Daily Archives: November 22, 2024

GUERS 2025: Top 10 US universities in the Data Science/AI and Business analytics category

Representational The university you choose plays a pivotal role in shaping your career prospects. With numerous global rankings available, students often turn to these lists to identify the best-fit institutions. One such noteworthy ranking is the Global Employability University Rankings (GEURS) 2025, which offers insights into the world’s top-performing universities. A standout segment within this ranking is ‘Digital Leaders in Higher Education’, spotlighting 200 institutions that excel in digital expertise and the integration of transferable digital skills into their curricula.This segment further breaks down into five specialized categories:Digital Entrepreneurship ProgramsComputer Science StudiesData Science/AI and Business AnalyticsDigital Transformation ManagementBest Online StudiesLet us find out how US universities performed in the ‘Data Science/AI and Business Analytics’ category. With several U.S. universities securing top spots, let’s explore the top 10 rank holders in this category.Data Science / AI & Business Analytics category: List of top 10 US universitiesName of the University Data Science /AI & Business Analytics global ranking US ranking Massachusetts Institute of Technology (incl. MIT Sloan School of Management)11Harvard University (incl. Harvard Business School) 22Columbia University (incl. Columbia Business School)33Stanford University 84Boston University 105The University of Texas at Aaustin276New York University 357The Wartan School – University of Pennsylvania 378Yale University 389Georgia Institute of Technology 3910The table highlights the dominance of US universities in the ‘Data Science / AI & Business Analytics’ category, with three institutions—MIT, Harvard, and Columbia—securing the global top 3 spots. Stanford University and Boston University also feature in the top 10 globally. The University of Texas at Austin, NYU, and Wharton (University of Pennsylvania) rank within the top 40, showcasing the country’s strong emphasis on blending cutting-edge digital education with business analytics. This underscores the US’s leadership in shaping digital-ready graduates.Global Top 10 in Data Science / AI & Business AnalyticsName of the University Global Ranking Country Harvard University (incl. Harvard Business School)1 USAUniversity of Cambridge 2UKMassachusetts Institute of Technology (incl. MIT Sloan School of Management)3USAUniversity of Oxford (incl. Saïd Business School)4UKTechnical University of Munich5Germany Columbia University (incl. Columbia Business School)6USA University of Toronto 7CanadaBoston University 8USA University of Melbourne 9Australia King’s College London 10UK The table highlights the top 10 global digital leaders in higher education, with the United States dominating the list, securing four spots. Harvard University ranks first, followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (3rd), Columbia University (6th), and Boston University (8th). This reflects the US’s stronghold in integrating digital innovation and leadership in higher education. The UK claims three positions, led by the University of Cambridge (2nd), while Germany, Canada, and Australia each feature one institution, showcasing global diversity in academic excellence.

SLOBOGIAN: Recent NDP changes threaten Manitoba’s business environment

Breadcrumb Trail LinksOpinionColumnistsPublished Nov 22, 2024  •  Last updated 2 hours ago  •  3 minute readManitoba’s new employment policies, like changing the apprenticeship ratio to 1-to-1 will hurt our small business, writes Slobogian. Photo by Gavin Young /PostmediaArticle contentThe Manitoba government’s recent labour reforms are creating an unsustainable and unpredictable environment for small businesses.Advertisement 2Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive columns by Ryan Stelter, Paul Friesen, Ted Wyman, Scott Billeck, Lorrie Goldstein, Warren Kinsella and others. Plus newsletters: Gimme Stelter for your beat on the city, The Exit Row for all your Jets news and On the Rocks for curling.Unlimited online access to Winnipeg Sun and 15 news sites with one account.Winnipeg Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive columns by Ryan Stelter, Paul Friesen, Ted Wyman, Scott Billeck, Lorrie Goldstein, Warren Kinsella and others. Plus newsletters: Gimme Stelter for your beat on the city, The Exit Row for all your Jets news and On the Rocks for curling.Unlimited online access to Winnipeg Sun and 15 news sites with one account.Winnipeg Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentWhile these changes have been branded as “pro-worker,” the reality is that these labour policies will drive up costs that are already too high and threaten small business viability. Many local small businesses and their employees will be left with mounting costs and compliance requirements that threaten their livelihoods.For example, the Manitoba government’s plan to move from a 2:1 to a 1:1 apprentice-to-journeyperson ratio highlights how out of touch the government is with the realities small businesses are facing.Many small firms are already struggling to find qualified tradespeople, and they now face the daunting task of finding and hiring even more journeypersons to accommodate new apprentices. While we recognize this change was made to enhance safety and training, for smaller companies, it’s an impractical burden that diminishes productivity and compounds their labour challenges.The Winnipeg Sun’s Daily Headline NewsGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don’t see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of The Winnipeg Sun’s Daily Headline News will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againArticle contentAdvertisement 3Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentAn HVAC and plumbing small business owner told us that “as a business, we invest heavily in top-notch training and safety, often surpassing Apprenticeship Manitoba’s standards. Instead of targeting those who cut corners, these new changes penalize everyone, making it harder for us to meet growing demand with fewer skilled workers.”Another blow to small businesses came with the Manitoba government’s repeal of The Public Sector Construction Projects (Tendering) Act. While non-unionized contractors aren’t explicitly barred from bidding, this legislation clearly indicates a preference for awarding contracts to those who embrace unionization, effectively creating a barrier for small, independent firms. This approach limits fair competition, raises project costs, and restricts growth opportunities for small businesses that have historically relied on public sector work to sustain and expand their operations. Similar agreements enacted in British Columbia have resulted in delayed projects and massive cost overruns.Advertisement 4Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentFurthermore, several proposed changes to Manitoba’s labour dispute laws show a similar disregard for small businesses. First, the prohibition of replacement workers during strikes will risk leaving local independent firms with no way to operate during labour disputes. Second, re-introducing automatic union certification further skews the system in favour of organized labour, stripping away the right to a secret ballot vote and imposing unions on businesses that often lack the resources to negotiate effectively.These labour dispute laws were introduced through the Manitoba Budget Implementation and Tax Statutes Amendment (BITSA) Bill 37 in March 2024. By introducing these changes through BITSA, the government appears to be explicitly ignoring public feedback on these bills, as BITSA (unlike other bills) is not required to go before Committee for debate. This lack of transparency has left business owners feeling shut out of critical conversations about policies that will directly affect their operations.Advertisement 5Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentIf this massive overhaul of the province’s labour rules wasn’t enough, the government has also introduced several other policies that will undoubtedly increase operating costs for small businesses.For example, the recent minimum wage hike has created more obstacles for many small businesses. Data from the latest Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) Business Barometer indicates three quarters (75%) say increased wage costs are their top financial constraint. While most Manitoba small business owners already pay above minimum wage, mandated wage increases force employers to bump all wages, even for those earning above the minimum, adding more stress to already strained budgets.In addition, the unemployment rate for young workers in Manitoba aged 15-24 has skyrocketed from 8% at the beginning of the year to 10.6% in September. Mandating wage increases not only strains small businesses’ budgets, but it increases the cost of hiring young workers — which means some may be left out of the job market.Advertisement 6Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentThen there’s the government’s plan to repeal Bill 16 — The Regulatory Accountability Reporting Act, which had established oversight to prevent regulatory overload. This accountability measure helped keep government-imposed regulations in check. By abandoning this Act, the government is opening the door to an unchecked increase in regulations — potentially piling on red tape that costs time and money without providing real benefits to Manitobans.If the Manitoba government is serious about serving all Manitobans, they must take a more balanced, thoughtful approach to future legislative changes. Instead of rushing through reforms with sweeping mandates, the government should slow down and work collaboratively with business owners and other stakeholders to craft policies that are fair, sustainable and ensure policies intended to support Manitoba workers don’t destroy the Manitoba businesses that employ them.— Tyler Slobogian is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Canadian Federation of Independent BusinessArticle contentShare this article in your social networkComments Join the Conversation Featured Local Savings

IT and business leaders face big gap in understanding of data priorities

Over three-quarters (77%) of business leaders claim it is easy to use the data they need for their jobs, yet IT people struggle with data management, research has found.

