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70 March/April 2014 BizEd Se rg ey N ive NS/Th i N kSTock technology "Big Data" has been getting bigger, as more schools and businesses help build this burgeoning field. Their goal is to pro- duce graduates who can fill the growing number of analytics-related positions—set to increase by 25 percent by 2018 in the U.S. alone, according to the U.S. Depart- ment of Labor. Here are just a few new developments focused on analytics: n Babson College in Wellesley, Mas- sachusetts, has launched undergraduate and graduate concentrations in business analytics. Undergraduate students choose one of four paths for the concentration: functional depth, marketing analytics, financial analytics, or industry sectors. They also can customize a trajectory by choosing from a list of electives. Graduate students must complete courses in three categories, including foundation, application, and depth courses. They also must take a minimum of 12 credits from electives in functional areas such as business intelligence, market- ing analytics, and economic and financial forecasting. n In March, the Massachusetts Institute of Technol- ogy in Cambridge offers its first online professional course for technical professionals and executives. Tuition for the four-week course, "Tackling the Chal- lenges of Big Data," costs US$495. It covers topics such as data collection, storage, and processing; analyt- ics and visualization; and real-world applications. The course is taught by faculty in MIT's computer science and artificial intelligence laboratory in the school of engineering. Upon completion, students will receive an MIT Professional Education certificate. n In April, the John Molson Executive Centre at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, will offer a three-week, CAN$4,000 certificate program on data analytics for middle managers, delivered in online and face-to-face formats. n In 2014, the Goodman School of Business at Brock University in Ontario, Canada, will add a spe- cialization in business analytics to its two-year MBA program. n IBM recently unveiled its own online skills assess- Big Data Gets Bigger on Campus ment tool for college students. The IBM Analytics Talent Assessment allows students to measure their preparedness for jobs in data analytics, including their ability to tap data sources and make data-driven rec- ommendations to support a range of business strate- gies. The questionnaire, which takes 30 to 40 minutes to complete, includes sections that measure cognitive ability, verbal and logical reasoning, and competence in analytics-based skills. After completing the sections, students receive a report on their strengths and weak- nesses via email. Since November, eight universities with Big Data and analytics programs have been pilot testing the tool. They include Fordham University, George Washington University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Northwest- ern University, The Ohio State University, Southern Methodist University, University of Massachusetts Bos- ton, and the University of Virginia. The aim of new programs in analytics is to train stu- dents to "make better business decisions through ana- lytics as well as through intuition," says Scott Moore, Babson's undergraduate dean. That kind of knowledge is becoming increasingly important, he adds, because "soon, every business organization will be an analytics- focused organization." Contributor Level Sponsors: Beta Gamma Sigma Curtin Business School, Curtin University ESSEC Business School Educational Testing Service Graduate Management Admission Council® Graduate School of Business Administration, Keio University KPMG Foundation Nanyang Business School. Nanyang Technological University NUS Business School, National University of Singapore Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College Supporter Level Sponsors: EDHEC Business School Fox School of Business, Temple University Richard H. Driehaus College of Business, DePaul University Shidler College of Business, University of Hawai'i at Manoa UQ Business School, The University of Queensland Friend Level Sponsors: Bloomberg Businessweek Booth School of Business, The University of Chicago College of Business, University of North Texas Griffi th Business School, Griffi th University INSEAD NIDA Business School, National Institute of Development Administration Rady School of Management, University of California, San Diego School of Management, George Mason University The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, St. John's University Trulaske College of Business, University of Missouri THANK YOU TO THE ICAM 2014 CO-HOSTS AND SPONSORS. Co-Hosted By: Supported by: Held In: SINGAPORE APRIL 7–9, 2014 ICAM Sponsor Thank You.indd 1 1/22/2014 12:50:47 PM