said it would be students studying computer science; 24 percent said it would be students studying other fields.

The report's authors said the greatest emerging opportunity in data science is "big data," a term that describes the ability to analyze the huge amounts of data "generated by Web logs, sensor systems, and transaction data in order to identify insights and derive new data products."

Noted Andreas Weigend, head of Stanford University's Social Data Lab, in response to the report, "We live in a data-driven world. Increasingly, the efficient operation of organizations across sectors relies on the effective use of vast amounts of data. Making sense of big data is a combination of organizations having the tools, skills and more importantly, the mindset to see data as the new 'oil' fueling a company. Unfortunately, the technology has evolved faster than the workforce skills to make sense of it and organizations across sectors must adapt to this new reality or perish."

EMC's additions to its course lineup include "Data Science and Big Data Analytics," which will be available in the first quarter of 2012; and "Cloud Infrastructure and Services," and "EMC Cloud Architect IT-as-a-Service," both available now. Training is offered in instructor-led form and in video format.

All three courses will become part of the company's academic offerings, which it makes available to qualifying colleges and universities free of charge.