Graduate students at The American University of Paris are often seeking professional transformation 鈥 whether they enroll straight out of an undergraduate degree or after several years of experience. To fully explore the career paths available in often competitive fields, and to discover the ways in which multiple fields intersect, students learn directly from relevant professionals working in a wide range of industries. For students on the MSc in Human Rights and Data Science (HRDS), this means taking the Data Industry Practicum: a 6-credit series of intensive workshops with experts who are analyzing, in a practical way, the computational, legal, economic and ethical aspects of data use.
Over the course of the Spring semester, students take part in workshops with data industry professionals working in industries as varied as finance, product design and diplomacy. They not only meet and have intimate conversations with those working in the industry, but they get hands-on experience through assessed projects grounded in professional contexts. 鈥淭he practicum builds on the theories covered in class,鈥 explains Claudia Roda, HRDS Director. 鈥淚t is vitally important that students be exposed to professional figures who understand data science, as well as the legal and ethical implications of its use.鈥
These meetings with experts offer two main benefits to students. Firstly, they show students the full range of employment opportunities available to graduates. 鈥淭hese workshops allow students to position themselves career-wise with respect to the profession,鈥 explains Roda. 鈥淚t really helps build confidence and gives students a sense of the range of professions for which they are qualified.鈥 The series opens with a workshop about one of the most well-known roles for graduates trained in both the legal and technical aspects of data use, that of Data Protection Officer (DPO), but later workshops cover subjects as varied as new technology鈥檚 impact on the financial sector and the challenges of the Metaverse for user privacy.
The second key benefit is the practicum鈥檚 networking opportunities, as they give students tangible connections to those working at the fascinating intersection of two exciting fields. 鈥淎ll of the experts taking part in the practicum work at the top of their industries,鈥 says Roda. 鈥淚 learn so much along with my students!鈥 The networking benefits sometimes have an immediate impact, opening new opportunities for students; one 2023 workshop on the ISO standard on Privacy by Design, for example, led to some participating students being invited to contribute their work to an ISO document. One of them was even invited to present in person at an ISO meeting, creating further networking opportunities and enriching the student鈥檚 experience.
The practicum鈥檚 focus on professional contexts leaves a lasting impression on HRDS graduates. Former student Jackson Vann G鈥22, who graduated as part of the program鈥檚 inaugural intake, currently works as a Data Analyst for the Education in Emergencies Division of UNESCO. He says the practicum鈥檚 workshops were one of his favorite memories of his time at AUP. 鈥淚t gave me a full view of what I could do with my master鈥檚,鈥 he explains. 鈥淭hat was powerful, because I realized there鈥檚 a career market for people like me.鈥
The 2023 edition, which is running over the whole of this Spring semester, includes the following workshops and speakers: