Data science has become a field that is encompassing other industries, whether it is finance, healthcare, or business in general. Data is being produced, implemented, stored and managed everywhere, and that is where data science finds its work cut out for it. South Africa is a land of opportunities and a place where tech and IT-related startups are initiated, and tech corporates and conglomerates are born out of it.
An emerging dedicated space for data science experts has risen, as data analysis, data storage and data analytics can be used to shape the course of the future. Machine learning and artificial intelligence correlate with data analysis directly as a separate domain. The need for this profession is at an all-time high and therefore the need for different types of data science certifications has risen.
Why Data Bootcamps can Help You for Learning Data Science-Related Certifications?
A boot camp will work with you as if you were a beginner striving to absorb the essence of data science, but a degree program will not. After you have learned all the basic fundamentals from a boot camp, you will be required to attend the exam for a particular certification in data science. Once you have successfully completed or passed the examination, it guarantees that you have gained the necessary skills that make you eligible to land a great job.
All this process requires is a small cost to complete. On the other hand, if you indulge yourself in acquiring or completing the master or bachelor equivalent of the data science boot camp, then it would cost you a fortune.
Apart from spending too much money on a master’s or bachelor's degree, think of all the time you can save by enrolling in a bootcamp. A master’s or bachelor’s degree requires a minimum of three years to complete while you can complete a boot camp within a few months. So, joining a boot camp to help you study for data science certifications is helpful.
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The following are some of the best data science certifications that can be pursued in South Africa and all of which are in demand.
- IBM Data Science Certification
If you want to develop a career around data science or machine learning, then this is the best possible course that you can find online. This isn't any ordinary certification, and it is being orchestrated by one of the most accredited online learning environments: Coursera. The coursework focuses on getting you up to speed with the current skill set that is required by a professional who is eager to work within the data science industry. There is a mix of nine courses that you have to undertake within this single certification.
The course only has a single module, so it can be completed in less than a week. Self-paced learning is also welcomed.
- Data Science Crash Course at Coursera by John Hopkins University
This is probably the most on-point and uncluttered course that you can find that not only better explains what data science is but also explains its functions. The main objective of the course is to provide an introduction to the technical side of the data, but it also explains the big picture that is often subsided by professionals who have to manage data science-related positions. It is a great course for those who want to build a solid strategy around developing data science-related projects, understanding the terminologies, and focusing on what lies in the future.
The course only has a single module and so it can be completed in less than a week, self-paced learning is also welcomed.
- Data science specialization
The level of balance and volume that this curriculum has is perfect. It is designed for people who are not relatively new to data science and are looking to take things into a more technical and serious direction. A complete section of the course is dedicated to the statistics which are the backbone for performing data analysis. It is also used in different domains of data science. You will get a great knockdown of theory while leveraging some of it to the practical side with the R programming language. Although you must have some experience of working with a programming language, it doesn't necessarily have to be R.
- MIT data Science and Statistics Certification
If you want to strengthen your foundation for machine leering, statistics and data science at the same time, then this series of five courses can help you do that. Decision-making models, understanding the working of insight extraction using data science-based models, and machine learning along with refining the data-driven predictions are some of the factors that you will be able to get right with this certification.
- Data science certification from Harvard University (edX)
This certification will help you understand the essentials of data science, including R programming and machine learning, which will help you kick start your data science career. There is a total of nine courses in this single illustration of a certification that will guide you through everything related to data science. A part of cloud computing has also been included if you want to switch careers and try your luck with cloud computing. It is a pretty great course that has a little of everything for helping you develop a sound career that has the stability and work within the industry.