OLX partners with LUMS to train students in data science

OLX, one of Pakistan’s leading online marketplaces, is collaborating with country’s top academic institution – LUMS to help the brightest students in Data Analytics to transition from academia to industry.

Data science is becoming increasingly important in academia and industry. University departments from engineering to economics are turning to data science more and more, and worldwide businesses that face big-data problems are working in partnership with the academic institutions that are equipped to solve them.

According to LinkedIn learning research, analytical reasoning is among the top skills companies required in 2019. Also, the world economic forum has endorsed that Data Analytics is No.1 emerging job role and is predicted to be the highest in demand in the future. There is a huge talent gap in Pakistan in the field of data science, with the industry facing challenges in recruiting data scientists that have the skills to address their needs.

To overcome these challenges, OLX is working with LUMS on multiple projects lead by Dr. Muhammad Adeel Zafar and Dr. Fareed Zaffar solving an array of unique business data problems. This is very beneficial for the researchers and the students as they get the first-hand experience to work on solving real-life big data problems faced by the industry.

At the beginning of 2016, OLX hired the brightest data analytics students from LUMS and established Business Intelligence department at OLX and since then this team has been one of an integral part of OLX Pakistan, analyzing data and extracting valuable insight out of it. This has created a global recognition of Pakistan’s data analytics talent within the footprint of OLX in 45 countries where Pakistan has started importing data science resources to Europe and the Middle-East.

While discussing the projects Dr. Fareed Zafar said, “Our collaboration with OLX has been exciting, dynamic and fast-paced. The learning opportunities, training, and mentorship for our students have been exceptional as they have worked with some of the top leaders in the industry. We feel OLX is a long term strategic partner in our pursuit of high-quality teaching and research”.

Bilal Bajwa, CEO OLX Pakistan said; “Being one of the pioneer tech companies of Pakistan, OLX felt the need of connecting industry with academia to solve the data problems we faced and in return give the students a chance to solve real market problems and gain valuable insights. LUMS has been a great partner and we look forward to keeping on (continue) working with them on more interesting projects”.

OLX business intelligence departments are all LUMS alumni who are proving their mettle globally. OLX is working in 43 countries across the globe. OLX Lisbon & OLX UAE has hired LUMS students in the same capacity to export Pakistan’s local talent around the world.