SAS Joins Forces with Keio University; Data Mining Methodology Course, Featuring SAS Enterprise Miner, Comes to Shonan Fujisawa Campus

TOKYO, JAPAN, Oct. 28, 2002 -- SAS Japan announced that a new course on data mining, featuring the practical uses of SAS(R) Enterprise Miner(TM), will be added to the fall schedule of Keio University - Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC). Takeo Kuwabara, associate professor of Policy Management, will teach the course, "Data Mining Methodology B".

The course is to be one component of the data science curricula presented by the departments of policy management and environmental information and the graduate school of media and governance. Incorporating Enterprise Miner software into the course will allow students to study the theories behind data mining and improve their proficiency at extracting knowledge from intricate data. Data mining know-how gives students a considerable advantage when entering the business world. The course will focus on database marketing, including decision trees, clustering and neural networks, and how to apply these practices to marketing. Further, tactical exercises in maintaining customer and transaction databases and building data warehouses will give students practical skills on defining models and determining rules.

Students with a working knowledge of data mining are in great demand in the commercial environment as companies continue to realize the importance of hiring employees who have an understanding of data analysis. SFC hopes that this course will transform students into the strategic decision makers that so many companies are clamoring for.

The approximately 30 students expected to enroll in this course should be capable of both statistical and multi-variate analysis and will install Enterprise Miner on their personal computers.

Since its establishment in 1990, SFC has focused on introducing the most recent technological advancements in data science, making it a leading IT campus. Since they are able to install most SAS products on their own computers, students are able to study various business applications in a supportive atmosphere. As the need for employees with real data mining experience continues to grow, SFC distinguishes itself with its unique ability to produce well-trained, highly sought workers. Professor Kuwabara addresses the university's role in providing the much-needed work force: "There is an overall lack of personnel who are able to extract effective business information from intricate databases. I look forward to teaching students who have studied these skills within the ideal environment to bring a new `breath of air' to Japan's business environment."

Shoichi Hori, president of SAS Japan, commented, "By providing software, and just as important, by partnering with universities, SAS hopes to create more capable students. Such partnerships have been successful in the U.S., Europe and Asia Pacific. SAS is very committed to the program at Keio University. We hope that such collaborations will not only allow students to gain practical skills but will also enhance their own competitive advantage when they go out into the business world. We further hope that our efforts will deliver promising results to organizations that have made large investments in their decision-making systems, thus bridging the gap between academia and business."

About SFC

Shonan Fujisawa Campus of Keio University (SFC) was established in 1990 to educate students so that they may explore and address issues that have harmful effects on today's society. The department of policy management and the department of environmental information go beyond current academic fields and aim to create new areas of study. The university provides an environment that stimulates students' "free thinking" to tackle difficult issues and to draw out their boundless capabilities.

About SAS

SAS is the market leader in providing a new generation of business intelligence software and services that create true enterprise intelligence. SAS solutions are used at more than 39,000 sites - including 98 of the top 100 businesses on the Fortune 500 - to develop more profitable relationships with customers and suppliers; to enable better, more accurate and informed decisions; and to drive organizations forward. SAS is the only vendor that completely integrates leading data warehousing, analytics and traditional BI applications to create intelligence from massive amounts of data. For more than 25 years, SAS has been giving customers around the world The Power to Know(R). Visit us at www.sas.com .

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. (R) indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright(c)2002 SAS Institute Inc. Cary, NC, USA. All rights reserved.

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