We attended Data Science Day at Noroff to gain an industry perspective on the essential skills of the future. Mastering AI as a tool will be crucial in the tech industry.
Data Science Day was hosted at Noroff’s Oslo campus, featuring inspiring talks by industry experts who provided insights into the daily work in various data-related roles. The event was open to both online and on-campus students and was also streamed for those unable to attend in person. Each speaker highlighted the real-life challenges, responsibilities and benefits of their role, providing valuable perspectives on the data industry.
Bringing students and the industry together
The event was organised by the Noroff University Learning Committee as part of their «Thinking Thursday» series. This series has become a collaborative platform connecting academic learning with professional experience, encouraging students to think beyond the classroom.
- For students, Data Science Day is a unique opportunity to explore career paths in technology, connect with professionals, and gain practical insights into how data skills are applied across industries – from cybersecurity to machine learning, says Grethel Lagulao Mabilangan, head of the Learning Environment Committee.
For students, Data Science Day is a unique opportunity to explore career paths in technology. Grethel Lagulao Mabilangan
Head of the Learning Environment Committee, Grethel Lagulao Mabilangan. Photo: Elisabeth Larsen.
The future needs of the tech industry
The invited speakers were Ashish Singh, Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft Norway, Nima Darabi, Data Scientist at Sunstone Institute and CEO of Skoog, and Arturo Opsetmoen, Data and Machine Learning Engineer at Opsetmoen Amador Data Consulting.
AI will not replace you, a person using AI will. Ashish Singh
From left: Ashish Singh, Nima Darabi, and Arturo Opsetmoen. Photo: Elisabeth Larsen.
- I was a student myself two years ago, so I understand how it feels to be insecure about the future and the skills needed. I realised how important it is to share experiences and knowledge to help others on their journey, says Ashish.
The three speakers shared clear thoughts on the skills that will be important in the coming years.
- Prompt engineering will be essential. Using AI is a powerful productivity booster that allows you to solve tasks in seconds, says Ashish.
Nima agrees:
- Students should not be afraid of Artificial intelligence. As is often said: AI will not replace you, a person using AI will. The same goes for data science, where creativity is key. There are far more patterns in data than what you initially look for, and the human element will always be necessary to identify and understand how to use those patterns, he says.
Arturo highlights communication skills and collaboration as critical success factors in the tech industry.
- This can also mean collaborating with chatbots, such as asking the right questions to get the answers you need. By interacting with tools like GPT or Claude, you can learn a lot of tricks that make your job easier, he says.
AI in education
Noroff is focusing on integrating artificial intelligence into their programmes, a significant advantage for students as they enter the workforce, according to the three industry experts.
- Stay ahead by using AI as much as possible, without apologising for it. Today's students have a unique advantage over previous generations. They have the resources to achieve in three to five years what took me 20 years. The goal is to use large data sets to create value, and AI is an excellent tool for learning and creating, says Nima.
The talks gave me insights into opportunities I had not considered before. Camilla Mikkelsen Nielsen
Student Camilla Mikkelsen Nielsen. Photo: Elisabeth Larsen.
One of the participants at Data Science Day was Camilla Mikkelsen Nielsen, who is a member of the learning environment committee and a student on the Cyber Security programme. She finds the Thinking Thursday events both enjoyable and useful, providing a great space to meet industry professionals and fellow students.
- I have a clear idea of what I want to do after my studies, but the talks have given me an insight into opportunities I had not considered before, she says.
Camilla says that through her cyber security studies she has learnt about artificial intelligence and its applications in cyber security.
- One of the courses in particular covered a lot of AI. It was a lot to take in at first, but I find it both interesting and relevant, she adds.
📷: The program included talks, followed by pizza and mingling.
