How Filipino Youth can use data science to make a difference

It has only been a decade since D.J. Patil, and Jeff Hammerbacher coined the term “data science”, but it already managed to become the best job in America according to Glassdoor. In fact, if you are a data scientist, you are one of the kickass professionals, who have the sexiest job in the 21st century.

But why exactly is it important? The answer is simple. Data science made it possible to analyze just about anything. It allowed organizations make sense of data-driven insights to help them thrive in the ever-changing digital economy. From making businesses more efficient and competitive to improving outcomes in different systems, data science changed the way we interact with today’s digital technologies.

Put simply, learning about data science now can give you a leg up in your search for a “future-proof” career. Millennials have now become the Philippines’ largest segment of today’s workforce and  many organizations are  starting to see the benefits of having highly-skilled young professionals to fill lucrative and sought-after positions.

This is what the ASEAN Foundation and enterprise software company, SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) believe in, as they partnered anew for the second ASEAN Data Science Explorers (ADSE), a data analytics competition, which aims to enhance the awareness and appreciation of the ASEAN community among students through digital literacy intervention.

Why should you take part in this data science competition among others? Here are 3 reasons why:

	1.     Help address pressing key issues Living in a globalized and interconnected world allows the youth to be more engaged in a lot of pressing issues we face today. With digitization becoming a pivotal force in the world, both the public and the private sector, need to work together in building a platform for the youth who wish to seek changes in society. ADSE makes it possible by believing in the Filipino youth’s ability to lead the conversation in addressing social problems. ADSE is aware that pushing the boundaries of what the youth can do will allow them to make positive changes in the country. This contributes to realizing the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025 vision of creating an ASEAN community that engages and benefits the people and is inclusive, sustainable, resilient and dynamic.
	2.     A chance to have a glimpse of the industry Gone are the days when you have to apply for a post and you just have an inch of information and experience about the latest developments in the industry. Nowadays, initiatives like ADSE make it possible for the young generation to understand how the industry works. By taking advantage of how data science can be used to build a skilled workforce through training and workforce development programs that help drive social progress, the ADSE allows them to be involved in their community by proposing innovative solutions that positively impact society while, at the same time, showcasing their ability to address their chosen social issue. ADSE understands that allowing the youth to go through every process can help in propelling them to make social change.
	3.     Learn the latest technologies Through the competition, participating students will be given access to ASEAN data and SAP Analytics Cloud platform. It is a platform for ideas to help raise relevant issues that based on six goals  that can contribute to the ASEAN Economic Blueprint 2025 and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025. These six goals are the six categories for this competition and are also part of the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs). “Our presentation focused on the development of sustainable cities and communities. We decided to delve into this topic because we believe that there is still so much to be done to achieve it. Getting the necessary insights on how we can help make cities more sustainable is vital not just for the Philippines, but for all of ASEAN,” shared Miguel Tolipas, one of the members of VizziePeople, the winning team from last year’s competition.

ASEAN Foundation and SAP actively supportthe development of the youth to push their vision to help shape the future by harnessing data to highlight key social issues and propose solutions to make a difference.

For further information on how to join ASEAN Data Science Explorers, check out this guide on how to get started