Praxis offers cutting edge business education in Management and Data Science across two campuses in Kolkata and Bangalore

Praxis Business School has come a long way since 2007 when it started with a single campus in Kolkata. Today, Praxis offers cutting-edge business education in Management and Data Science across two campuses in Kolkata and Bangalore.

In the decade and a half since its inception, Praxis has had the vision to foresee and devise courses that make students future digital leaders.

In 2011, Praxis envisioned a business world where data would be the common currency of all business transactions and decision making and rolled out the first full-time Business Analytics program in India, which was later rechristened as Data Science.

The program had modest beginnings and the first batch had just eight students. Today it has grown to two batches each (Spring and Fall) at each of its campuses in Kolkata and Bangalore –  and is consistently ranked among the top 2-3 courses in Data Science in India. In line with its commitment to creating programs for emerging industry needs, Praxis has recently launched a 6-month, part-time, online program in Data Engineering as well.

The discipline and practice of Data Science have undergone vast changes in keeping with evolving business requirements. From a narrow function that a handful of tech and finance companies employed to an almost universal application across industries the journey of data science is one of mainstreaming of a once esoteric function.

Today data forms the backbone of key decision-making in most organizations. The pandemic and the resulting acceleration in digital adoption has only accelerated this trend. With the increasing penetration of the internet to nearly 50% of her population and the proliferation of smartphones, India is transacting online at scale for activities like banking, shopping, consuming entertainment, learning, and socializing. This has positioned Data Science firmly at the core of business strategy and as a source of competitive advantage.

This throws up several complex challenges:

• Trained Manpower: It is not merely enough to have certified Data Scientists. The training has to include, in addition to hard skills of math, statistics, AI, and ML, the soft skills required to work as part of larger teams and have an "ear to the ground" ability to listen to the problems/ challenges of the organization.
• Reactive vs. Proactive: While Data Analytics is used for decision-making, it is yet to make the transition to a real-time tool for nimble decision making.
• Biases: As the quantum of data being handled increases so does the chance of biases creeping into the input data and coloring / influencing the analysis.
• Diversity: Unfortunately Data Science remains a male-dominated field and organizations (and our society) need more women to embrace Data Science as a career.

Praxis, with its deep industry connection, recognizes these challenges. Since its inception, it has remained true to the meaning of its name which is the practice of a discipline. The course design and curriculum reflect adaptability to these challenges and an emphasis on both hard and soft skills – so that the students are future-ready.

To ensure that the students make their transition to a career in Data Science, Praxis offers a robust Campus Placement Program which enjoys a 95% placement record across the last decade. Top recruiters from industries like Banking, FMCG, Consulting, Manufacturing, Health-care, Analytics, Market Intelligence make Praxis their first choice when it comes to Data Science recruitment. Praxis is proud of its highly accomplished alumni of 25 successful batches – a network that gives immense support to every new batch of students.

One of the most significant challenges facing the industry today is the lack of representation of women in Data Science. There are biases and perception issues and Praxis is working to correct this imbalance by undertaking initiatives like conducting data fluency workshops, seminars, and webinars with women audiences, demystifying the discipline of Data Science.

The single most important initiative undertaken by Praxis to encourage the participation of women in tech is the "Women in Tech" (WiT) scholarship. The scholarships are awarded to all women who meet the eligibility criteria and secure admission to the courses offered by Praxis. This gives a strong impetus to women to explore opportunities in this exciting field; at the same time, there is an increasing demand for women Data Scientists among Praxis recruiters,. recognize the value women bring to this discipline.

Praxis is delighted to have pioneered Data Science education in the country and has had a wonderful 10 years creating young Data Scientists. As we drive towards a digital future at an accelerated pace, the next 10 years look even more exciting. Our next mission is to empower women to take up Data Science as a career. Praxis is very proud to be associated with the WiT scholarship and the role this will play in creating several women leaders for the digital future.

Courses offered:

1. 2-year full-time Post-Graduate Diploma in Management (AICTE approved)

2. 9-month full-time Post-Graduate Program in Data Science

3. 6-month part-time Post-Graduate Program in Data Engineering