First Semester Thoughts | M.Tech. (Data Science & Engineering) | BITS Pilani WILP

Hi everyone, 

This is my second post regarding the M.Tech in Data Science & Engineering program.

If you haven't read the first post - please do so here - https://rupakh.blogspot.com/2020/04/mtech-data-science-engineering-wilp.html

Important Disclaimer: Please note that this post has to be taken only as advice and not a formal directive from the university. I am not paid to write this post nor do I take any responsibility that arises if you decide to make a decision based on my post.

In this post, I will be discussing my experience having gone through (and passed!) the first semester here.

Let me begin by saying that this course is for serious aspirants. Agreed, the admissions were easy and you did not have to clear the GATE examination but that does not meant that the course is also easy.

Remember, it is conducted by one of the best engineering colleges in the country and they have reputation to maintain. Diving your time between work and studies is of utmost importance to do well in this course. The sooner you master this point, the better it is!

It will help if I go subject by subject so let me take this approach. 

The curriculum can be found here: https://bits-pilani-wilp.ac.in/m-tech/cluster/data-science-and-engineering.php#programme-curriculum

Data Mining:

This is a 3 credits course and is definitely one of the more important courses in this semester. This subject forms the base for Data Science & Engineering because in this course you will learn how to use raw data and run algorithms over it like k-means clustering, association rule mining, outlier analysis, etc. Do not take this course lightly because to learning everything in one go is really difficult and you will regret not studying regularly. The textbook of Han Kamber is more than sufficient along with YouTube videos. Practice more problems than learning theory. 

Mathematical Foundations for Data Science:

I will not beat around the bush - this is the toughest subject I have studied till date. I got a panic attack while giving my mid semester exam and I fainted. I was literally this stressed out! But you need not be. Read on.

This is a graduate level course in linear algebra which teaches you vector and matrix algebra, systems of linear algebraic equations and their solutions; eigenvalues, eigenvectors and diagonalization of matrices; graphs and digraphs; trees, lists and their uses; partially ordered sets and lattices; Boolean algebras and Boolean expressions. 

The first half of the course was brutal. I went through the lectures multiple times to understand concepts and referred to MIT and IIT lectures. 

These are the lectures I saw:

MIT - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UJ4CFRGd-U&list=PL221E2BBF13BECF6C

IIT Madras NPTEL - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ-LoJhbBA4&list=PLbMVogVj5nJQ2vsW_hmyvVfO4GYWaaPp7

I also bought Gilbert Strang's book. It was really helpful. You will find it here: https://www.amazon.in/Linear-Algebra-Applications-Gilbert-Strang/dp/8131501728/

My advise is to watch each lecture as soon as it is taught on Saturday/Sunday and 0.75x speed and write everything down in a notebook and try and understand matrices and vector spaces. This will help you a lot in future courses like Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. 

If you aren't understanding everything, it is fine. Do NOT panic. In this course, even the toppers will struggle (a little less than others though). Because of relative grading, you will be fine if you are sincerely studying, submitting all assignments and quizzes on time and studying hard. 

And keep calm. Everything will be fine! :D

Computer Organization and Software Systems: 

This course deals with the hardware and software aspects of computers related to data science in an indirect way. For CSE/IT students, it is a recap of COA and OS learnt during BE/BTech.

The first half of the course is COA/Hardware aspects and the next half of the course if OS/Software aspects.

In my opinion, if you pay attention in class and are regularly studying, you should be fine. The marking in this subject is quite strict - don't know why. I got the worst grade in this subject - a B grade :(

I feel the latter half is easier because I liked the OS part more. The most tricky part in the first half was the design of the processor but this is a great lecture which helped me a lot - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B-y1RPDXjs

Data Structures and Algorithms Design:

This course is also very important because data science effectively deals with building fast and optimal algorithms to process data efficiently. Our faculty was simply great and I enjoyed this course a lot because I like programming in general. It can be a tough course if you do not understand the concepts so be sure to study the concepts well. 

