AUS’ information systems and business analytics program to prepare students for future economy

Data has been called the oil of the future. With the volume of data growing at an almost unimaginable rate, there is tremendous potential for those who understand how it can be captured, understood and exploited.

To stay current with the rapidly evolving world of data, the School of Business Administration (SBA) at American University of Sharjah (AUS) has updated one of its key Bachelor of Science in Business Administration undergraduate programs. The school’s Major in Management Information Systems has been transformed, with a new name to reflect its updated curriculum; it is now known as the Major in Information Systems and Business Analytics.

The revamped program will allow students to explore the latest trends and developments, learning from faculty who have industry experience, along with extensive academic credentials. Emerging topics will be covered by the program, including fintech, e-commerce, cryptocurrencies and mobile payments. Students will gain proficiency in areas including business analytics, data structures and data visualization. They will also acquire skills that can be easily transferred to the workplace, such as Python programming, digital security and how to create mobile apps.

Professor M. Sajid Khan, Head of the Department of Marketing and Information Systems at AUS, believes the updated program will graduate students who are highly valued in both a regional and global job market.

“There is a well-documented global shortage of those with adequate data and information systems skills. The convergence of several trends will see demand for those with data skills continue to grow, such as the digitization of business models, new digital revenue opportunities, the explosion of the Internet of Things and emergence of machine learning. Students who undertake this newly updated program will be well-placed to assist organizations as they explore and exploit the opportunities that come with these trends,” Professor Khan said.

SBA has a strong record for helping its students find employment in data-related fields. Graduates of the management information systems program have been employed by notable companies including Microsoft, Facebook, Amazon Web Services, Namshi and Noon, along with many other tech leaders. Prestigious universities from across the world have also accepted AUS MIS graduates into their PhD and master’s programs, including University of Toronto, University of Illinois at Chicago and University of Manchester. With the updates to the program, even more opportunities are expected to be available to graduates in the coming years.

The reputation of SBA for delivering outstanding education and research continues to grow, with the school being recognized in some of the world’s most respected university rankings in 2021. According to QS World University Subject Rankings, AUS has been named number one in the UAE and among the top 200 universities globally for accounting and finance, and named among the top four in the Middle East for business and management studies.

For more information about the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Major in Information Systems and Business Analytics, please visit Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Management Information Systems.