The Morning Consult survey of 4,000 business leaders and tech practitioners for Capital One found that 70% of IT staff report spending up to four hours a day fixing data issues, conducting quality checks or correcting errors.
According to Capital One, these ongoing struggles not only slow down workflows, but also point to deeper issues with data management and governance to ensure high-quality data.
The survey reported that although data culture is a top indicator of artificial intelligence (AI ) success among those polled, only 35% of respondents said they have a strong data culture, citing inconsistent support and education. In fact, over a fifth said their organisation lacks a strong data culture or there is inconsistent leadership support, talent development and education around data.
The majority (87%) of business leaders who participated in the survey believe their organisation has a sufficiently modern data ecosystem to build and deploy AI. The fact that only 13% of the technical people polled were confident they could fix data issues in less than an hour shows a disconnect between business goals and the technical implementation challenges that must be overcome to meet these objectives.
Companies are looking to deploy advanced artificial intelligence such as multi-modal AI, which requires the ability to process unstructured data in various formats and on a massive scale. However, according to Capital One, the contrast between perceived ease and the time spent resolving data problems highlights how many organisations overlook the result of poor data management in an increasingly complex environment.   
The survey also revealed inconsistency in how business leaders rank data security. While 76% ranked data security as their top concern in AI initiatives, followed by data quality (73%) and data management (65%), over half (53%) said their organisation prioritises data management to mitigate risk. In fact, 38% admit data management is given only moderate importance. Efforts to address security risks vary, with 58% of business leaders using data encryption, but only 20% using tokenisation.
When asked about their organisation’s progress with cloud integration, 41% of leaders and 33% of practitioners with advanced implementations said they are scaling automation technology across the enterprise. However, in those organisations at an early stage of implementation, 15% of leaders and 18% of practitioners are running pilots in some parts of the business.
Cloud integration is considered an important step in improving the data management required for AI. Terren Peterson, vice-president of engineering at Capital One, said: “Doing AI and ML [machine learning] is hard enough on its own.”
Organisations need to start with a good foundation of data, he said, and to achieve this, they should aim to build a data platform based on standardised data using a single data pipeline.
According to Peterson, those organisations that have fully embraced cloud technologies are in a better place in terms of the data management required to support AI, compared with those that rely on on-premise IT infrastructure. “Cloud-native organisations are just two or three clicks away from building their data platform,” he added.

Planting the seeds: Why adopting automation today will help grow your business tomorrow

By taking the leap into automation, UK businesses can unlock unparalleled efficiencies, driving innovation, and positioning themselves for long-term success.For many businesses, working hard has been replaced by a new mantra: working smart.Though it may sound cliché, working smart enables your business to make efficiencies, maximise creativity, and harness technology to achieve more with less effort.It’s important to note however that this shift is not about cutting corners: it’s about driving productivity and adapting to the realities of our modern economy, where marginal gains make all the difference. And, when it comes to working smart, one of the most powerful tools a business has at its disposal is automation.Whether you’re a startup striving for growth, a mid-sized company looking to scale, or a large enterprise focused on maintaining a competitive edge, automation offers many transformative benefits.In this article we’ll delve deeper into the advantages automation presents to companies of all sizes and the role it can play in driving your own business forward.Automation is accessibleOne of the most compelling aspects of automation is its universal applicability. Contrary to popular belief, automation is now accessible to businesses of all sizes due to advancements in technology and the availability of cost-effective tools.Cloud-based platforms and software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions allow small businesses to automate tasks like customer service using chatbots, social media management with tools like Buffer, or invoicing with apps like QuickBooks.Meanwhile, larger enterprises can employ more complex automation, such as robotic process automation (RPA) for streamlining operations. These tools are scalable, affordable, and require minimal technical expertise, making automation a practical solution for any business aiming to increase efficiency and reduce costs.Boosts productivity and efficiencyAutomation significantly enhances efficiency by streamlining repetitive tasks, reducing the time and effort required to complete them. For instance, automating customer relationship management (CRM) tasks, such as follow-up emails or data entry, empowers teams to focus on higher-value activities like building client relationships and developing strategic initiatives.Moreover, automation can lead to a substantial increase in productivity. Automated processes run 24/7, ensuring that critical tasks are completed without the delays associated with human intervention. This can be particularly beneficial for small businesses that may not have the resources to operate around the clock.Reduces costsWhile there is an initial investment involved in implementing automation, the long-term savings can be substantial. By reducing the need for manual labour, automation helps businesses cut down on operational costs. For example, automating inventory management can reduce errors and minimise excess stock, leading to significant savings in inventory holding costs.For smaller businesses, this can be a game-changer. With fewer resources at their disposal, SMEs often operate on thin margins. Automation allows these businesses to optimise their resources, ensuring that every pound spent contributes directly to growth and profitability.Improves accuracy and consistencyHuman error is inevitable, but it can be costly. Automation enhances accuracy by eliminating the variability associated with manual processes. Whether it’s processing transactions, managing data, or handling customer inquiries, automated systems perform tasks with precision and consistency.For mid-sized companies, where operations are expanding but resources are still limited, maintaining accuracy is crucial. Errors in data management, for example, lead to poor decision-making and lost opportunities. With automation, in-play data is accurate, up-to-date, and reliable, enabling better strategic decisions.Easily enables businesses to scale and flexibleAs businesses grow, their processes must scale accordingly.Automation provides the scalability that companies need to expand without proportionally increasing their overheads. This is particularly important for startups and SMEs, where rapid growth can strain existing resources. Automation enables these businesses to scale their operations seamlessly, meeting increased demand without compromising on quality or customer service.Moreover, automation offers the flexibility to adapt to changing business needs. Automated systems can be easily reconfigured to accommodate new processes, products, or market conditions, providing businesses with the agility to stay competitive.Enhances customer experienceIn today’s competitive marketplace, customer experience is a key differentiator. Automation can significantly enhance customer satisfaction by providing a faster, more efficient service. For instance, automated chatbots can handle customer inquiries in real-time, providing instant responses to common questions and freeing up human agents to handle more complex issues.For large enterprises, where customer interactions are often high-volume, automation ensures that no customer is left waiting. For smaller businesses, automation enables them to provide a level of service that rivals larger competitors, helping them build and maintain customer relationships.Provides valuable data-driven insightsAutomation doesn’t just perform tasks—it generates valuable data that can provide insights into business operations. By analysing this data, businesses can identify trends, optimise processes, and make informed decisions.For example, automated systems can track customer behaviour, providing insights into purchasing patterns that can inform marketing strategies. For businesses of all sizes, these insights are invaluable for staying ahead of the competition and responding to market changes proactively.The future of business will be powered by automationThe future of business is undoubtedly automated. As technology continues to advance, the scope of automation will only expand, encompassing more complex tasks and processes. Businesses that embrace automation today will be well-positioned to leverage these future developments, gaining a competitive edge in their industries.For small and medium-sized businesses, the journey to automation may seem daunting, but the rewards are worth the effort. By starting with simple, high-impact processes and gradually expanding automation efforts, businesses can achieve significant gains in efficiency, productivity, and profitability.Automation is no doubt a powerful tool that can drive growth, enhance efficiency, and improve customer satisfaction for businesses of all sizes. By embracing automation, companies are unlocking their full potential, ensuring long-term success in an increasingly competitive and dynamic business environment.If you’re a looking to gain a better understanding on the right automation tools to help drive your business forward, head over to the Vodafone V-Hub to speak with a dedicated adviser today – either over the phone or online – free of charge. Share via: