The Universiti Malaya Data Analytics Club (UMDAC) recently hosted its flagship event, the Data Science Digital Race 2024, a one-of-a-kind competition designed to push participants' skills in various domains such as mathematics, statistics, programming, machine learning, and data analysis. The event, which spanned three days, saw participants face increasingly challenging tasks with the theme of "Space Exploration," adding a creative twist to the competition.
With nearly 300 participants from over 30 institutions across 11 nationalities, the competition truly embodied the global spirit of collaboration and learning. The event was officiated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suraya Hamid, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology UM, who commended UMDAC's initiative and commitment.
“I wish all participants the best and hope you fully enjoy this experience, UMDAC organized this event as part of its mission to provide students with hands-on experience in solving real-world problems using data science and machine learning techniques. The aim was to simulate real-world scenarios, giving participants the opportunity to enhance their practical skills, showcase their knowledge, and foster creativity and innovation in tackling data-driven challenges,” Dr. Suraya added.
According to Sarah Liyana Hadzir, Section Head, Talent Attraction & HR Partner and also one of the event’s sponsors, UMobile, expressed enthusiasm for future collaborations. "We understand the power of data as a key driver of innovation. We are excited to see the next generation of data experts and are looking forward to the positive outcomes from this event. UMDAC hopes to strengthen its partnerships with industry leaders as it continues to foster a community of data enthusiasts and innovators,”.
The event concluded with a thrilling awards ceremony where 1 champion, 2 runner-ups, and 10 consolation prize winners were announced. Additionally, 10 lucky participants received exciting giveaways, bringing the total prize pool to RM10,000. Participants also had the chance to earn free certifications in in-demand data science skills, further preparing them for future industry opportunities.
During the closing ceremony, a MoneyLion Machine Learning Scientist highlighted the critical role of data in solving real-world problems. AI and machine learning are all about features and data. We have entire teams dedicated to feature generation, ensuring scalability on a large scale. The importance of mastering data manipulation was emphasized as a crucial factor in driving business value and innovation.
The competition featured a rigorous structure that tested participants' abilities through a series of challenges, each increasing in difficulty. Participants tackled brain-wrecking tasks, which some described as “exciting yet very challenging” and “the most interesting challenges I've ever seen”, offering a break from the conventional textbook approach to problem-solving.
UMDAC's future aspirations include continuing to pioneer such creative competitions that challenge participants to think critically and outside the box. The club has plans for more innovative events, including their upcoming flagship event, Datathon, aimed at further pushing the boundaries of data science learning.Please follow our Instagram (@um_dac) for more information.