</Demand is high as the new postgraduate conversion courses in AI & Data Science exceed enrolment targets>
The Institute of Coding is supporting a Coventry University-led consortium that is helping a larger and more diverse group of people from non-tech backgrounds pursue specialist careers.
In January 2021, there was a second intake of learners on to post-graduate AI and data science conversion courses that are being provided by the Coventry University-led consortium of 11 universities.
This initiative, funded by the Office for Students (OfS) and supported by the Institute of Coding (IoC), had the initial target to support 650 learners onto conversion courses by March 2023, of which 233 would be assisted through scholarships. The project is now one year into operation and enrolments have been exceeded by 370%. As employer demand continues to increase for digital skills, with job openings in the tech sector predicted to reach 100,000 per month by the end of June 20211,there are a growing number of people who are retraining and upskilling so that they can boost their employability.
Are you considering a future career in AI or data science?
The Coventry-led consortium is offering a series of free taster courses to help people determine if they should proceed to a Master’s degree in AI or data science. Over 3,000 people have attended since their launch in August 2020.
Run online over a two-week period, these tasters are designed to help learners assess their understanding of the disciplines involved in data science and AI, including the fundamentals of coding in Python, and other important elements like mathematics, statistics and data science thinking.
If you’re thinking about a post-graduate conversion course, but are not sure what’s involved, then consider joining the next course, called ‘Get ready for a Masters in Data Science and AI’, on 12th April.
One objective of the consortium is to increase the number of learners from underrepresented groups in these subjects and to encourage graduates from diverse backgrounds to consider a future in digital. If you’re a graduate from a non-computer science-related area, then this taster could be the ideal opportunity to explore a future in the growing tech industry.
Taster courses are already proving a hit
From the voluntary survey conducted of learners on the taster courses, participants were very positive, scoring 90.9% satisfaction overall. Importantly, 40% of participants on the course were women, which is a significant improvement from the number of women studying on traditional computer science degrees. And over 70% of participants were over the age of 25.
One learner commented: “I really enjoyed this course and thought it was a great way to prepare for the masters conversion course.”
Another stated: “I enjoyed reading the content, articles and also doing python codes. There were plenty of examples. Nice work”
Next steps – find out more about PG conversion courses
If you do take the taster course (which takes approximately 20 hours to complete in total) and decide that you want to proceed, you can then apply for the PG conversion courses in AI and data science that are being offered by universities around the UK. Visit this list to see the courses and scholarships that are available – https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/for-students/study-artificial-intelligence-and-data-science-as-a-postgraduate/find-courses-in-artificial-intelligence-ai-and-data-science/.
If you’re still not sure if AI and data science could be for you, visit the Office for Student’s website, which has a helpful video, study checklists and other key information. Link: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/for-students/study-artificial-intelligence-and-data-science-as-a-postgraduate/why-study-ai-or-data-science/
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1 Tech Nation, Dec. 2020 https://technation.io/news/2020-uk-tech-sector-data/