Summary

The website content describes the author's journey and rationale for pursuing a MicroMasters program in Statistics and Data Science at MIT, detailing the program's structure, benefits, and the author's aspirations for career advancement in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Data.

Abstract

The author has embarked on a MicroMasters program at MIT, focusing on Statistics and Data Science. This program is designed to provide a faster and more affordable pathway to a master's degree, offering deep learning in specific career fields and recognition by employers. It consists of four online courses, a virtually proctored exam, and hands-on training in data analysis and machine learning. The author, with a background in Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and currently at Volvo, emphasizes the importance of developing in-depth analytics skills and a robust understanding of data science for current and future professional assignments. Upon completion, the author will join the MIT Alumni Association, gaining access to a network of talented individuals and various benefits. The article also discusses the value of online education for professionals who cannot commit to traditional full-time programs due to time, financial, and family constraints. The author highlights the growing demand for data science skills and the opportunities that the MicroMasters credential will open up in the job market, potentially leading to roles such as Data Scientist, Data Analyst, or Chief Data Officer. The author concludes by expressing excitement for the future and the possibility of pursuing an MBA next.

Opinions

The author believes that the MIT MicroMasters program is a significant step forward in mastering the foundations of data science, statistics, and machine learning.
Completing the MicroMasters is seen as a remarkable achievement, granting the author affiliation with the MIT Alumni Association and access to its network and resources.
The author values the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of online education, particularly through the edX platform, which allows for balancing professional, educational, and family life.
There is an opinion that there is a desperate shortage of talent in the data science field, presenting an opportunity for those with the right skills.
The author is confident that the MicroMasters program will empower them to solve complex challenges with data and drive business decision-making processes.
The author considers the pace of learning at MIT to be intense, likened to "drinking from a fire-hose," but views it as a necessary challenge for significant career advancement.
The author suggests that the future of work is changing and that continuous learning and staying ready for new challenges is crucial.
The author encourages readers to support their writing by becoming Medium members through their referral link, which also benefits the author financially.

I've just started a (micro) Master at MIT.

What is the MIT MicroMasters Program?

A MicroMasters program is a faster path to a master's degree from MIT and other universities. In addition, employers recognize it for providing deep learning in specific career fields.

It is an affordable option for professionals who can't take off time to earn a traditional master's degree.

The MicroMasters Program is redefining online education. The program is hosted by MITx, the Institute's portfolio of massively open online courses that offer flexible access to various interactive classes developed and taught by MIT instructors.

After getting my MicroMasters graduate-level credential from the MITx, I can also apply to enter an accelerated, on-campus Master's degree program at MIT or some other top universities participating in this growing pathways program. But this is another story!

The Learning Program

The MicroMasters in Statistics and Data Science comprises four intensive online courses and a virtually proctored exam. It's designed to understand the methods and tools used in data science and hands-on training in data analysis and machine learning.

Probability — The Science of Uncertainty and Data
Data Analysis in Social Science — Assessing Your
Fundamentals of Statistics
Machine Learning with Python: from Linear Models to Deep Learning
Capstone Exam in Statistics and Data Science

Why Statistics and Data Science?

During the last years of my career, first in Hewlett-Packard and later in IBM up to my current role in Volvo, my learning path has been accurately developed around Artificial Intelligence and Data.

I am on a critical path to developing in-depth analytics skills and a more robust understanding of Data Science for today and future assignments.

So I decided to take this significant step forward, mastering the foundations of data science, statistics, and machine learning, analyzing big data, and identifying and deploying appropriate modeling and methodologies to extract meaningful information for decision making.

The expectation is to be more proficient in developing and building machine learning algorithms to extract useful information from seemingly unstructured data, learning unsupervised learning methods, including clustering methodologies and supervised techniques such as deep neural networks.

Yes, I'm an MIT Alumni now!

Of course, being an MIT Alumni is already something remarkable per se.

After earning my MIT MicroMasters® program credential, I will become an affiliate of the MIT Alumni Association. It means I will be part of one of the most talented, innovative, and networked communities with a tremendous global impact.

Some of the Alumni status benefits include access to the online directory of fellow MicroMasters program credential holders, eligibility for discounts and services, access to the library journals, volunteer opportunities, and Digital subscriptions to the famous MIT Technology Review invitations select events.

“The funniest part is when you start a MIT Masters; the hardest part is when you must to conclude it” — myself.

The value of Studying online

Let's be honest, if you live in a remote place of the globe, or if you are set in your professional life, it can be challenging or seldom impossible to commit to a full-time one-year or two-year on-campus Master's program, not only at MIT but at any other University.

It's not only a matter of time and money (Yes, it is!) and making sacrifices in our professional and family life as we invest in our higher education. This is my case.

The Statistics and Data Science MicroMasters Program are delivered online on the edX platform. I will be learning at night and on weekends, a perfect way to keep working full-time and being a three daughters father while deep diving into my higher education.

Under these working and family conditions, I didn't see I could have committed to a full-year, on-campus program due to the amount of money and the burdens of fitting education into my professional and private life.

Only studying online, I could take a flexible, cost-effective online training program like this MicroMasters with a graduate-level certificate representing a valuable professional and academic credential.

An investment in the job of the future.

Graphic proudly made by the author with Powerpoint.

Data science is one of the areas of the digital sector that is desperately short of talent.

According to recent data published by O'Reilly Media, 59% of the companies are building platforms that allow for data integration and extract, transform, and load (ETL) processes in Europe. Similarly, 53% said they were already working on data science platforms. At the same time, 53% said they prioritized data preparation and cleaning, which is core to A.I. and analytics services.

According to IBM, data science will account for 28% of all digital jobs by 2020. Unfortunately, in many cases, these places remain unfilled due to a lack of talent equipped with the necessary skills.

But at the same time, the European Commission forecasts that 100,000 new data-related jobs will be created in the region by 2020. But unfortunately, there aren't enough people with the right skills to fill the role, unquestionably an issue in my perspective, an opportunity.

I believe that completing this MicroMasters program will empower me to solve complex challenges with data and drive business decision-making processes.

I will be ready and confident for future challenges, whatever it requires, a reliable Data Scientist, Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Analyst, Systems Analyst, Data Manager, or Chief Data Officer, who knows?

Conclusion.

Even if I have the founded sensation that the pace of learning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology can be like "drinking from a fire-hose," this is a "giant leap" to my career, which has been accurately developed around Artificial Intelligence and Data along the last years.

Information and knowledge have always been the pillars of my focus. However, I believe that this is the time to make it deeper.

I'm genuinely excited about the direction my professional life is heading in. I see the future of work changing, and I like to be ready!

Next step… the MBA… maybe!

My books about Artificial Intelligence

Also, I've just published other interesting ebooks on Amazon, and I'm sure some of them may be interesting for you… let's keep in touch, follow me and do it together.

A.I. in 2020: A Year writing about Artificial Intelligence

AI, Robotics and Coding (for Parents): A practical guide for analog parents with digital kids

The Terminator paradox: How neuroscience can help us to understand Empathy and the fear of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence from A to Z: Demystifying the essential concepts of AI.

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