Master in AI & Data Analytics for Business Program

Innovate with artificial intelligence. Lead with analytics.

  • Format

    3 Terms + Capstone Project

  • Languages

    English

  • Location

    Lille

  • Fees

    €19,700 (Fast Track) / €22,700 (Regular Track)

  • Intake

    September

  • Credits

    120 ECTS

Accreditations

Program

The Master in AI & Data Analytics for Business is designed to help participants spotting the business challenges that are solvable with the AI methods and tools by converting data into valuable insights.

The program is offered on a full-time basis and consists of two (fast track) or three (regular track) academic semesters followed by an internship or master thesis semester. The academic semesters are developed around core courses in business, technology, and methodology in the field of AI and data analytics.

All academic semesters are on premise, except the second part of the third semester of the regular track which starts in August and is delivered in an asynchronous mode. This allows participants to start their internship or master thesis semester in early September.

In a connected world, data provides companies with the opportunity to align their decision-making strategy with objective facts and figures. Participants will learn how to become data scientists, and will be able to spot analytical opportunities for a given business context.

Program structure

IÉSEG’s Master in AI & Data Analytics for Business is designed for students who are eager to live a multicultural and international experience, and offers two different tracks based on participants’ academic background:

> Fast Track: Participants who have 4 years of higher education (4-year Bachelor, Master or “M1” validated by an official degree equivalent to at least 240 ECTS credits) may request exemption from the 3rd term.

> Regular Track: for all participants. Mandatory for participants who have 3 years of higher education (3-year Bachelor, Licence/ “Bac+3”) validated by an official degree equivalent to 180 ECTS credits.

> IÉSEG reserves the right to admit candidates with a 4-year degree into the Regular Track depending on the quality of their application.
> Due to a bilateral agreement between India and France, Indian students are required to take the Regular Track, regardless of the length of the Bachelor’s degree obtained.

Course Content

The program is offered on a full-time basis and consists of two (fast track) or three (regular track) academic semesters followed by an internship or master thesis semester.

ECTS

Business

10

Foundations of AI & Data Analytics

2

This course introduces the participants to the field of AI and data analytics for business from a strategic angle. Various case studies are exposed to the participants to let them critically reflect how AI and data science might deliver added value for companies across different industries.

AI & Data Strategy

2

This course covers how to leverage company data and AI to create value and to build a competitive advantage. At the end of the course, participants can understand and manage the data lifecycle and implement a data strategy for a given company setting.

Business Ethics & Managerial Behavior 1

1

In this course, participants navigate professional AI dilemmas using CSR and ethics principles. They generate sustainable solutions, catalyzing positive change. With an international mindset, they adeptly navigate global landscapes in the AI field. Collaborating in intercultural teams, they drive innovation through AI and data analytics. Through sharpening their presentation techniques, they convey powerful messages. Additionally, they assess and uphold organizational values, ensuring ethical alignment.

Business Ethics & Managerial Behavior 2

2

This course zooms in onto the most important aspects of data privacy in the context of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the European AI act. At the end of the course, the participants know how to treat (company) data and develop AI solutions in an ethical and responsible way.

Industry Perspectives on AI & Data Analytics

1

This course gives insight into the various real-life aspects of AI solutions and data analytics. Real-life case studies are presented to reveal best practices for AI and data analytics. At the end of the course, participants have a better view on spotting AI opportunities in business.

Project Management

2

The course tackles the basic principles of the project management field. Project management is a managerial discipline that is inevitable in an AI and data-driven business contexts nowadays. In multiple industries as diverse as retail, financial services, pharmaceuticals, software and aerospace, AI projects drive business. Effective project management often translates into gleaming new opportunities that often translate into increased sales.

Technology

28

Advanced Spreadsheet Analysis

2

The course introduces advanced principles of Microsoft Excel, a tool essential for handling both internal and external company data. As the volume of data continues to grow, employees are increasingly required to enhance their analytical abilities to manage these data efficiently and effectively. By the course’s conclusion, participants achieve mastery in utilizing Microsoft Excel to process, analyze and visualize data.

AI & Data Analytics Technologies

5

This course introduces participants to the most popular commercial data & AI technologies. Participants learn about the advantages and disadvantages of using these commercial software packages. Most of the attention goes to the acquisition of relevant skills that will enable participants to flourish in a data-driven environment and understand how to create value using AI.

Big Data

6

This course centers around big data processing and storage and introduces cloud platforms and streaming. Participants are exposed to leading concepts and technologies in big data such as Spark and Hadoop.

Data Visualization

5

The objective of this course is to introduce participants to data visualization using Tableau. The participants will see the best practices of data visualization, learn how to make compelling dashboards, and perform visual analytics using Tableau.

Python Programming for Data Science

5

The objective of this course is to introduce participants to Python programming. At the end of this course, participants are fluent in advanced Python programming.

SQL Essentials for Business Reporting

5

This course covers the concepts of relational databases and the industry standard of Structured Query Language (SQL). This course gives the participants the ability to extract relevant information for AI and data analytics from databases using SQL.

Methodology

26

Descriptive and Predictive Analytics

4

In this course, participants are introduced to the foundational principles of descriptive and predictive analytics. They learn essential techniques for analyzing historical data to understand past events and are acquainted with the basic concepts of predictive analytics for predicting future outcomes.

Deep Learning

3

This course offers its participants a profound introduction to deep neural networks. At the end of the course, participants can spot opportunities to apply deep learning in a real-life business context, while implementing them successfully.

Foundations of Applied Optimization Models and Methods

2

This course provides an applied perspective on mathematical programming (MP), instead of focusing on algorithms. In particular, it serves 3 purposes: (i) providing a selective catalogue of practical MP problems faced by managers, (ii) linking these problems to the different types of mathematical optimization methods, (iii) formulating MP problems and interpreting their solutions within a spreadsheet.

Large-Scale Optimization Models and Methods

3

This course provides technical understanding and operational knowledge about the theory and practice of numerical optimization, with particular focus on large-scale applications and big data. At the end of the course, participants are able to effectively design optimization models and provide AI solutions to ensure their direct applicability.

Time Series Forecasting

2

This course delves into the essential techniques for forecasting future trends and patterns based on historical data using time-series analysis. Participants will gain the expertise to make informed decisions across industries based on the forecasted outputs.

Interpretable Data Science

2

This course introduces various visualization tools to reveal hidden patterns in complex data structures or to help in opening black-box algorithms. At the end of the course, participants can improve decision-making by proposing performant AI and data science solutions for the business decision-maker.

Natural Language Processing

2

Natural language processing is a flourishing subdomain of AI and data analytics. This course introduces how textual data delivers value to businesses and details the various data preprocessing steps on how to convert text to a numeric format that could then be used in AI solutions.

Recommendation Tools 

2

In this course, the participant learns about the design of recommender systems: the underlying concepts, design space, and trade-offs. A participant should understand the design space of recommender systems and be able to provide design recommendations for a particular application domain, as well as critique a design to point out its strengths and weaknesses.

Social Network Analysis

2

This course introduces how network data delivers value in business decision making. At the end of the course, participants can scrutinize network data, build a (social) network, and draw relevant conclusions that support AI and data-driven solutions.

Statistical and Machine Learning Algorithms

4

This course introduces the participants to various statistical and machine learning algorithms for AI development. This is a fundamental course in the curriculum as it delivers theoretical and hands-on experience in applying basic to state-of-the-art algorithms on various prediction problems.

Real-Life Experience

4

AI & Data Analytics Hackathon

4

This course delivers the participants a unique and hands-on experience of solving a real-life AI and data science challenge for a company. The participants work in teams in a four-month hackathon project to deliver an AI and data-driven solution that is acceptable to both the data scientists and the business managers. The supporting staff is composed of both academic and company supervisors.

Innovation and New Business Development

16

Business Consultancy in a Digital Environment*

4

The course is designed to immerse students into the daily life of business consultants working for an ERP implementation company. Through interactive lectures, group assignments, and the intervention of four expert professionals, this course confronts students with the diverse expectations, tasks, and challenges functional consultants need to tackle. Combining theoretical concepts with hands-on exercises on a hypothetical business case, participants are expected to acquire knowledge on and experience with ERP deliverables and domains (i.e., Microsoft Dynamics 365), workflow design for top-level business processes (i.e.., Procure-to-Pay, Order-to-Cash), project management activities, and functional consulting analysis tools (e.g., XMind, Bizagi).

*(2 courses to be chosen among “Business Consultancy in a Digital Environment”, “Leading for Creativity and Design Thinking” or “Strategic People Management”)

Leading for Creativity and Design Thinking*

4

Creativity is one of the critical components of an organization’s ability to survive and thrive in today’s competitive and dynamic markets. This course will provide participants with a rich understanding of how creativity can be facilitated and managed in a work setting. They will acquire knowledge regarding various theoretical conceptualizations (i.e., how do you define creativity), antecedents (i.e., what makes you and others more creative) and outcomes (i.e., what is the impact) of creativity as well as knowledge on design thinking techniques and tools to lead teams in the creative journey.
How do creative ideas happen? How can we foster our creativity and the creativity of those around us? What are the paths of creative development of individuals who are successful in their creative endeavours? What are the implications for fostering and managing creativity in the workplace? What are the obstacles to creativity? What is the nature of creativity in teams and organizations? These are some of the questions we will address. During the course, a variety of teaching and learning techniques will be used to enable participants to think critically and imaginatively about various perspectives of creativity. To realize the goal of a shared learning experience between participants and the instructor, the course is aimed at integrating real challenges and practical experiences of creativity, projects, presentations, experiential exercises, and critical reflection on the various course materials. 

