Database development and administration
Organisations with large amounts of information to store and retrieve need database developers and administrators to manage these databases. The database should be tailored to the specific organisation’s needs, therefore developers and administrators need to be flexible, yet have a firm foundation in the basics of database development and management. Data professionals should have a thorough knowledge of both the hardware and software that support these databases, and be able to provide recommendations accordingly.
A postgraduate programme on data management should touch on the following subjects:
- Object oriented database methodology
- Database design
- Intelligent data mining
- Data warehousing
- Knowledge management
- Data processing, content processing and information indexing
- Information forensics and security, information management, risk assessment and analysis
Database management is often very closely tied in with business intelligence and analytics. Business analytics is the practice of methodical exploration of an organization's data with emphasis on statistical analysis. Business analysts use data warehousing and data mining to collect, collate and study data to make better-informed decisions and improve decision-making processes.
A postgraduate degree should give you the highly specialised skills that are required to design, configure, and manage these data warehouses. In fact, if your ultimate goal is consultancy, a postgraduate degree specialising in database management in necessary for you to get a foot in the door to build up your portfolio.
A good bachelor’s degree or relevant working experience will generally be enough to be admitted to a Master’s programme.
Potential employers:
- Business organisations across all industries
- Data management consultancies
- Data management software and hardware vendors
- ICT consultancies
- Enterprise risk management consultancies
