Data Mining for Decision Making Course | IIT Mandi | Prof. Varun Dutt
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 3078 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 4 weeks |
| Categories | Computer Science and Engineering, Data Science |
| Credit Points | 1 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 16 Feb 2026 |
| End Date | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 27 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 25 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Unlock the Power of Data: A Course on Data Mining for Strategic Decision Making
In today's data-driven world, the ability to transform raw information into actionable intelligence is a superpower. The Data Mining for Decision Making course, offered by the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, is designed to equip you with precisely this capability. Led by the renowned Prof. Varun Dutt, this intensive 4-week program bridges the gap between theoretical concepts and practical, real-world application.
Why This Course is Essential for Your Career
Data is the new oil, but without the right tools to refine it, its potential remains untapped. This course moves beyond basic analytics to teach you how to discover hidden patterns, predict future trends, and make informed, evidence-based decisions. Whether you aim to optimize business processes, understand customer behavior, or solve complex engineering problems, the skills taught here are in high demand across global industries.
Learn from an Expert: Instructor Profile
The course is led by Prof. Varun Dutt, a full professor at IIT Mandi with a distinguished academic and research background. With a Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University and postdoctoral work in behavioral cyber security, Prof. Dutt brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective, combining psychology, public policy, and computer science. An author of over 320 papers and a senior member of IEEE, his expertise ensures that the curriculum is both cutting-edge and deeply relevant to solving contemporary challenges.
Course Overview: What You Will Learn
This undergraduate/postgraduate level course is structured over four intensive weeks, progressively building your competency in key data mining techniques.
Detailed Course Layout
| Week | Core Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction to Data Mining, the Data Mining Process, Problem Identification, and Data Preprocessing techniques. |
| Week 2 | Foundational algorithms: Naïve Bayes classifiers, Decision Trees, and introduction to Neural Networks. |
| Week 3 | Unsupervised and predictive learning: Clustering methods, Logistic & Linear Regression, and dimensionality reduction via Principal Component Analysis (PCA). |
| Week 4 | Advanced topics: Association Rules (e.g., Market Basket Analysis), Model Selection Metrics (AIC, BIC, MDL), Ethics in Data Mining, and capstone Real-world applications. |
Hands-On Learning and Industry Relevance
This is not a theoretical overview. The course emphasizes practical, hands-on learning through assignments, tutorials, and a culminating project focused on solving genuine decision-making problems. You will learn to use data mining tools confidently to support business and management decisions.
The curriculum is designed with strong industry support, aligning with the needs of top tech giants like Meta, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. This makes the skills you acquire directly transferable to high-impact roles in data science, analytics, and engineering.
Who Should Enroll?
Intended Audience: This course is ideal for students and professionals in:
- Computer Science & Engineering
- Data Science & Analytics
- Electrical & Electronics Engineering
- Any discipline where data-driven decision-making is crucial
Key Reading and Resources
The course draws from seminal texts in the field, providing a strong theoretical foundation. Recommended books include:
- Han, Kamber, & Pei's Data Mining: Concepts and Techniques
- Mitchell's Machine Learning
- Hand, Mannila, & Smyth's Principles of Data Mining
- Berry & Linoff's Mastering Data Mining
Transform Your Decision-Making Process
By the end of this four-week journey, you will have a robust toolkit to tackle complex data. You will be able to preprocess data, apply appropriate mining algorithms, evaluate models, and, most importantly, translate analytical results into strategic actions. Enroll in Data Mining for Decision Making today and take the first step towards becoming a pivotal, data-literate decision-maker in your field.
Enroll Now →