Before enrolling in Sunway University’s Master of Data Science programme, Jarrod was a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Information Systems (Data Analytics) degree student, requiring him to have some analytical background in the data field. However, about 90% of his classmates were from different areas such as marketing, business, or computer science. He believed what attracted students to this course was the ability to advance in a data-driven environment, where data science offers a more technical focus on statistics, machine learning, and programming. These skills would enable graduates to find jobs in the technology, entertainment, and telecommunications fields or as consultants.

After completing his third course, Jarrod was eager to see what was next. He had a rewarding experience exploring data using Tableau as well as assessments similar to real-world client reports because he could use the latest tools from Tableau and discovered that there were a variety of data sources that can be used.

In the Master of Data Science programme, every subject includes both a lecturer and an online facilitator who will educate and guide students throughout the course. One of the online facilitator’s passions for data science and analytics inspired Jarrod whenever he was stuck on a certain issue, the facilitator advised him on approaching the problem from a different angle or perspective, helping him to discover important clues on analytical thinking abilities to comprehend and strengthen his skills as an upcoming data scientist.

The flow of communication, as well as his compassionate characteristics, helped him navigate substantially through the subjects. Not only was he detailed in describing how and why, but he also presented real-life examples that would restructure the issue more advantageously, providing a clear path to travel through.

It has been a thrill going from a student who started a Diploma in IT in 2016 to a Degree in Data Analytics in 2019, and now a Master's in Data Science which will be completed by the end of 2024. However, his path has not been without ups and downs.

His parting advice for incoming students is that one should experience the world as it is, as they will encounter people who will impact them in both positive and negative ways, but what decides the outcome is their determination to walk down the road they believe to be the best for their future. It may involve multiple sacrifices, some of which may be beneficial or unpleasant, but these decisions are what strengthen and lead them to be better students and persons.