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

随着政府和公司内部数字数据的数量、复杂性和速度持续快速增长，数据密集型科学是一个主要的全球增长领域。与此同时，强大的分析技术继续发展，以获得对大型数据集的根本见解，包括发现集群和异常，以及检测和预测这些数据中的主要趋势和相关性。这种数据密集型科学出现在全球发展的关键时刻。正如联合国可持续发展目标（sdg）所概括的那样，全球面临的重大挑战需要多学科解决方案，其中许多都包括数据科学。此外，南非2030年国家发展计划（NDP）认识到需要“提高其创新优势，继续为全球科技进步做出贡献”和“向更加知识密集型的经济转变”。因此，我们建议在英国南部的大学和南部非洲的合作伙伴之间建立一个数据密集型科学培训网络，以帮助解决这些可持续发展目标和国家发展计划的优先事项。该网络的基石将是“SEPnet数据密集型科学中心”（DISCnet）和南非非洲数学科学研究所（AIMS）。我们将共同试点为下一代数据分析师提供培训和实习的创新课程，重点解决南非与可持续发展目标相关的问题，并在21世纪成为该国经济的驱动力。我们这个试点培训计划的目的是让学生具备解决与南非及其他地区可持续发展目标（sdg）相关的数据科学问题的能力。试点方案的具体目标是：(i)提供至少10名训练有素的非洲数据科学家的初始队列；利用现有的DISCnet培训材料，向非洲学生提供世界一流的数据科学学校；由DISCnet提供资助，在AIMS开办为期8周的数据科学培训课程；（iv）通过在南非组织和公司进行为期3个月的战略学生实习，重点关注经济发展和福利，为可持续发展目标做出贡献；了解管理整个南部非洲广泛的、可持续的培训网的细节。这项试点利用了STFC，我们的大学合作伙伴和皇家学会（RS）的大量投资。我们的长期目标是创建一个与DISCnet规模相当的可持续网络，例如，每年约有25名非洲STEM学生接受我们的专业培训。这些学生将成为非洲未来数据科学的领导者。

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.