Master of Data Analytics students competed to solve a real-world problem in Higher Education Analytics Data Competition
A team of students from University of Niagara Falls Canada’s Master of Data Analytics program earned second place in the Higher Education Analytics Data Competition, where they competed against teams from universities and colleges across Ontario.
Students Juan Esteban Cisneros, Ana Carolina Quiroz, David German Garcia, and John Oluwatosin Omiyale were led by faculty advisor Omid Isfahanialamdari during the two-day event at Mohawk College in Hamilton. This was UNF’s first time participating in the competition.
Held March 20 and 21, the competition involved two phases, with 40 teams of two to four post-secondary students exploring a real-world problem related to transportation in the city of Hamilton based on available data.
For Phase One, students had to explore the problem and dataset provided by the competition committee and prepare a poster of their analysis. While most of the teams had six weeks to prepare, UNF registered its team two weeks before the competition.
The posters were submitted in advance and pre-evaluated by judges. The top 20 qualifying teams were invited to participate in the poster showcase on day one of the competition, where they had to answer questions from the judges. UNF was one of eight teams selected to move onto the next phase.
In Phase Two, the team was provided a secondary related problem and data set. They had until the next day to perform analysis and prepare presentation that was delivered live to the judging panel and audience. Their presentation, “Optimizing Urban Mobility: A Geospatial and Demographic Analysis of Hamilton,” impressed the judges with their data-driven insights and innovative recommendations for improving Hamilton’s transportation system. Their presentation landed them a second-place finish, helping them earn second place overall.
“The level of competition was incredibly high, and we’re so proud of our students for their hard work and dedication,” said Hassan Baz Chamas, Associate Dean for the Master of Data Analytics program at UNF. “They demonstrated not only technical expertise but also strong storytelling and problem-solving skills, all key attributes for future data professionals.”
While the first-place award went to a team from Cambrian College, UNF team’s second-place finish highlights the strength of its data analytics program and the potential of its students to make a real impact in the field.
