The data revolution is well underway. As the demand for data scientists and AI professionals grows by leaps and bounds, we are witnessing a rising number of courses promising to “turn you into a data scientist” almost proportionately to the explosive job market demand.
Choosing amongst this plethora of courses can prove to be difficult, especially if you are not clear on what you are looking for. While your needs may vary, here’s a piece of general advice: look out for courses that get you job-ready.
Job-readiness forms the difference between taking a course up casually to gain a few skills vs taking a course to achieve positive outcomes from the time you invest in it. Job-readiness could be reflected in how hands-on the program is, how it supports you in achieving a smooth transition, and even how it adds on to your employability in the industry.
With that said, there are distinct advantages of choosing a course from a US University, not the least of which is enhanced job-readiness in the global market.
So, let’s take a look at a few reasons why a US University could be your best bet for data science and artificial intelligence courses:
- U.S universities hold an excellent international reputation
It is a widely-known fact that U.S universities maintain a definitive presence amongst the top-ranked universities in the world. In fact, on the QS list of top 100 universities in the world, the largest majority of list-makers were of American origin (a whopping 29%).
Often considered the holy grail of higher education by international students, a large part of its reputation can be attributed to high education standards, academic rigour, and advanced research capabilities.
This strong brand name and reputation are likely to rub-off on your resume as well, lending you credibility and recognition wherever you may be in the world.
Did you know? The University of Texas at Austin has been ranked at #2 for Business Analytics and #8 for Artificial Intelligence world-wide.
- The U.S is a front-runner in the AI, Machine Learning and Data Science space
Not just a global leader in Science and Technology, the United States also is currently leading the pack when it comes to pioneering technological domains of the 21st century, namely Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Data Science.
In a 2017 report, the U.S came out on top in the list of countries leading in AI research; and of the top 100 AI startups in 2019, 77 belonged to the United States. Couple this with the presence of 7 major tech hubs (including the ubiquitous Silicon Valley), it should hardly come as a surprise that the U.S is a centre of innovation for advanced technologies.
This tech dominance is reflected in the courses designed by U.S universities too, and you can rely on them to acquaint you with the latest techniques, concepts, and the most cutting-edge technologies through their programs.
Did You Know? The University of Texas at Austin’s Data Science and AI and Machine Learning programs incorporate the latest and most widely-used tools and techniques in their curricula.
- U.S universities lend you global mobility
As an extension of the positive reputation of U.S universities, having the name of one on your resume can provide you with the flexibility to work anywhere in the world.
As the global job demand for Data Science and AI rises, companies across the world are on the look-out for competent professionals to meet it. They are less stringent about your nationality and more particular about what you bring to the table in terms of skills and expertise.
A look at the job market demand analysis for data scientists shows us that this demand is far from being centred in a single location, so if you want the flexibility to seek out opportunities outside your home country, a course from a U.S university should be at the very top of your list.
Did You Know? UT Austin’s postgraduate programs offer you career development guidance to support your transition into a career in Data Science or AI/ML.
- U.S universities are leaders in academic excellence
Since Data Science and AI are still relatively new fields, the exact recipe for success is yet to be established. However, what is not debatable is that you need to possess a mix of technical expertise, domain knowledge and business acumen to be able to thrive.
Thus, whichever course you take up should be able to equip you with thorough (and hands-on) knowledge of the field, along with an understanding of how it applies to business.
U.S universities are recognized throughout the world for their academic brilliance and for inculcating knowledge through diverse teaching methods, such as case studies, quizzes, problem walkthroughs, and projects. The end result is industry-ready candidates with tangible expertise to boast of.
Did you Know? UT Austin’s AI & Machine Learning and Data Science programs bring you the best of academia and the industry, through a learning model incorporating a combination of recorded lectures from renowned global faculty and mentoring sessions with current practitioners.
Summing Up
It’s clear by now that U.S universities do have an upper hand when it comes to data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning courses. Now it is up to you to decide which one can bring you the career outcomes you desire.
All the best!
