University of London and IBM launch Data Science specialisation on Coursera

The University of London has partnered with IBM to deliver a Data Science Specialisation on Coursera, marking the first collaboration between a university and industry partner for a specialisation of this kind. Since its launch, the programme has attracted over 2,000 enrolled learners.

The three-month online programme combines academic teaching from the University with industry expertise from IBM and aims to address the growing global demand for data science skills. Nearly a quarter of US job adverts, for example, include requirements for data science skills and some employers are paying up to 14% more for those skills, according to an independent industry report. Students gain access to IBM's cutting-edge data science tools whilst learning from experts at Goldsmiths, University of London.

The curriculum covers essential data science fundamentals, including statistics, programming, computational thinking and machine learning. Students develop practical skills in Python, R and SQL, whilst working with industry-standard tools such as GitHub and Jupyter Notebooks. The programme features hands-on experience with Python libraries including Pandas and NumPy, dashboard creation and clustering algorithms.

Participants complete two capstone projects focused on real-world applications, demonstrating their acquired skills. The specialisation can serve as a pathway to the University's BSc Computer Science programme, with the opportunity to transfer progress following successful application.

The specialisation is accessible through Coursera Plus Subscription. For more information and enrolment details, please visit the Coursera website.