A group of Kennesaw State students recently earned cash prizes for their work in a spring data science course, working in teams to solve data-related problems for partnering companies.
During the semester, students in the course worked in five different teams, partnering with two companies per team. The teams then worked together to try to solve company data analytics issues.
Students worked with companies such as Coke North One America Services/Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Cox Communications and Perceivant.
Two of the student teams won cash prizes from their sponsored companies for their work during the semester. One of the teams, named the Datanauts, developed algorithms for the CONA/Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Co. to solve an inventory optimization issue within the company.
The team was then presented with a $1,000 check in May from the company to thank the students for their accomplishments within the course. The team consisted of graduate students Alexis VonBeck, Chaim Bernstein, Krystal Johnson and Sandra Rodriguez.
Another of the teams, Talk Data to Me, also earned a $1,000 check from Cox Communications after developing a call center model that would reduce call center costs while also improving customer service. This three-person team included students Kelly Linz, Anna Deeb and Cherin Tetteh.
During the spring semester, Perceivant, an educational technology company, also asked the graduate students to find factors that most heavily influence student performance in online courses. Students in the data science course developed algorithms to try to determine these factors.
Students had the opportunity to work with the companies simply by enrolling in the course and being part of the data institute.
The data science course is part of the university’s Analytics and Data Science Institute, which made the course available to students last year as an answer to a growing need for analytical problem-solvers within the industry.
“There is an unquestioned recognition of a current and emerging talent shortage in the areas of Analytics and Data Science,” the institute’s website states. “This is true in part because our definitions of ‘data’ are continuing to grow and expand. These evolving definitions of data are creating both challenges and opportunities — across all sectors of the economy and all dimensions of society.
Because of the changing industry and growing need for data analytics professionals, the institute has a long history of giving students the opportunity to work with companies in the field while still attending school. The institute maintains several private sponsors, including Equifax, Emerson, GE Digital, Fortiva and more.
According to the university’s website, KSU was also the first university in the country to offer a formal Ph.D. in Analytics and Data Science starting in Fall 2015. The first of the students within the Ph.D. program recently graduated in May.