To stay ahead of the changing job market, MICA has introduced a new specialisation for its postgraduate students. Starting in 2025, second-year students in the two-year PGP course can choose to specialise in data science and business analysis. The batch of PGP 2026 will be the first to get this opportunity. While MICA already offered these
as elective subjects, it did not have a dedicated specialisation in data science and business analysis until now. Newly appointed director Jaya Deshmukh said that the decision was made this year. “We’ve been preparing by appointing an area chair and faculty members. We believe this specialisation will strengthen students’ future prospects. Our analysis shows that 33% of MICA graduates are placed in IT-ITES and consulting.”
“You will see more MICAns will go down this Artificial Intelligence (AI) track, the heart of which is data-science, statistics, and understanding numbers,” she added.
Deshmukh anticipates more MICA graduates pursuing careers in artificial intelligence, which relies heavily on data science, statistics, and numerical analysis.
MICA’s unique approach
Deshmukh highlighted that MICA’S approach to data science will he unique. “It’s not just about under- standing the numbers, but also the narrative around them. This is where MICA excels, bringing creativity, mar- keting, and communication into the mix. Combining these skills will be incredibly valuable.”
Decision based on research and student Interest
The decision to offer this specialisation was made after extensive research into student interest, the job market, and potential opportunities, said Desmukh.
MICA’s study also revealed that 60% of their first graduating batch hold CEO positions or are one step away within 10 years, with the number averaging around 33%.
“What we teach at MICA makes a difference. We previously taught market research, quantitative techniques, and analytics, and now this market stream is moving towards Al,” Deshmukh added.