The best book is CLRS. This is the link - https://www.amazon.in/Introduction-Algorithms-Thomas-H-Cormen/dp/B0839JW93F

Even if you can get the used copy, do buy it, it is a must book for any computer scientist. 

Just before exams, you can refer to Prof. Abdul Bari's lectures. They were of great help. You can find them here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZCFT11CWBi3MHNlGf019nw

Final word of advice:

Concentrate more of COSS and DSAD since these are 5 credit courses and will count more towards your CGPA. That being said, DM and MFDS are also important course to help set the right base for future courses so do not neglect them.

Please make sure that you do NOT miss the mid semester and the comprehensive examinations. You may have to repeat the course or you will get some RRA grade which means you will have to spend more time to finish this course. It is better to complete it within the time frame - all you need is to manage your work-life balance effectively. 

Try to score more marks in your quizzes and assignments as they form 40% of the marks. 

I will keep updating this page as and when I get time. But I hope this helped you all. 

I would love to expand my professional network on LinkedIn. Please send me a connection request here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupakh/

Thanks!

Cheers, 

Rupak.

M.Tech. - Data Science & Engineering - WILP Mode - BITS Pilani

Hello everyone,

In this blog post, I will be talking about the M.Tech in Data Science & Engineering program offered by BITS Pilani through the WILP mode. I will discuss my motivation to pursue this program, what are my initial thoughts on this program, and other aspects of the course.





Important Disclaimer: Please note that this post has to be taken only as advice and not a formal directive from the university. I am not paid to write this post nor do I take any responsibility that arises if you decide to make a decision based on my post.

Introduction:

BITS Pilani is one of the top private universities in India, perhaps only second to the public IITs, which every engineering aspirant aspires to complete engineering from.

WILP mode is a unique methodology introduced by BITS Pilani to bridge the gap existing between working professionals wanting to study further without quitting their jobs.

WILP is an acronym for Work Integrated Learning Programs wherein, to pursue this course, a student has to satisfy all the below conditions (without any exceptions):

- The student should have completed his B.E./B.Tech./MCA/M.Sc./or an equivalent degree with at least 60% aggregate marks.

- The student should be currently employed

- The student should have been employed for a minimum of 1 year

- The student should obtain consent from the company to pursue this program

- The student should choose a mentor in the company (preferably his/her current manager) and that person should agree to be the student's mentor for the course by providing direction and help the student from time to time.

More details about the programs offered can be found here: https://bits-pilani-wilp.ac.in/m-tech.php

More details about the M.Tech. in Data Science & Engineering can be found here: https://bits-pilani-wilp.ac.in/m-tech/cluster/data-science-and-engineering.php


My motivation to pursue this program:

I have a Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Mumbai which I had completed in 2013.

Soon after, I started working with L&T Infotech in August 2013 where I am currently employed.

I have always wanted to pursue a postgraduate degree in engineering since my college days but I lacked the temperament and motivation to sit for the GATE exam partly because there is not much of a difference between the salaries earned on completion of an M.Tech degree and a B.Tech degree (if not obtained from the old IITs) and I also had a job offer and at that point in time, I decided to work for a few years before deciding to answer on the age old question of what after engineering - M.Tech. or M.B.A.?

I was on a work assignment outside India for close to four years and I decided that when I will be back in India, I will try and pursue this program. As of April 2020, the field of data science and engineering is in demand and there is a dearth of professionals who can work with data to provide valuable business insights - this is what I want to work on and hence I decided to apply for this program.

From what I have read and understood, it is better if you are in a few cities in India or Dubai in U.A.E. while pursuing this program because you need to give mid-semester examinations and comprehensive examinations in a few cities in India or Dubai in U.A.E. and if you are working abroad, it will be difficult to keep coming back to give the examinations and going back for work again.

Validity of this program:

This is the reason that many students are not inclined to pursue this program. I will share my thoughts on this.

As mentioned before, please take it with a pinch of salt, do your own research, and only then go ahead with your decision of wanting to pursue this program.

