Data and Knowledge Paris-Saclay University

Overview

The curriculum brings together a variety of subjects from the fields of data management, knowledge management and knowledge engineering, and machine learning, and data mining. Topics include system design and architecture, storage, indexing and optimization, data analytics, knowledge representation and reasoning, semantic interoperability, and data mining, all with a special focus on processing very large amounts of data.

The Master Degree in Data and Knowledge is offered by Paris-Saclay University.

The unique combination of these disciplines distinguishes us from the other M2 tracks that focus either on data management or machine learning and data mining. Another key feature is that the Data&Knowledge track is in English.

The program will allow you to

• look under the hood of technologies that big data players such as Google, Twitter, and Facebook leverage
• learn the principles of semantic data representation, which makes machines “understand” data
• understand how machines (and humans) reason on data
• discover different types of data in a variety of applications, such as bioinformatics, social media, and the Web

Goals

The rise of user-web interaction and networking, coupled with technological advances in processing power and storage capability, has led to a growing demand for effective and sophisticated techniques for discovering and managing knowledge. Businesses need to transform large quantities of raw data into knowledge, and they rely on modern database and knowledge management systems to make informed and often business-critical decisions. Similarly, scientists have to process massive amounts of data to gain new insights and advance reseach.

The master program will equip students with the fundamental knowledge, technical skills and concrete applied methodologies for exploiting and making sense of large real-world data sets, which are typically very large and may consist of multiple heterogeneous databases and knowledge bases. In particular, students will acquire experience in using and developing data-supported smart services and tools for data-driven decision making and will learn how to master technical and scientific challenges in processing large data and knowledge. The program will prepare students for careers as information management professionals or data-savvy IT generalists, or for research in areas related to discovery and management of very large data and knowledge.

Big Data

"Big Data" has become a buzz word in recent times. Candidates are advised that actually studying the science and technology behind Big Data is an endeavor that is more arduous than the buzz word suggests. It involves learning the theoretical background, the tools, and the algorithms that are used to treat large data volumes. In return, students will be prepared for the professional or academic future even when the hype around Big Data ceases one day.

The Data & Knowledge program also teaches the basics of machine learning, but this is not the main focus of the program. Students who wish to deepen their knowledge in machine learning can use the "Module Liberté" to this end. The Module Liberté is an optional course that can be chosen among all data-oriented courses offered at Paris-Saclay -- for example a course from the machine learning program. The Module Liberté is a particular advantage of the Data & Knowledge program; other programs do not allow this flexibility.

Professional careers

The Data&Knowledge track will prepare students for careers as information management professionals or data-savvy IT generalists, or for research in areas related to discovery and management of very large data and knowledge. Potential carreers include : IT executives in businesses, careers in research and development in universities and private research, IT careers in large companies and start-ups. Targeted job profiles are software engineer, data scientists, software and system architects, quality engineers, project managers, engineers, or researcher.

Research Careers

The combination of big data and semantics in all of its forms is an active field of research. Students will be prepared for research in Web technologies, the Social Web, Data Analytics, Big Data Management, Knowledge Base Management, Information Extraction, Information Retrieval, Databases, Data Warehousing, Knowledge Representation, and Distributed Data Management.

Students who wish to pursue a PhD afterwards are more than encouraged to do that. The Paris Saclay University and the associated research labs (INRIA, CNRS, etc.) offer an optimal environment for a PhD, and our program is an optimal preparation for this path.

International perspective

The Data&Knowledge program is an international program that is held in English. It explicitly welcomes foreign applicants. Developing language skills will be an integral part of the mandatory soft-skills course. The program is taught in English.