Quality Improvement Programme (QIP) in Data Science & Computing

The Department of Statistics & Data Science and the Department of Computer Science at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus, jointly organized a six-day “Quality Improvement Programme (QIP) in Data Science & Computing” from 18th May 2026 to 23rd May 2026. The programme was designed to enhance faculty competencies in emerging areas of data science, machine learning, statistical analysis, research methodology, optimization techniques, and business intelligence tools. It aimed to equip faculty members with contemporary knowledge and practical skills that would strengthen teaching effectiveness, research productivity, and interdisciplinary collaboration. 

The programme commenced with a session on LaTeX for Academic Writing and Research conducted by Dr. Libin Chako. The session introduced participants to the importance of LaTeX as a professional document preparation system widely used in academia and research. Faculty members gained practical exposure to document formatting, equation writing, bibliography management, and preparation of publication-ready manuscripts. The session highlighted the significance of maintaining high standards in research documentation and scholarly communication. 

On the second day, Dr. Prathu Bajpai delivered a session on Optimization Techniques in Research and Data Analysis. The session explored various optimization models and computational approaches used in problem-solving and decision-making. Participants gained insights into the applications of optimization techniques in research, and analytical modelling. The session strengthened the participants’ understanding of how optimization contributes to efficient and data-driven decision-making processes. 

The third day featured a session on Statistical Data Analysis and Interpretation Using Stata by Dr. Asif Tariq. Participants were introduced to various statistical techniques, data management procedures, hypothesis testing methods, and interpretation of analytical outputs using Stata software. The practical demonstrations enhanced participants’ ability to conduct quantitative research and generate meaningful insights from data. The session also emphasized effective reporting and interpretation of research findings. 

The fourth session, conducted by Prof. Milan Chakraborty focused on Basics of Machine Learning – From Mathematics to ML. The session provided participants with a comprehensive overview of machine learning concepts and their mathematical foundations. Topics such as supervised and unsupervised learning, regression, classification, and model development were discussed with relevant examples. The session enabled faculty members to understand how mathematical and statistical concepts form the basis of modern machine learning applications and how these concepts can be integrated into academic curricula and student projects. 

The fifth day featured a highly interactive session on Research Proposal Writing for Funding and Publication conducted by Dr. Vijayalakshmi S. The session focused on enhancing faculty awareness of research funding opportunities and proposal development strategies. As part of the hands-on training, participants were guided to create profiles on major government research funding portals such as the ICSSR and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) portal. Dr. Vijayalakshmi S familiarized the faculty members with the features of these platforms and demonstrated how to identify suitable funding schemes, research grants, and collaborative opportunities relevant to their areas of expertise. She also highlighted significant national funding initiatives, eligibility requirements, and best practices for preparing competitive research proposals. The session enabled participants to explore potential funding avenues, understand the grant application process, and strengthen their readiness for research projects, consultancy initiatives, and scholarly publications. 

The programme concluded with an industry-oriented session, Transforming Data into Insights with Power BI, conducted by Ms. Anusha, Expert from CHRIST Infotech. Participants received hands-on exposure to data visualization, dashboard creation, and business intelligence applications using Power BI. The session demonstrated how raw data can be transformed into meaningful visual insights to support decision-making and organizational effectiveness. 

Overall, the Quality Improvement Programme successfully achieved its objectives by providing faculty members with valuable knowledge, practical skills, and exposure to emerging technologies and research methodologies. The programme fostered interdisciplinary learning, encouraged research-oriented thinking, and strengthened participants’ ability to integrate contemporary tools and techniques into teaching, research, consultancy, and academic development activities.