Data Science and Big Data Exchange Programme

Both in companies and the government, the storage of data has dramatically increased over the past few decades. The increase of the amounts of data also opens the door to new applications.

We see increasingly more applications being developed for which these data serve as a basis. The collection, storage, and required accessibility of the growing amount of data pose various challenges in the areas of data management and architecture. Other challenges lie in the design and implementation of new, innovative applications. The identification of such opportunities for innovation requires that an affinity with the "business" be developed.

In order to take up the above-mentioned challenges adequately, it is essential that the solution approaches with their pros and cons are mapped out systematically. Apart from literature studies, prototypes must be built to help formulate the pros and cons of each approach. In other words, innovation and research are of crucial importance in this exchange programme.

A number of the challenges mentioned have already been taken up within the scope of Big Data. Innovative applications that combine data from different databases are also being developed. The activities have in earlier years of this exchange programme resulted in a range of publications.

The Data Science/Big Data exchange programme will help you acquire knowledge and insight into how to deal with the growing amount of data. You will also learn how to use these data in the development of new applications that will give organisations a head start over their competitors.

Programme structure

Below are a number of areas that are covered in this exchange programme and that are necessary for the implementation of contemporary innovative applications.

• Core concepts that pertain to the collection of data, such as privacy, transparency, accountability, identity and identification, freedom of choice, and efficiency and effectiveness. Special attention will be paid to the collection of data through contemporary devices, such as sensors.
• Core concepts that pertain to the integrating and making accessible of large amounts of data, especially the storage and retrieval of data in data warehouses, NoSQL storage infrastructures and data spaces. 
• The analysis of data with contemporary techniques, such as data mining, machine learning, and statistical analysis tools.
• The role of domain knowledge in the integration of data and the development of new applications.
• The provision of platforms/tools (data collection, analysis and visualisation techniques) to the user for the generation of their own applications, such as mashups.
• The use of methods and/or techniques for the visualisation of information which renders new insights in complex issues to a target group.

The realisation of the projects in this exchange programme requires cooperation between disciplines from different fields, including: information technology, mathematics/statistics, information law, graphical design, and interactive media.

Objectives

• In the Data Science/Big Data exchange programme you will acquire knowledge and insight into the possibilities of utilising and integrating data from different public sources for the purpose of creating added value for an organisation. You will be dealing with issues directly from the professional field, which includes the Rotterdam City Council, Erasmus University Medical Centre, various ministries, and IT companies in the region (Almende, Rotterdam CS, Centric, etc.)
• Upon completion of the exchange programme you will be able to create added value for organisations through the use of great amounts of complex (open) data.
• You will be able to apply methods, techniques, and tools to interrelate (semi-)structured data sources and make them accessible for the creation of innovative applications.
• You will be able to use domain knowledge in the development of new applications.
• You will be able to analyse data aspects and relate them to domain knowledge, and use the outcomes in your recommendations and the further development of up-to-date knowledge and information systems.
• Acquiring knowledge and understanding
• Applying knowledge and understanding
• Making informed judgements and choices
• Communicating knowledge and understanding

Both in companies and the government, the storage of data has dramatically increased over the past few decades. The increase of the amounts of data also opens the door to new applications. We see increasingly more applications being developed for which these data serve as a basis. The collection, storage, and required accessibility of the growing amount of data pose various challenges in the areas of data management and architecture. Other challenges lie in the design and implementation of new, innovative applications. The identification of such opportunities for innovation requires that an affinity with the "business" be developed. 

In order to take up the above-mentioned challenges adequately, it is essential that the solution approaches with their pros and cons are mapped out systematically. Apart from literature studies, prototypes must be built to help formulate the pros and cons of each approach. In other words, innovation and research are of crucial importance in this exchange programme. A number of the challenges mentioned have already been taken up within the scope of Big Data. Innovative applications that combine data from different databases are also being developed. The activities have in earlier years of this exchange programme resulted in a range of publications. The Data Science/Big Data exchange programme will help you acquire knowledge and insight into how to deal with the growing amount of data. You will also learn how to use these data in the development of new applications that will give organisations a head start over their competitors