The Statistical Training Institute of the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD), in collaboration with Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), has launched a new training program for Abu Dhabi government senior leaders, executive directors who are specialized in the fields of data science and strategy. The executive program is part of data science and analytics course series that would continue until end of 2021.
The program is provided in line with SCAD’s vision to support Abu Dhabi leadership and government capacities in the fields of data usage and management.
The two-day program showcases successful data science and real-time data analysis projects that were developed by world’s largest technology companies in the UAE. It gives trainees a rare chance to understand how real-time data can affect their management and business operations.
His Excellency Ahmed Mahmoud Fikri, Director General of SCAD, said: “The UAE adopted a data transformation process that maximised production of data and secured a leading position in this field. We have all seen the recent impact of data models and modern analysis methods on the economy, industry, services and decision-making processes in the public and private sectors.
Data is a key tool for Abu Dhabi government work that supports planning and coordination with stakeholders. It is used for creating detailed work plan set to achieve strategic goals.”
He added: “The executive training programme will provide participants with knowledge of the difference between data science and analysis, the various processes involved in each branch, the frameworks, integrity, and ethics for data collection and analysis. It will also allow participants to learn how to design and build data science frameworks and Artificial Intelligence applications. It introduces the journey of data science and a building activity of real work forecasting models that could be used to manage and analyze data in the participants’ respective organizations.”
He concluded: “The Leaders programme will not only discuss technologies but will explore what it takes to refine the workforce capabilities, and to encourage organizations to rely on statistics and data so they can make informed decisions.”
Dr. Behjat Al Yousuf, Executive Vice-President for Outreach and Engagement at MBZUAI, said: “One of our key objectives at MBZUAI is to contribute to Abu Dhabi’s knowledge-based economic development through AI capacity building and innovation. We offer bespoke executive training programmes to provide leaders with necessary knowledge of AI, and its business applications that builds participants’ confidence to transform their organizations into an innovative and sustainable businesses of the future. We are delighted to partner with SCAD in this initiative that will provide the groundwork to enable leaders to make informative, effective and strategic decisions based on data analytics.”
During the event, expert Yacoub Husein Nuseibeh from the SCAD’s Centre of Insights and Forecast, presented the Centre’s digital platform which was developed using the latest data and AI technologies. It is used to transform insights into well-informed operations by collecting data from public and private sectors and building the forecasting scenarios that impact the economy and the demographic characteristics of Abu Dhabi.
By the latest data visualisations and interactive simulations of ‘what-if’ scenarios, the new digital platform becomes a tool that allows leaders in Abu Dhabi to have the ability to take enlightened-decisions as country prepares to formulate the national strategy to map out the next 50 years.
Addressing the sessions, Mohamed Abdullah AlMadhani, Data & Artificial Intelligence Advisor at Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA), briefed the participants on Abu Dhabi Data Strategy, while, Dr. ChawkiTawbi, Data and Artificial Intelligence Executive at IBM gave a presentation on data science standard operational procedures.
In another presentation, Rima Semaan, AI and Technical Lead for Microsoft Gulf, discussed the data analysis process.
The sessions were chaired by Rabaa Mohammed Bani Yas, Director of the Statistical Training Institute, and Dr. Ahmed Dabbagh, Director of Professional Services at MBZUAI. In their speeches, they discussed skills required for data science and analysis future jobs through which organizations would accomplish their missions.
