Dayananda Sagar University: Transforming Business Education With AI

Dayananda Sagar University (DSU), located in Bengaluru, India, has been a hub for excellence in management education. The Postgraduate School of Commerce and Management Studies (SCMS – PG) at DSU is committed to preparing future leaders across various business fields.

However, with the increasing importance of data-driven decision-making in today’s industries, SCMS – PG recognized the need to enhance its curriculum to equip MBA students with strong analytical skills.

The Challenge: Preparing Students for a Data-Driven World

SCMS – PG at DSU sought to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the real-world complexities of business analytics. A key challenge was ensuring that students — who come from diverse backgrounds — developed a solid foundation in analytics, regardless of their prior exposure.

Additionally, since the MBA program spans multiple disciplines such as marketing, HR, finance, IT, and supply chain management, the analytics curriculum needed to be relevant across all these areas. Providing students with hands-on experience using real analytics tools was essential to strengthening their industry readiness.

Integrating Dataiku Into the Curriculum

To address these challenges, SCMS – PG at DSU partnered with Dataiku, the Universal AI Platform. This collaboration aims to enhance the analytical capabilities of MBA students and ensure they gain practical exposure to data-driven decision-making.

Dataiku’s intuitive platform allowed students — regardless of their technical background — to engage with complex datasets and build predictive models. A key aspect of the partnership was integrating the Core Designer course within the Introduction to Business Analytics curriculum. This ensured that every student acquired essential analytics skills, making them industry ready.

Several hundred students across multiple MBA batches at SCMS – PG at DSU have successfully pursued and completed Dataiku courses, significantly enhancing their analytical skills. Additionally, numerous faculty members have also undertaken these courses, further strengthening their expertise. Hands-on learning remained central to this initiative, with students applying their knowledge to real-world projects involving data cleaning, exploratory analysis, and predictive modeling. Workshops and training sessions, attended by students, faculty, and industry professionals, provided valuable insights into data science applications, ensuring a well-rounded learning experience.

A New Focus on Analytics Across Disciplines

The integration of Dataiku has strengthened SCMS – PG’s focus on analytics across various subjects. Classes have become more engaging, with an increased emphasis on practical applications of analytics in business scenarios. Students actively explore data and develop insights that mirror the challenges faced in the corporate world.

Additionally, this collaboration has fostered greater interaction between faculty members from different specializations, enriching the learning experience and helping students understand the interdisciplinary nature of analytics. Regular workshops ensure that both students and faculty stay updated with emerging trends in data science.

The impact of this initiative is already visible  — many students have earned certifications in data science, enhancing their job prospects and equipping them with industry-relevant skills. The partnership with Dataiku continues to empower DSU graduates with the analytical expertise needed to excel in data-driven business environments.