Today we are “drowning in data and starving for information” while acknowledging that “data is the new gold”. However, deriving value from all the data now available requires a transformation in data analysis, in how we see, maintain, share and understand data.
Data Engineering is an emerging profession concerned with the task of acquiring large collections of data and extracting insights from them. It is driving the next generation of technological innovation and scientific discovery, which is expected to be strongly data-driven.
The program is embedded in the “Mobility” focus area at Constructor University. This focus area investigates the mobility of people, goods, and information. Even though the Data Engineering program is centered in “Mobility”, it includes contributions from and supports applications in the two other research foci: Health (bioactive substances), and Diversity (in modern societies).
Four program tracks to allow specialization:
Moreover, the Data Engineering program attracts students with diverse career goals, backgrounds, and prior work experience. Therefore, the program offers four focus tracks within which the students can choose to specialize further:
- Computer Science,
- Geo-Informatics,
- Bio-Informatics
- Business & Supply Chain Engineering.
These tracks are a preparation for the Advanced Projects within the Discovery Area and the Master Thesis.
Computer Science Track: In particular, Computer Science provides students with the skills to go beyond a mere usage of existing toolboxes and to develop innovative data analysis techniques of their own design.
Geo-Informatics Track: It gives students an introduction to Geographic Information System techniques, principles of spatial analysis, and data mining with integration of remote sensing and GPS. It thereby provides an early exposure to earth science data and its handling.
Bioinformatics Track and the analysis of biomedical data: Integration and model-based interpretation of high-throughput data are severe bottlenecks in biomedical and pharmaceutical research. Data Engineering prepares students for the novel computational challenges in these fields.
Business & Supply Chain Engineering Track: Students can also choose the specialization track in Business & Supply Chain Engineering. A vast amount of data is collected as part of business processes in particular along supply chains. In this specialization track, students will concentrate on the full data analysis cycle including pre-processing of data, data analysis and deployment of model results within the business process.