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With Industry 4.0, data science (or data science)is becoming an essential discipline in companies. While the demand for data scientists is exploding, the number of training courses in France is still limited. This is the niche on which the Specialized Master in Data Science for Engineering has positioned itself, as Jean-Marc Bourinet, the head of training, explains.
Can you present the Specialized Master Data Science for Engineering?
Jean-Marc Bourinet: The training was created in 2018 by Nicolas Gayton. It all started with a local initiative led by the Sigma Clermont and ISIMA engineering schools, with the support of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and partner companies Agaetis, DeltaMu and Phimeca Engineering. The Master's degree is aimed at students from an initial training at bac + 5 level. We also welcome, in continuous training, professionals who wish to evolve towards data science. In addition to opening profiles at the entrance, we recruit as many French students as foreign students, the latter having studied in France or in their country of origin.
There is very little training in data science in France...
Jean-Marc Bourinet: Training courses exist and are developing in France, the distinctive trademark of our training is its strong link to engineering.
How does the training take place?
Jean-Marc Bourinet: The initial training is done over the academic year with a start at the end of September. For continuing education, it is possible to spread it over two years. The mode of operation is the alternation between courses at school, mainly placed at the beginning of training, and the rest of the time in the company. Students are either on a professionalization contract or under an internship agreement. We are of course looking to establish contacts with companies interested in welcoming students.
"Training courses exist and are developing in France, the distinctive trademark of our training is its strong link to engineering."
Jean-Marc Bourinet, Head of the Specialized Master in Data Science for Engineering
In what types of companies are students likely to do their work-study program?
Jean-Marc Bourinet: We can distinguish two types: on the one hand, companies already experts in data science and marketing services to certain manufacturers; on the other hand, companies that may have data science skills (large groups such as Michelin, Safran, Total) or do not have any internal skills, these companies having an industrial practice with data. For companies not initiated to data science,the recruitment of a student will allow them to discover the techniques and increase their skills. If, in companies already experts in data science,students are accompanied, they must be autonomous and proactive in other companies. It is obviously the objective of the Master's degree to develop the autonomy and openness of students, via project management courses and the realization of a project chosen by the student, in addition to providing them with a fairly wide spectrum of techniques.
Do you know how the integration of students from previous promotions into working life was going?
Jean-Marc Bourinet: Even if I don't have any specific factual elements, the demand for data science is such that job offers are relatively numerous and that it is quite easy to place students with these skills on the job market. Having discussed it a lot with manufacturers, the demand is very strong, and the supply of training is not yet sufficient.
Interview by the editors
