Big Data is Big in the era of innovative disruption. For Jidaw, promise is one thing, while the skills and expertise required to gain the intelligence and benefits of analytics, data science and big data is another matter. As this gap yawns ever wider, Big Data University an IBM community initiative, it appears, was developed to bridge the divide between potential and reality.
Tech is power. But without know-how society loses, potential remains potential. Tech innovation is changing society. Make no mistake; the need for many more people with the ability to contribute in such an important field is huge. Data on its own isn’t enough. We extract intelligence from data by identifying trends and patterns. Tagged as a source of Analytics, Big Data, and Data Science Courses, Jidaw asks: why does the Big Data University appear to be a solution? Simple. It is a free online resource that provides opportunities for those interested in developing skills in this dynamic and fast growing area. Free? Yes, free!
One striking aspect of the resource Jidaw has noticed is the emphasis on equipping learners with the fundamentals and good grounding. IBM on the site state that they are “strong proponents of providing opportunities to learn the fundamental concepts required to develop, process, and analyze big data and break down the traditional barriers to participation in this sector”. Making such high quality courses covering groundbreaking technology free and available on the Internet is certainly a door opener to many who have been traditionally excluded. Learn where you want, when you want. Quite importantly it is practical. Courses go beyond concepts and theories – learners also have access to “live” technology. And for free! It is most certainly different.
On completion of courses, BDU awards IBM recognized IBM Open Digital Badges that learners can display on their social media sites. Mainly providing courses in English, (though there are some in Japanese, Spanish and Russian), the main site, BigDataUniversity.com, aims at the world at large. Other sites have been developed for learners from Brazil and China.
Interestingly the resource is integral to IBM’s “Data Science for Social Good” initiative as the courses are aligned to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. It is practical commitment to employing tech innovation to achieve the SDGs. The achievement of specific SDG Goals is advanced – 17 (partnership), 4 (better access to education, 10 (reduce inequalities) and 8 (boost economic growth and jobs). IBM has in fact pledged to use this initiative ”empower and educate over one million people worldwide on the UN Global Goals and Big Data” “in under a year”.
Jidaw notes that for us in Nigeria, the resource is an example of what the Nigeria Computer Society intends to project during its 2017 International Conference themed, “IT Innovation for Sustainable Development.” The aims of Big Data University are worthy and ambitious. It’s beyond tech, it’s about a better planet for now and the future.
Interested in Big Data and Data sciences? In acquiring Big impact skills that change the world? Click to Check the resourceBig Data University
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