In India, the University Grants Commission (UGC) is the apex body which overlooks universities' functioning and decides which courses should be allowed by universities to offer.

This link provides information about BITS Pilani from the UGC website: https://www.ugc.ac.in/deemed_uniinfo.aspx?id=122

Under Distance Education, it says - Refer to UGC, Distance Education Bureau, 35 Ferozshah Road, New Delhi; or UGC Website: https://ugc.ac.in/deb

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is the body of the government which approves all engineering, pharmacy, management, hotel management, and architecture courses, among many other courses. AICTE has time and again stated that no university can offer B.E./B.Tech./M.E./M.Tech. programs in distance mode.

With only this directive, BITS Pilani cannot offer this program. What BITS Pilani time and again mentions is that, WILP courses are NOT distance learning courses. They are full time courses offered only to students who are currently working and have facilities at work to pursue this program. Therefore, they are not distance learning programs and thus directives from AICTE/UGC do not apply for these programs.

More on can be found here: https://www.bits-pilani.ac.in/uploads/Pilani_Upload/WILP/Recent_SC_Verdict_And_WILP.pdf

Taken from the link above - "WILP are akin to programmes offered on campus, in terms of academic credits, curriculum, content, pedagogy, assessment methodology, and programme completion requirements. WILP represent an educational innovation that adapts to new demands for continuing education at the work place, that integrates work with education, and promotes continuous learning."

Thus, according to them, there is no difference between the on campus programs and the off campus programs.

However, this is what I have observed:

- The on campus programs follow the B.E./M.E. nomenclature and the off campus programs follow the B.Tech/M.Tech. nomenclature (earlier known as B.S./M.S. programs of BITS Pilani under WILP mode)

- A document on the BITS Pilani website, Profile of the Institute and Criteria Wise Inputs submitted for Re-accreditation to The National Assessment & Accreditation Council, states that they offer distance learning programs on page xxvii (it may be because they were not able to classify it properly as full time programs) here - https://www.bits-pilani.ac.in/uploads/Pilani_Upload/NAAC/Part%20I%20NAAC%20SSR%20-%20BITS%20Pilani.pdf

In addition to this, I have also found that these programs, when they were called B.S./M.S. programs were granted recognition by the then Distance Education Council (DEC). This can be seen here on page 93 - https://ugc.ac.in/deb/pdf/Final_list_for_website_2014-15.pdf

This approval had been given from 1995-96 till 2007-08.

As per my reading, BITS Pilani has to seek program wise approval from UGC for each of their programs offered through the WILP mode.

I am sure they have approached the government in this aspect and the result will the positive given the quality of the program and university.

Update as of 13/11/2020:

Finally, UGC has approved all WILP programs conducted by BITS Pilani. 

This is fantastic news for all students who are pursuing these programs and future students as well. No tension regarding validity of programs. 

The update on the WILP website: https://bits-pilani-wilp.ac.in/resource/ugc-approval.php

The official link: https://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/4225371_Minutes-548-th-.pdf (Turn to page 4).

What Next?

Students may want to pursue their doctoral studies (Ph.D.) after this program - they can do so provided the university offering Ph.D. accepts this program. I know of one student who is doing his Ph.D. at IIT Delhi who has completed his M.S/M.Tech. through the WILP mode. His information can be found here - http://www.cse.iitd.ernet.in/~anupam/cv.html

This program is also valid for immigration purposes to Canada and many students have got Master's Degree equivalency for this degree from WES. Check here - https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/is-ms-from-bits-pilani-wlpd-considered-equivalent-to-masters-degree-by-wes.332154/page-2

Instructions can be found here - http://wilpdar.bits-pilani.ac.in/graduation/instructions.html

In Conclusion:

After having read a lot about this program and its format, I think it is an excellent program.

The introductory courses have been fantastic and I cannot wait for the program to begin on the 25th of April 2019 - this Saturday!

I am excited to be a student again! I was previously one when I got my M.A. in Economics from IGNOU in 2015.

I hope this post was informative and I hope many of you reading this will join the program.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post.

Cheers,
Rupak