Having spent more than a decade in the field of consulting as a data scientist, Hirotoshi Nakahara has witnessed first-hand how quickly technology and software are advancing. The breakneck speed at which his field has progressed convinced Hirotoshi that despite his work experience, he needed to refresh his skillset to keep pace with the innovation and disruption he saw happening all around him. It was then that he decided to enrol in the NUS Master of Science (MSc) (Smart Industries and Digital Transformation) programme.

A Cumulative Update on His Skillsets

Going into the MSc (Smart Industries and Digital Transformation) programme, he had a clear vision of what he intended to achieve.

‘“The plan was to heighten my expertise, so my aim was take courses about deep learning models in Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications. That was key for me,” he shared.

Along this vein, two of the courses he took stood out to him. The first, Digital Infrastructure and Transformation (IND5004), taught students about the journey of digitalisation in transforming organisations, including how they operate, manufacture products and deliver services. His biggest take away from the course was the opportunity to further refine his project management skills, which are often-overlooked but critically important in the workplace.

The second course that stood out to Hirotoshi was Pattern Recognition Systems (ISY 5002). During the course, he had an opportunity to study a case where the AI transformation project failed. While learning what it takes for a project to succeed is important, it is no less valuable to learn why another failed. In addition to this, the course also gave Hirotoshi a chance to hone his technical skills, learning about deep learning models as well as analyses using basic algorithm and modelling methodologies.

The skills and techniques that he learnt in the programme all came to head when he had the opportunity to put his newly learnt skills into practise to work on a project outside of his industry.

Putting It All Together

Hirotoshi’s capstone project involved him and his teammates looking into creating a deep learning modelling system to spot defects in manufactured semiconductor parts. With the support of the organisation sponsoring the project, they set out to create the model. Their aim was to achieve a 95% rate of accuracy in spotting defects by the end of the project.

The workload was divided based on the respective strengths of the team members. While his teammates focused on researching similar programming modelling systems and later putting together the final report on their capstone project, Hirotoshi managed the development of the model. To complete his task, he drew from the learning he had gained from two courses in the MSc (Smart Industries and Digital Transformation) programme: Deep Learning and Applications, and Pattern Recognition Systems.

Hirotoshi reflected on his experience in the capstone project with great fondness. It not only allowed him to extend his knowledge of deep learning system usage into a different industry, but also provided him with hands-on experience in working with a multidisciplinary team, synergising towards a common goal.

The diversity in the backgrounds of students in the programme was definitely a boon for Hirotoshi. The MSc (Smart Industries and Digital Transformation) programme is tailored for graduates who desire to possess the skills and know-how to lead transformation to enhance productivity in their workplace, and it welcomes professionals from different fields of study although a background in STEM is preferred.

This diversity enabled Hirotoshi to establish relationships with a wide range of professionals working across various industries. It was something of a “side benefit” in addition to his primary goal of updating his skillset through formal learning. He learned more about different industries, career advancement strategies as well as other valuable insights from his fellow students.

Flexible Curriculum, Customised Results

When asked why he decided on the MSc (Smart Industries and Digital Transformation) programme against the other options available, Hirotoshi shared two factors that sealed the deal for him.

First, the programme’s part-time study option allowed him to continue working while studying. As a mid-career professional, Hirotoshi felt it was important for him to have the ability to draw a sufficient income and keep his career momentum going, even as he sought to upgrade himself.

Second, he was attracted by what the programme offered, in terms of its scope, flexibility and quality. The curriculum was customisable to his needs and requirements, allowing to him to focus on honing his skills in AI applications and deep learning, even while he gained a broad exposure to digital transformation across various business environments. In addition, he was aware NUS was ranked among the top universities in the world.

Hirotoshi feels that candidates who are interested in applying for the MSc (Smart Industries and Digital Transformation) programme should not be deterred by the admission requirement for them to possess programming knowledge.

“You do not need to have a high technical ability in programming to join,” Hirotoshi said. “The ability to read and understand the coding language would be of greater benefit as there are various tools available to assist in the coding process.”

Digital transformation has now progressed to the point that it is affecting how digital transformation itself is being implemented. Coding used to be a specialised skill requiring intensive training, but there now exist tools to help everyday folk write the codes they need. This underscores the importance of keeping up and evolving with the requirements of the modern-day workplace, which is the aim of MSc (Smart Industries and Digital Transformation).

A Path with Many Roads

Now Hirotoshi finds himself at a crossroads, contemplating the diverse career paths available to him. One option is to increase his knowledge and keep abreast with the developments in AI.

“Taking up a PhD is a path I am considering. If so, I would be very interested in pursing AI Learning as my subject focus,” Hirotoshi shared.

Another option is to pursue project management or a supervisory role in data science. This path resonates with him, given his experience in crunching and managing data. With the perspectives he has gained from doing both, he fully understands the pain points that can arise during projects, and he sees how he can leverage on his experience to acts an intermediary connecting and coordinating the work of professionals focusing on the two sets of tasks.

A third option he is considering would be to teach. While volunteering in countries such as Cambodia and Myanmar, Hirotoshi realised that he found a lot of pleasure and enjoyment in teaching basic programming to youth. Initially just a passing idea in his mind, it has since become more compelling since he sees it as “giving back” to the industry.

Even as he ponders his next steps, it is obvious that this Master’s Degree has provided Hirotoshi with no lack of options when it comes to career opportunities. Beyond just upgrading and updating his skillsets, he has now found other new and exciting paths that he can follow as he shapes his future.