SA-DISCNet: A collaborative data science training network across southern Africa and southern UK

SA-DISCNet：横跨南部非洲和英国南部的协作数据科学培训网络

• 批准号: ST/R002746/1
• 负责人: David Bacon
• 金额: $ 11.82万
• 依托单位: University of Portsmouth
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2018 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FR002746%2F1
• 关键词: SA; DISCNet; collaborative; data; science

Data intensive science is a major global growth area, as the volume, complexity and rate of digital data within governments and companies continues to rapidly increase. At the same time, powerful analysis techniques continue to evolve for obtaining radical insights into large datasets, including finding clusters and anomalies, as well as detecting and predicting dominant trends and correlations in such data. This data intensive science comes at a crucial time for global development. Major worldwide challenges, as encapsulated in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), require multidisciplinary solutions, many of which include data science. Moreover, the South African National Development Plan (NDP) for 2030 recognises the need to "sharpen its innovative edge and continue contributing to global scientific and technological advancement" and "shift to a more knowledge-intensive economy". We therefore propose to build a training network in data intensive science between universities in southern UK and partners in southern Africa to help address these SDGs and NDP priorities. The cornerstones of this network will be the `Data Intensive Science Centre in SEPnet' (DISCnet) and the African Institute of Mathematical Science (AIMS) South Africa. Together, we will pilot an innovative course of training and internships for the next generation of data analysts, focusing on solving SDG-related questions in South Africa and acting as a driver of the country's economy in the 21st century. Our aim with this pilot training programme is to equip and send students to solve data science problems associated with sustainable development goals (SDGs) in SA and beyond. The specific goals of the pilot programme are to: (i) Deliver an initial cohort of at least 10 highly trained African data scientists; (ii) Provide a world-class data science school to African students, leveraging existing DISCnet training material; (iii) Prime-pump a new 8-week hand-on data science training course at AIMS with contributions from DISCnet; (iv) Contribute to the sustainable development goals via 3 month strategic student internships with South African organisations and companies, focusing on economic development and welfare; (v) Understand the details of managing an extended, sustainable training network across southern Africa.This pilot leverages considerable investment from STFC, our university partners, and the Royal Society (RS). Our long-term ambition is to create a sustainable network of comparable scale to DISCnet, e.g. approximately 25 African STEM students per year receiving our specialist training. These students will become the future data science leaders in Africa.

数据密集型科学是全球主要的增长领域，因为政府和公司内数字数据的数量，复杂性和数字数据的速度继续迅速增加。同时，强大的分析技术继续发展，以获取对大型数据集的激进见解，包括查找簇和异常，以及检测和预测此类数据中的主要趋势和相关性。这些数据密集型科学在全球发展至关重要的时候。如联合国可持续发展目标（SDG）所包围的全球范围内挑战，需要多学科解决方案，其中许多解决方案包括数据科学。此外，2030年的南非国家发展计划（NDP）认识到有必要“提高其创新的优势，并继续为全球科学和技术进步做出贡献”，并“转移到更具知识密集型的经济”。因此，我们建议在英国南部大学与南部非洲合作伙伴之间建立一个数据密集科学的培训网络，以帮助解决这些可持续发展目标和NDP的优先事项。该网络的基石将是“ Sepnet的数据密集型科学中心”（Discnet）和非洲数学科学研究所（AIMS）。我们将共同为下一代数据分析师提供创新的培训和实习期间，重点是解决南非与SDG相关的问题，并在21世纪充当该国经济的驱动力。我们在该试点培训计划中的目标是装备并派学生解决与SA及其他地区可持续发展目标（SDG）相关的数据科学问题。试点计划的具体目标是：（i）至少提供至少10位训练有素的非洲数据科学家； （ii）为非洲学生提供世界一流的数据科学学校，利用现有的迪斯特培训材料； （iii）Prime-Pump在AIMS上进行了一个新的8周手动数据科学培训课程，并提供了Discnet的贡献； （iv）通过与南非组织和公司实习3个月的战略学生实习，为可持续发展目标做出了贡献，重点是经济发展和福利； （v）了解在南部非洲管理一个扩展，可持续的培训网络的细节。该飞行员利用了STFC，我们的大学合作伙伴和皇家学会（RS）的大量投资。我们的长期野心是建立一个可持续的与Discnet相当规模的网络，例如每年约有25名非洲茎学生接受我们的专业培训。这些学生将成为非洲的未来数据科学领导者。