Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1363129
13 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 APRIL 2021 OPINION Why data science matters LIFE is changing so fast that com- ing across new terminology is nothing strange. Burning Glass Technologies is an an- alytics software company that has built the largest and most sophisticated da- tabase on the labour market and the skills needed for a continuously chang- ing labour environment. Through their method of data scraping of cur- rent vacancies and the skills required by each of these vacancies, they can then use that knowledge to inform the needs for new training programmes to upskill current and future workers, and in turn also provide the basis for new higher education programmes or changes to existing courses. This is only one way how data is be- ing used as a powerful tool to prepare and be proactive for tomorrow's econ- omy. The data scientist is one of the new jobs that is framing the future. So much information is provided by in- dividuals in their daily lives, whether they are opening a new bank account, chatting on WhatsApp, posting on Facebook, ordering a product via the internet, applying for a loyalty card, sending in their cv for different jobs, driving certain types of cars, reading a newspaper online, paying with credit cards, carrying a mobile wherever one goes and so many more mundane ac- tivities. These are all providing data to com- panies who collect them to then sell them on to interested persons. The adverts that appear on my laptop are not the same that appear on yours. Since the data they collect on each of us is different, even our preferences and choices are not the same. Such da- ta analysis is thus a means of targeting clients with specific marketing strate- gies. Similarly, data scientists can be used to analyse in real-time the skills need- ed in the labour market. Jobsplus data shows that during 2020 the economy created over 20,000 vacancies, roughly 400 a week. The type of skills they require form the basis for a database which will help institutions organize reskilling and up- skilling training programmes which businesses need. Data scientists can come from different academic back- grounds, but knowing technologies such as Python and R is the first step to be able to manage the quintillion bytes of data which are produced on a daily basis in the business environment. Most data scientists come from four main academic fields: data science & analysis; computer science; statistics & mathematics; and economics & social sciences. The Skills Needs Database would provide significant backing for the Human Capital Research Project sponsored by the HSBC Malta Foun- dation and supported by the Ministry for Education, the Malta Chamber of Commerce, the Malta Business Bu- reau, the University of Malta and the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology. The project aims to analyse the cur- rent and future economic environ- ments and their impact on Malta's labour market while also highlighting the skills needed. Through this project, we must en- sure to prepare our country to tackle the challenges arising from the digital world of tomorrow. measures they can take to ensure their consumption is responsible and safe on an individual level. Such social enterprises would also ensure social equality when it comes to access. In my proposal, enterprises would be able to grow plants for citizens who do not have the means to grow cannabis in their own residence, due to is- sues such as cost, space or direct access to sunlight. Additionally they would be mandated to use sus- tainable growing meth- ods which do not include harmful pesticides, GMOs or synthetic properties. Additionally, I would like to see such enterprises provide specific informa- tion on the THC to CBD content and the specific effects that specific strains can give to individuals de- pending on the type and breeding of the strain. This will ensure that con- sumers are choosing the right product for their needs, and will ensure that everyone in the country has fair and equal access to this civil freedom. Such a policy would en- sure that a number of re- quirements needed to mit- igate public concern can finally be fulfilled – such as public health, public safety, transparency and accountability. It allows a legal security for consumers, ensures affordable access, ensures young people are effec- tively kept far away from cultivation; controls pro- duction in terms of bet- ter-quality THC, CDB and CBN by ensuring control and balance; creates a strong sense of sensibilisa- tion, empowers consum- ers and the general public with accurate, scientific information and ensures a transparent relationship between growers and con- sumers. Dr Rose Marie Azzopardi is an economist Prof Alexiei Dingli, is Professor of Artificial Intelligence Dr Rose Marie Azzopardi & Prof Alexiei Dingli