*(2 courses to be chosen among “Business Consultancy in a Digital Environment”, “Leading for Creativity and Design Thinking” or “Strategic People Management”)

Strategic People Management*

4

Description to come.

*(2 courses to be chosen among “Business Consultancy in a Digital Environment”, “Leading for Creativity and Design Thinking” or “Strategic People Management”)

Career Program

4

The Career Program aims to help participants build and implement their professional objective in line with their aspirations, skills and the socio-economic reality of the market.
The objective is to facilitate their integration into the company, in an environment that allows them to develop personally and professionally.
It includes a cycle of thematical events creating bridges with companies and helping students to develop their network.
Our pedagogical approach is an alternation of teaching methods to promote learning in line with the teaching and learning strategy of the institution.

Entrepreneurship and New Business Development

4

This course provides participants with a profound understanding on entrepreneurship, new business development, and business plan writing. Through lectures, testimonials, field-work, and group assignments, participants are confronted with the how, where, when, whom, and why of starting and developing new business activities. As part of an international and multicultural team, participants are invited to work on an operational business plan aimed at either the creation of a new venture (NVC-track) or the acceleration of new business for an already established SME (NBD-track). This course’s ambitions thus go beyond providing theoretical insights. Hands-on experience is gained through out-of-class field work covering all steps of the entrepreneurial decision-making process (e.g., idea generation, feasibility analysis, industry study, market analysis, marketing plan, production plan, product development, and financial statements). In doing so, participants accumulate entrepreneurial knowledge and behaviours that support innovative solutions and new value development.

Language Courses

6

Language Courses

6

French language lessons for all levels are included in the program for international students. French is the mandatory choice for all non-French speaking students, while for French speaking students, other languages will be offered and credited as well (Chinese, Spanish, German – list subject to change).

Hands-on Experience

30

Internship/work experience or thesis/consulting project

30

Capstone Project: 4-to 6-month internship or work experience anywhere in the world. Alternatively, students can opt for a consulting project or a thesis.

Please note that courses are subject to change; please check with the local contact if you have any questions.

Recognized professional certifications

To give its students a competitive edge on the professional market, this program not only prepares them to master data analysis and artificial intelligence to solve complex business challenges, but also offers the opportunity to earn recognized professional certifications in key areas.

Examples:
> Programming languages (Python, SQL)
> Visual analytics (Tableau)
> Cloud solutions (Microsoft Azure)
> Data science methods (Datacamp and Bluecourses)

Zoom on… a kick-start into the professional career

The Master in AI & Data Analytics for Business offers its participants a real-life consulting challenge during the second semester. This project aims to put the competences and skills absorbed over the academic year into practice. In collaboration with a company, participants solve real business problems using the various technologies and methods that they have acquired.

 

The project is organized in the form of a four-month data science hackathon. Previous supporting companies are Microsoft, Graydon, Mealhero, Delaware Consulting, Oney, Cofidis, Crédit Agricole, Port of Antwerp-Bruges, The Royal Belgian Soccer Association, Enfocus, Mobly, Monabanq, Cinionic, Austrian National Bank, and many others.

 

More information about the Hackathon

Workshops and Corporate Events

Alongside the courses, the program includes various workshops and corporate events to further develop your personal and professional skills. These cover a range of topics, such as conflict management in cross-cultural environments and intercultural communication.

Our Career Program helps participants to establish their professional career plan by working on their skills, personal strengths, and using networking tools to be prepared to meet recruiters’ expectations internationally.

Discover the Career Program

INTERNSHIP

During their internship, students are able to combine theories of management with hands-on experience and apply the cross-cultural skills they have developed at IÉSEG.

Big Data Engineer, Customer Data Analyst, Data Analyst, Data Architect, Data Quality Engineer, Data Science Researcher, Data Scientist, Online Marketing Analyst, Performance Analyst or Pricing Intelligence Analyst for example: the internship opportunities offered by the program at the end of the curriculum are multiple.

Some companies which hire our interns: Trivago, Accenture, Teradata, Honda Europe, Bombardier, KBC, Materialise, Pipecandy, McAfee, CapGemini, Allianz, Sodexo, BNP Paribas, Bloomon, Auchan, AXA, etc.

The internship can be undertaken in France or abroad. Most students have done their internships in Europe or in Asia for example.

Corporate Involment in this program

Companies are an integral part of the academic life of this Specialized Master. Throughout the program, participants have the opportunity to meet and network with companies of all sizes on topics related to the master, such as conferences, in-class interventions, challenges or tailor-made recruitment. Partnerships may vary from one to another and new opportunities may be proposed according to needs and availability.

Examples of previous events organized:
> Company visit: “Design Thinking workshop and visit of the innovation lab” – CAPGEMINI
> In-class intervention – PALANTIR TECHNOLOGIES
> Conference “Leading with data in organizations” – SAEGUS – PWC – BROTHER FRANCE

Local contact

Find here your dedicated contact in your region.

General contact

Viktorija LEROY