Interview – Mayank Bhatt, Faculty at Academy of Decision Sciences and Analytics

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Clik here to view.AIMAnalytics India Magazine: Can you brief us about the course curriculum and pedagogy of analytics education at your institute?

MBMayank Bhatt: At ADSA we believe that “Talent was distributed non-genetically and thus must be gained by effective training so that they may be qualified to assume the role of a Business Analyst”.

Hence our course curriculum at ADSA is designed after considering the required market skills for a Business Analytics Professional. The course helps individuals to acquire practical skills for Data Analytics, Database management and Project Management with hands on experience through real world projects.

AIM: How is your institute different from other players in India providing analytics training and education?

MB: We at ADSA provide conceptual training followed by hands on practical training through case studies. During the program we offer assignments involving decision tools which give practical experience to the students. We involve our students in live projects & assignments during the training itself. As a result after completion of the program the students are ready to work on live projects for analytics.

AIM: What more can be done by esteemed institutes in India to propagate Business Analytics as a professional stream?

MB: I believe, to propagate Business Analysis as a professional stream, the institutes have to offer the Business Analytics as Specialized Subject. Institutes can also include Business Analytics as a subject at graduate level which can be an introductory subject for the student at the Graduation level. If students will have basic idea about analytics then it will be easier for them to understand the importance and utility of analytics in their professional carrier.

AIM: What technologies are behind learning analytics?

MB: Advanced Statistical Analysis System Software, Advanced Database Management Software and Automation of Business Processes (i.e. OLAP)

AIM: What are the major obstacles facing education on data and analytics in India?

MB: I feel that the major obstacles for Data Analytics Education are lack of awareness and attention towards making professional career as business analyst. Most professionals as well as students consider analysis as an additional subject for skill enhancement and so they are not keen to take it as a key subject. Lack of basic management, statistics and computing skills in students are also major obstacles.

AIM: Where do you see the bulk of your business coming from? Do Indian organizations have the same affinity towards BI/ Analytics training as that of organizations from other regions?

MB: I think we are far behind in providing training on BI/Analytics to our employees compared to some foreign countries.

AIM: Analytics requires a good mix of technical competencies (statistics/ mathematics/ computing etc) and Business understanding. How should Analytics teaching be positioned from the supply side perspective – more business orientation or heavy emphasis on technical aspects?

MB: If you observe the need, businesses want professionals with both the skills, technical as well as managerial. So I think teaching should develop and strengthen both the skills of students. Especially for people who are involved in business analytics, require both competencies of technical as well as business understanding. The institutes should emphasize on both the aspects to meet up the demand of industry. To meet the demand, the analytics course curriculum itself should contain management, computing and statistical concepts.

AIM: What according to you are the most important rising trends in Analytics?

MB: Today every business understands the importance and benefits of analytics and as a result every big corporate has their own analytics wing. They use analytics for each business division and now a rising trend in Analytics is Third party validation of their analytic work (i.e. model validation etc.)

AIM: What are the most significant challenges you face being in the forefront of analytics space?

MB: To find trained resources is a significant challenge.

AIM: What is your projection of the growth of analytics education in the future?

MB: We at ADSA see tremendous growth of Analytics education in India and also across the world, because nowadays Business houses believe that Business Process Analysis is an inherent part of their business to sustain in the market.

AIM: Anything else you wish to add?

MB: We are in the Analytics domain and we can see the huge deficiency in the supply side of analytic professionals. We at ADSA are making our best efforts by offering the best Analytic course curriculum to promote analytics education and produce world class business analysts.