Data-heavy professions need people who can handle and interpret volumes of information. The University of Hong Kong's Master of Statistics (MStat) programme has gained a reputation for attracting and training professionals from different backgrounds through its high-calibre curriculum.
Anastasia Chow, senior vice-president for the Asia-Pacific consumer credit risk department of HSBC, joined the programme in 2004. Her field was highly statistical and analytical, requiring the ability to create projections and understand trends.
Ms Chow wanted to be more hands-on with her work, and turned to the two-year, part-time MStat programme.
'I don't have a strong mathematical background,' said Ms Chow. 'At the beginning, it was difficult to bridge the gap between [that] and the minimum requirement of knowledge needed.'
Caring for a family and maintaining a full-time job, the programme was challenging and taxing on her time, but she found it worthwhile. 'I was a complete layman to all those [statistical words]. Now I can go back and talk to people in very professional terms,' she said.
'It's demanding - but in the end is rewarding,' agreed Philip Yu Leung-ho, deputy director of the programme.