“IORA’s nurturing environment has allowed me to closely interact with world leading students and researchers and learn from them to think beyond what our skillsets can do for industries but also their impact on people and society”

Beyond descriptive statistics and predictive modelling, industries of the modern economy increasingly require analysts and managers with a deeper understanding of data analytics and optimization. Be it for the purpose of policy design and/or optimizing a system, the underlying assumptions and implications of a machine learning model has to be well understood for it to be effectively deployed. This is where IORA really adds value as it offers students training in a broad range of relevant skillsets in causal analysis, policy design and optimization, and the opportunity to hone our skills by working on industry projects. This not only prepare students to deal with the analytical rigor required in academia but also the critical thinking needed to overcome practical challenges in the real world. Perhaps more importantly, IORA’s nurturing environment has also allowed me to closely interact with world leading students and researchers and learn from them to think beyond what our skillsets can do for industries but also their impact on people and society. Despite having 6 years of relevant working experience before commencing the programme, I certainly feel much more prepared to deal with real world problems now than I did before.