Data Science

New Jersey’s technology industry depends on the availability of a well-skilled workforce at all levels. Demand for technology workers is expected to increase exponentially through the end of the decade largely driven by the rapid adoptions of innovations in technology, particularly in the field of data analytics, artificial intelligence.  The significant demand for technology workers is and will continue to be driven in large party by the need for speed related to quantum computing, automation learning and machine learning.  

The technology industry faces short-term, medium-term and long-term staffing shortages. In the long term, New Jersey’s technology industry sector should move toward a skills-based hiring process. Lifelong learning is a reality in today’s economy.  Equitable access to skills development is essential.  Companies need to offer skills-based hiring plus continuous learning.  Large companies have the capacity to provide the upskilling. 

The NJ Pathways Center of Workforce Innovation for Data Science initiative is to transform and strengthen the links between education and the state’s economy to ensure New Jersey has the most skilled, well educated, and innovative workforce. Four community colleges were identified by NJCCC to lead this initiative: Brookdale Community College, Camden County College, Middlesex College and County College of Morris . These colleges have worked extensively over the past year on the following six deliverables: high school connections, adult non-credit, experiential learning, professional development, articulation agreements and prior learning assessments.  The Data Analytics work produced by the NJ Pathways will achieve closing this skills gap and provide students with the knowledge to enter the workforce and labor market with data analytics acumen required to pursue a career in this field.  

The Data Science Pathway was successful in creating equitable pathways to a data science education and career. Specifically, eight high schools were identified as being partners in offering data science courses for dual enrollment. Several new programs, three certificates, and five courses in Data Science were created or revised and improved. Ramapo University and County College of Morris executed an articulation agreement on February 1, 2023 which aligns CCM’s Associates degree in Data Science with Ramapo University’s Bachelor of Science in Data Science. 

Community Colleges have recognized the need for adult learners to improve their current skills and increase their knowledge in the field of data science. Adult learners recognize the value of learning new and modern technology to improve their skills for a promotion, new job or current position.  

The County College of Morris created two non-credit certificates in Data Analytics and Data Visualization. The Data Analytics certificate offers students a five-course sequence where they learn Business Analytics, Visual Basic, R Statistical Programming and Tableau. The Data Visualization certificate offers students a four-course sequence where they learn Tableau and, by the end of the program, they will have the knowledge to sit for the Tableau Desktop Specialization Exam, an industry-recognized credential in Data Analytics. 

County College of Morris created three new internship credit courses for students seeking to begin their career in Data Analytics. Faculty from several community colleges took part in professional development, ranging from Alteryx training, attending a conference at the National Academies of Sciences and the NSF-sponsored National Convergence Center in Texas as well as enrolling in IBM Data Science Courses offered through Coursera. 

A collection of train-the-trainer resources for Professional Development opportunities was discovered, compiled, utilized and shared among team members during 2022. These will eventually be shared with other education institutions statewide.   

Four faculty passed the Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer Certification (PCEP) Python Industry exam. Forty-one participants across eleven community colleges attended the data science meeting hosted by Mathematics Association of Two Year Colleges of New Jersey. 

Lastly, The NJCCC Data Science pathway work was recently recognized in Forbes magazine, “New NSF Funding to Bolster Community College, HBCU Capacity for the Innovation Economy” (12/13/22), for our efforts in offering data science bootcamps and short courses (Middlesex) and collaboration with K-12 programs (Morris) in the area of data science.  

The work created and produced over the past year by the four participating colleges in the NJ Pathways Data Science pathway will be instrumental in leading the state and other community colleges to deliver data science initiatives that help grow our workforce and educate society.