University, PCBS to cooperate in data science

President of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) Ola Awad met with Birzeit University President Abdullatif Abuhijleh on October 31, 2019, to look into channels for cooperation in the field of data science.

Attending the meeting were Dean of Student Affairs Mohammad Al Ahmad; Director of the Center for Continuing Education Marwan Tarazi; the director of the master’s program in applied statistics and data sciences, Hassan Abu Hassan; the director of the master’s program in community and public health, Abdullatif Husseini; assistant professor at the Department of Economics Tareq Sadeq; and professor in computer science Mustafa Jarrar.

The university and PCBS agreed to investing significate resources into efforts to develop the field of data science at the university, focusing especially on applied statistics. Both parties affirmed the importance of providing training opportunities and workshops to students in order to enhance their skills in this field.

Abuhijleh said that the university looks forward to this cooperation with PCBS and hopes to offer in-depth educational experiences that focus on data science, which carries heightened significance in the era of artificial intelligence and information technology, as there is an increasing need for professionals in data science.

Awad stressed the bureau’s commitment to invest into data science education. She emphasized PCBS’s belief in the importance of networking and of building connections with higher education institutions to empower the younger generation with the awareness and skills needed to handle the digital world.