TBC News

Tag: data science

  • Gender Diversity and Flexible Work Aid in Talent Recruitment and Retention in Data Science and AI

    Gender Diversity and Flexible Work Aid in Talent Recruitment and Retention in Data Science and AI

    Championing gender equality and flexible work arrangements drive attracting and retaining talents in the field of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI), according to Aboitiz Data Innovation (ADI).

    “The future of work is one that prioritizes diversity and inclusion, as today’s workforce seeks companies that embody these values. In the data science and AI field, effective diversity and inclusion measures attract and retain talent and drive innovative thinking with diverse perspectives that lead to better problem-solving,” said Felicia Li-Gaillard, Chief Marketing Officer at ADI.

    In the Philippines and across the globe, gender gaps continue to persist in DSAI and the broader tech industry. According to the World Economic Forum, women make up only 29.2% of the workforce in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) occupations, compared to 49.3% in other fields. Furthermore, the percentage drops to 25.5% for managerial roles and 12.4% for senior executive positions.

    Women at ADI play a crucial role in advancing AI solutions. While the industry faces challenges in gender equality, ADI is committed to balanced representation, with 38% women and 62% men in its current workforce. The startup’s leadership is represented by 42% women and 58% men, providing strong female role models at all levels and functions.

    “At ADI, we consciously champion gender equality throughout the organization, including in our leadership team. Achieving gender balance in leadership demonstrates our commitment to gender equality at all levels,” added Li-Gaillard.

    In addition to promoting gender diversity within its workforce, ADI advocated for women in adverse conditions. The startup has partnered with Connected Women, a social impact B2B company dedicated to helping Filipino women find meaningful online careers.

    This partnership is a deliberate decision aimed at providing increased economic opportunities to individuals most vulnerable to marginalization in an increasingly digitized society. It underscores ADI’s vision of a symbiotic relationship between humans and AI, seeking to integrate human intelligence beyond interfaces.

    From day one, ADI has embraced a “phygital” work environment, balancing physical and digital workspaces across its offices, including its Singapore headquarters. This approach has made ADI a pioneer in flexible work arrangements, aligning with the Singaporean government’s recent mandate for companies to implement processes for formal flexible work requests by December 2024.

    In addition to this agile set-up, ADI banks on talent density, the concentration of rockstar talents that turn good ideas into great achievements, for continued success. However, the ongoing tech talent crunch in the Asia Pacific complicates recruitment, particularly for highly technical roles.

    “Adaptability is essential in navigating challenges and nurturing innovation and sustainability. By proactively collaborating with teams to grasp our collective objectives and talent needs, we ensure effective workforce planning that aligns with both internal and external dynamics,” said Calvin Ong, ADI Chief People Officer.

    As a result of this approach, ADI has attained heightened workforce flexibility, enabling the startup to effectively manage shifting demands, optimize resource allocation, and achieve desired outcomes. This transition to a more flexible workplace setup has yielded positive results, significantly improving response to market changes, customer demands, project requirements, and most importantly, employee satisfaction.

    As an end-to-end DSAI startup, ADI provides a range of roles covering data science, engineering, machine learning, solution architecture, and DevOps. ADI sources talent globally, with employees hailing from locations such as the Philippines, Singapore, , Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, France, and Canada.

    This approach fosters diversity, cultural exchange, cross-border collaboration, and multidisciplinary approach within the workforce. Leveraging this diverse talent pool allows ADI to access a broad spectrum of perspectives, skills, and experiences, further solidifying our capability in making AI work.

  • FEU Tech sees the Philippines as the data science capital of Asia-Pacific

    FEU Tech sees the Philippines as the data science capital of Asia-Pacific

    The Philippine Institute for Developing Studies published a paper stating that not enough graduates from local schools possess the necessary skills for data science and analytics. 

    In a world increasingly rife with available data, arguably no field has gained more popularity in the last few years than data science. Businesses want data scientists because they turn confusing numbers and data into concrete, actionable insights essential for business strategy.  

    In fact, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts data science will see more growth than any other field between now and 2029. The utilitarian nature of data science makes it easy to guess that the field’s growth will be a worldwide phenomenon.   

    The Far Eastern University Group of Schools’ tech-focused campus, FEU Tech, aims to make the Philippines the Asia-Pacific data science capital due to the rise of the field. 

    The Asia-Pacific is one of the fastest-growing markets for data science. One survey performed by global marketing intelligence firm IDC found that  3 in 4 enterprises in the Asia-Pacific in 2021 choose to keep investments in big data analytics (BDA) solutions or even expand, despite the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

    It’s worth noting the top ten industries responsible for big investments in data: banking and securities, communications, healthcare, manufacturing, government, insurance, retail, transportation, energy, and education round out the list. All of these industries anticipate a need to analyze data to craft new business solutions in the future.   

    The Philippines is no exception to the data science boom. In fact, the problem is that although there is demand for data analysts throughout the country the supply may not be enough.  

    FEU Tech looks to solve the country’s data scientist shortage by offering a comprehensive Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree with a specialization in Data Science.  

    Not only will the program teach students to create complex software and programming, but the focus on data science will make sure students have a solid foundation in mathematics, statistics, and domain expertise.  

    Graduates of the program should be able to understand and glean insights from any data set, turning them into data-driven decision-makers.   

    “It isn’t just that we want to help our students find work after they graduate,” explained Senior Director for Computer Studies Rossana T. Adao.  

    “We want our graduates to drive high-value work, to have careers where they’ll play a key role in shaping the world of tomorrow. There’s no better way to accomplish that than to prepare them for a career in data science.”  

    Recently,  the FEU Tech campus was recognized in the latest rankings of the WURI (World’s Universities with Real Impact) Top Global Innovative Universities for 2022. The rankings compared global universities by measuring a university’s contributions to society and innovative approaches to education.  

    FEU Tech ranked alongside universities like MIT, Stanford, and Harvard and placed in four major categories: #19 in Progress during the Fourth Industrial Revolution, #30 in Entrepreneurial Spirit, #37 in Crisis Management, and #44 in Student Mobility and Openness.   

    FEU Tech’s WURI rankings are a testament to the institution’s capacity to craft relevant degree programs that prepare students for the world of tomorrow. The rankings also take into account FEU Tech’s other programs like BS Information Technology with specialization in Innovation and Business and BS Information Technology with specialization in Business Analytics.  

    “Our position in the WURI rankings is crucial in helping our data science graduates be the best in the Asia-Pacific,” said FEU Tech Senior Executive Director Dr. Benson Tan. “With a bit of hard work and perseverance, we can turn the Philippines into the data science capital of the region.”  

    To that end, FEU Tech commits itself to ensuring that its students will be ready to take on roles as data scientists. By supporting students taking undergraduate programs like Computer Science and Information Technology, the institution guarantees its future graduates will help fulfill future demand for data scientists.   

    Overall, FEU Tech hopes to kickstart a movement encouraging young Filipinos to explore opportunities in data science. While there is still a lot of work to do to ensure that the supply of data scientists in the country meets the demand, FEU Tech’s initiatives take the nation a step closer there every day.   

    “We believe that Filipinos can accomplish amazing things given the proper support and initiative,” concluded Dr. Tan. “I’m excited to see the world where Filipino data scientists are leading the way into the future.”