How to get into the career fast lane
According to the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2025. technology-related roles are the fastest- growing jobs in percentage terms. This means Big Data Specialists, AI and Machine Learning Specialists and Software and Application Developers. A career in big data and AI requires curiosity, passion and creativity. That’s why the SAS Global Academic Program collaborates with universities around the work to empower students to become the data and AI leaders of the future.
So where did it begin for me?
My journey began in 1990 with the decision to study mathematics and statistics at university. When Total Recall depicted self-driving cars controlled by AI and Terminator 2: Judgement Day stared a cyborg assassin from a world controlled by AI.
While I didn’t learn how to build self-driving car or autonomous robot, I did learn about the foundational approaches that we use to tackle big data and AI today. For example, probability theory such as Bayesian statistics, statistical theory such as linear modelling and optimisation techniques such as maximum likelihood. As well as programming and computational efficiency. But also automating intelligence through problem solving and logic. Robustness through validation and testing. Linguistics through natural language processing and ethics and responsibility by understanding and avoiding bias.
In its own way the SAS Global Academic Program extends the opportunity for todays students to explore these fields and develop the type of analytical and critical thinking that underpins the subject, through program of events such as the Student Connection Series.
Finding the breaks, making luck
In many ways starting university, making friends, learning to live away from home, is harder than learning about mathematics and statistics. But this too builds skill and resilience, that as you take your first steps towards your career path, develops the kind of personal and networking skills that grow as your professional career builds. And finding opportunities to apply what you’ve learnt is event more beneficial. Whether a gig with a local business or your own thing online, or a student or virtual project, the chance to put the theory you’ve learnt into practice helps connects the dots. And while it can take persistence to find these opportunities, this is also a lifelong lesson learnt, as the experiences we most value, tend to be the ones we work at most. Competitions like Curiosity Cup are fantastic ways to create these opportunities. And events like SAS University Days are great place to meet people, ask questions, share experiences, understand the range of journeys and of course build your own network.
Always looking forward
Coming back to the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report and the growth in the fields of Big Data, AI and Machine Learning and Software Development. The skill gap continues to be considered the biggest barrier to business transformation, with 63% of employers identifying it as a major barrier over the next 5 years.
Collaboration between academic institutions and industry is critical and continues to evolve when it comes to workforce development. Here in Australia, Melbourne Business School Centre for Business Analytics with Founding Partner SAS, is at the forefront of data-informed decision making, uniting scholars, practitioners, students, and organisations driven by the challenge of leveraging data for organisational success. University of Technology Sydney Innovation Hub features a state-of-the-art edge-to-enterprise AI and IoT streaming data processing research platform and unlocks the opportunity to tackle real-world use cases and put AI and machine learning models to work.
And further afield, Malaysia’s Quest International University's global partnerships programme has enhanced graduate employability through experiential learning opportunities. In India, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) collaborate with tech firms to create innovation hubs. This generates substantial annual research and development. In the UK, Early-Stage Prosperity Partnerships by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) bring universities and businesses together to tackle challenges like biodegradable polymers and aerospace materials.
My commitment
I’m passionate about education. That’s why I lead the SAS Global Academic Program. Since our founding in 1976 SAS has invested in higher education through software provision, curriculum support, enablement and research. It’s in the long-term interest of industry and higher education to maintain close ties, to embrace new directions in technology and support the development of critical skills and knowledge.
Worldwide over 4,000 higher education institutions and universities collaborate with SAS. In Australian and New Zealand, we support over 50 higher education institutions and universities Since our founding SAS has invested in higher education through free academic software, curriculum, enablement and research support, to support the academic community, develop innovative learning programs which bring AI and analytics into the classroom. And help students develop critical skills in-demand throughout industry.
I look forward to sharing more insight as to how over the coming months.
