The National University of Singapore’s Master of Science in Business Analytics (NUS MSBA), supported by NUS Business School and NUS Computing, has been awarded the 2025 INFORMS UPS George D. Smith Prize – a global recognition of excellence in preparing future analytics leaders.
This prestigious award was presented at the Edelman Gala during the INFORMS Analytics+ Conference in Indianapolis, where NUS triumphed over fellow finalists Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Waterloo.
This award highlights NUS MSBA’s commitment to bridging academia and industry, equipping graduates with the skills to tackle real-world business challenges through data-driven decision-making.
Global Recognition at the 2025 INFORMS Analytics+ Conference in US
Professor James Pang, Co-Director of the NUS Business Analytics Centre, represented the programme at the prestigious award ceremony during the 2025 INFORMS Analytics+ Conference in Indianapolis, USA. The honour underscores NUS MSBA’s industry-aligned approach in developing analytics leaders who solve complex business challenges through data-driven innovation.
The conference spotlighted transformative alumni journeys like that of Sahil Bhatia (NUS MSBA Class of 2016), who leveraged the NUS MSBA’s capstone internship to launch his career at Johnson & Johnson (J&J). Now a Data Science Manager at J&J’s global headquarters, Sahil leads AI strategy for worldwide finance operations and manages a global team of data professionals.
The enduring 12-year collaboration between J&J and NUS MSBA has yielded 10 NUS MSBA alumni placements at J&J, innovation challenges, and joint talent development initiatives.
A Programme Designed for Impact
Winning this prize affirms what the NUS MSBA has stood for since its inception in 2013: a transformative, real-world-focused education that empowers students to lead in an increasingly data-driven world. Built on a pioneering partnership with IBM, the programme integrates data science, business strategy, and operations research into a powerful interdisciplinary curriculum, seamlessly blending academic rigour with industrial relevance.
What truly sets NUS MSBA apart is its Industry-Ready Pipeline – a rich ecosystem of industry seminars, innovation challenges, capstone projects, and collaborations with global firms like IBM, EY, SAP, and BNY Mellon. With over 950 graduates making their mark across industries worldwide, the programme has become a springboard for aspiring data scientists, consultants, and business leaders.
The programme’s global standing is further validated by its ranking as No. 1 in Asia for five consecutive years in the QS Business Master’s Rankings: Business Analytics 2021-2025, and No. 10 globally in the QS Business Master’s Rankings: Business Analytics 2024.
A Testament to Excellence in Analytics Education
Being awarded this esteemed prize underscores NUS MSBA’s commitment to academic excellence and industry relevance, reinforcing our mission to produce graduates who excel in making data-driven decisions that positively impact society.
This recognition is a testament to our dedication to innovation in O.R. and analytics, and our relentless pursuit of nurturing the next generation of leaders—individuals who will drive transformative change in analytics and beyond.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the faculty, students, alumni, advisory board members, industry partners and staff of the NUS Business Analytics Centre for their dedication, passion, and hard work, which have made this achievement possible. Their contributions and support have been invaluable in shaping the success of our programme.
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