Jason Pang
Senior Business Information Analyst, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), Wellington
Master of Analytics
Analysing data is fascinating, says Jason Pang who came to AUT as an international student from Hangzhou in China and completed a Master of Analytics with Honours (First Class).
“I like mathematics and a friend told me about the Master of Analytics while I was completing the GIE Academic Pathway at International House, AUT’s English language school. My friend said that the academic staff in AUT’s mathematics department are very professional and have a good reputation, and the programme has a good balance between academic research and practical application.
“I had so many highlights throughout my time at AUT. Most of the assignments ended with an industrial project and when I finished them, I gained a great sense of achievement. I still remember how excited I was when one of my academic papers on face recognition was published, and I was so proud when I finished my graduation project presentation.”
He is grateful for the support and encouragement he received from AUT staff throughout his studies.
“There are so many lecturers that offered me help and support when I wasn’t sure I could make progress and achieve my goals. My supervisors were always very kind and guided me patiently, and the lecturers were happy to meet with me whenever I had a question.”
A rewarding career in data
Now working as a senior business information analyst at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) in Wellington, Jason loves applying his understanding of data in his career.
“In this role, I’m responsible for designing and building databases, building data pipelines, building models for forecasting and developing dashboards to present the data visually. For me, data is like the raw ingredients in cooking – you can explore and turn them into various delicious meals. I enjoy the process.”
He enjoys sharing his passion for data insights with the government departments and business audiences he works with on a daily basis.
“I’m proud of applying what I learned at AUT in my role in the industry now. Math is not a plain language and not easy to understand. I try to use most common examples to explain the mathematical theories and use visualisation to help my audiences to understand it.”
Advice for other students
Jason, who graduated from AUT in 2019, has some great advice for other students.
“My advice is to be curious and constantly be learning. Curiosity will help us explore more and give us the passion to learn.”
His other piece of advice is simple: make the most of the resources available to you while you’re studying.
“There are so many resources supporting you while you’re an AUT student, so you should make full use of that.”
