The growing demand for data scientists in the global labor market and the
Netherlands has led to a rise in data science and artificial intelligence (AI)
master programs offered by universities. However, there is still a lack of
clarity regarding the specific skillsets of data scientists. This study aims to
address this issue by employing Correlated Topic Modeling (CTM) to analyse the
content of 41 master programs offered by seven Dutch universities. We assess
the differences and similarities in the core skills taught by these programs,
determine the subject-specific and general nature of the skills, and provide a
comparison between the different types of universities offering these programs.
Our findings reveal that research, data processing, statistics and ethics are
the predominant skills taught in Dutch data science and AI master programs,
with general universities emphasizing research skills and technical
universities focusing more on IT and electronic skills. This study contributes
to a better understanding of the diverse skillsets of data scientists, which is
essential for employers, universities, and prospective students