College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2022 64 Centre for Applied Data Science (CADS) Siya Mhlongo Head (Acting): Centre for Applied Data Science (CADS) School of Consumer Intelligence and Information Systems College of Business and Economics OVERVIEW The Centre for Applied Data Science (CADS) is the expression of the passion of the CBE to embed data science into the teaching, research, and community efforts of the college. This is uncommon since most data science programmes are designed for the sciences. The Centre has a clear mission: to provide evidencebased insights that uncover new opportunities and pathways, shaping the experiences of our students and staff, our organisations, communities, and society. With this goal in mind, we aspire to be Africa’s leading centre for data science applications. We aim to produce outstanding research, learning programmes, and insights, delivering exceptional value to our stakeholders, partners, and collaborators. We are committed to utilising the latest data science methodologies and cutting-edge technologies to drive innovation and solve complex problems impacting people’s lives in Africa and beyond. We have fostered robust national and international collaborations with renowned institutions such as TBS Education in France, Sol Plaatje University in South Africa, and the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA). These partnerships have significantly enhanced our research, teaching, and learning efforts. One of our most notable achievements in 2022 was successfully organising the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Day event. The event brought together researchers, educators, and practitioners to showcase their ideas and praxis in AI. The event coincided with the Centre’s official launch, which was marked by addresses from the outgoing VC, Prof. Marwala, and current DVC, Prof. Sinha. The centre has identified five focus areas: Postharvest Agriculture, Smart Mobility, Learning
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