The International University for Science and Technology Participates in the Data Analysts Forum at Damascus University

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and in cooperation with KUDRA and the Center for Empowerment and Student Leadership, the International University for Science and Technology participated in the Data Analysts Forum, which was held to celebrate World Statistics Day at the University of Damascus. Experts from more than 15 countries, including Japan, China, Turkey, Russia, and the United Kingdom, participated.
The opening ceremony was attended by:
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Professor Dr. Marwan Al-Halabi
President of the International University for Science and Technology, Professor Dr. Ammar Nasser Agha
President of Damascus University, Professor Dr. Mustafa Saem Al-Dahr, along with a number of professors, researchers, and representatives of local and international universities and organizations.
In a statement to the media, Prof. Ammar Nasser Agha emphasized: “There is no development without statistics. It is the cornerstone of any scientific research, and data analysts are among the highest-paying specialties, despite the lack of interest in studying applied statistics. Investing in statistical minds and expertise is one of the most important foundations for building a future based on knowledge and science.”
The university was represented at the forum by:
Dr. Hayyan Al-Sabai, Dean of the College of Information and Communications Engineering, who gave a presentation during a specialized session on data analysis and scientific research. He touched on several points, most notably: the importance of statistics and data analysis in understanding and influencing the world. There is no scientific research without transforming data into information. He pointed out that artificial intelligence is built at the intersection of a large number of topics, and statistics and data analysis and processing constitute an important part of it. Without them, artificial intelligence would not exist as we see it today.

Dr. Aqaba Suleiman, a professor of statistics at the university, participated in a special expert session that discussed the most prominent challenges facing statistical work and data analysis in the local context. The aim was to prepare an analytical report on the state of data science.
Dr. Suleiman identified the most prominent of these challenges as: the fundamental scarcity of data, and doubts about its accuracy even when available.
The necessity of subjecting available data to rigorous credibility and quality tests before relying on it.
The problem of duplication of data and the multiplicity of its sources, and the resulting inconsistencies between them, the difficulty of obtaining data online, its lack of easy availability, or its lack of regular updating, in addition to the lack of experience among data collectors and compilers, which affects their ability to handle it in the manner required to make informed decisions.
On the other hand, Dr. Suleiman pointed out that the International University for Science and Technology is working to address this gap through its educational curriculum. It focuses on teaching data, statistics, and operations research subjects using a balanced methodology that combines both scientific and practical aspects. The scientific material is presented in a useful, applied manner, with a focus on examples and practical cases, providing students with the necessary experience to ensure their educational outcomes align with the actual requirements of the labor market.
It is worth noting that World Statistics Day falls on October 20th, “and has been celebrated since its declaration by the United Nations in 2010 as a purposeful initiative to emphasize the importance of statistical data in development and decision-making.”