Press release, April 6, 2022

The Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science of Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca launches the Data Science for Industry and Society master's degree, which prepares students for future jobs, giving them the opportunity to obtain highly sought-after technical certifications on the labor market. The courses start in October a.c., within the academic year 2022-2023. The best students will be able to access the paid internship program at Banca Transilvania.

In developing the program, Babeș-Bolyai University is supported by two of its partners: SAS - the global leader in Advanced Analytics solutions and Banca Transilvania- the largest bank in Romania. Together they aimed to train specialists in the field of data engineering and to contribute to the development of the Romanian IT ecosystem by increasing the skills in advanced data analysis and data science according to the European Qualifications Framework.

Details about the master’s degree:

• It adresses both recent graduates and professionals who want to gain skills in collecting, processing and interpreting data in organizations.
• The innovative curriculum of the program contributes to the development of information analysis skills, with tools specific to Artificial Intelligence, in projects with real data coordinated by experts from academia and industry
• The program integrates two SAS specializations, Advanced Analytics and Data Science, and offers the possibility to gain certifications highly sought-after in the industry, such as: Visual Business Analytics, Statistical Business Analyst, SAS Programming Specialist, Machine Learning Specialist or Nature Language Processing and Computer Vision.
• The study program is offered in English, with a duration of two years and with many possibilities for internships at Banca Transilvania, but also with other actors in the field.

UBB comes with an innovative curriculum that capitalizes on the experience of the largest doctoral school in Artificial Intelligence in Romania and a top ecosystem in information technology, and SAS opens to students the access to an innovative academic program through SAS Academic Programs.

"Data science is an emerging interdisciplinary field that has the potential to revolutionize almost any industry and have a positive impact on society. The Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, through its specialists in this field and the collaboration with industry specialists, will contribute to the acquisition of knowledge and skills necessary for those who want to excel in this field",

says Prof. Dr. Anca Andreica, Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science.

"SAS supports the synergy between academia and the private sector by investing in the Talent Connection initiative, a program that aims to connect industry with academia by developing the skills of Romanian specialists in the fields of advanced data analysis and data science",

said Asiraf Pandele, SAS Customer Sales Manager Romania.

"Data science is one of the fields of the future, with very wide applicability. At Banca Transilvania, the specialized team in data analysis contributes to transforming the experience of our customers, allowing us to offer them the best services and products for everyone. This master's degree is a specialization opportunity both from a theoretical and a practical perspective, and the internship program at BT can be the first step in a profile career",

says Nevenca Doca, Senior Executive Director of Human Resources, Banca Transilvania.

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About the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at Babeș-Bolyai University:

The Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics is the largest Faculty of Informatics in Romania, characterized by tradition, inclusive excellence, specialized faculty, curriculum according to the scientist-practitioner paradigm, high-performance computing infrastructure. Collaboration with specialists in non-IT fields (both within the university and in the industrial area) was a basic pillar in proposing this new master's specialization. UBB's new educational strategy will integrate the knowledge and expertise gained by students through the micro-credential system, proving its flexibility and openness to international cooperation.

About SAS:

SAS is the leader in analytics solutions. Through innovative services and software solutions, SAS supports and inspires customers around the world to turn data into valuable information. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW®.

About Banca Transilvania:

Banca Transilvania is the largest bank in Romania and the main financier of the economy, covering all customer segments and business lines in the financial sector. With a story that began almost 30 years ago, it has over 19% market share, 3.4 million customers, over 9,000 employees, online banking solutions and 500 offices in 180 locations. It is the only Romanian banking brand in the Brand Finance Banking 500 (2021). Beyond banking, BT wants to have a positive impact in Romania, both for people and for business and the environment.

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Contact:

Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Babeș-Bolyai University: Julia Szambolics, marketing officer, julia.szambolics@ubbcluj.ro

SAS: Alina Luchian, Education & Academic program manager, SAS Romania, alina.luchian@sas.com, 0727.772.652

Banca Transilvania: Laura Petrehuș, Adj. Communication & PR, laura.petrehus@btrl.ro , 0724.567.364