The NUS Business Analytics Centre Symposium (BACS) 2026 took place on 24 September 2026 at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, bringing together students, faculty, alumni, industry partners, and analytics and AI professionals for an evening of innovation, knowledge exchange and meaningful connections.
At the heart of this year’s symposium were 129 NUS Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) capstone projects, developed in close collaboration with 75 industry partners, 102 industry supervisors and 41 NUS academic supervisors. These projects showcased how students are applying analytics and AI to address real-world business challenges, combining technical expertise with industry insights and academic rigour.
Emerging Trends in Analytics and AI
This year’s capstone projects offered a glimpse into how analytics and AI are evolving in practice. 53% of projects involved GenAI or LLMs, 47% involved traditional AI and analytics, and 19% combined both, demonstrating that GenAI is expanding the analytics toolkit rather than replacing established approaches. Meanwhile, 66% of projects involved AI-enabled workflows, reflecting a shift towards embedding AI into business processes, while 49% incorporated AI guardrails, highlighting the growing importance of safe and dependable deployment. Together, these projects point towards a clear industry direction: analytics and AI are becoming increasingly hybrid, workflow-integrated and trustworthy.
Reflecting on the projects, Prof Emily David from NUS Business School shared, “I was impressed that 20% were actually combining traditional analytics with some of the AI solutions that they had. Guardrails and trust in AI was a big trend that I saw that perhaps we didn’t see in the past.” She also highlighted the impressive diversity of applications, ranging from revenue prediction and psychometric assessments to automating lost-and-found processes.
Prof. Nicholas Mac Gregor Garcia from NUS School of Computing also shared, “I was really intrigued to see the students being able to work at that cutting edge and really create some good solutions that could be useful to other people on the ground.”
Bridging Industry and Academia
A defining strength of the NUS MSBA programme is its emphasis on industry collaboration, enabling students to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges while gaining valuable professional experience.
Through their capstone projects, students work closely with industry partners to understand business needs, navigate practical constraints and develop solutions with tangible applications. This year, the involvement of 75 industry partners and 102 industry supervisors, alongside 41 NUS academic supervisors, reinforced the programme’s commitment to bridging academic excellence with industry relevance.
Vishnuteja Nanduri, Head of AI & Innovation, ASEAN & Korea at Kyndryl, expressed his admiration for the students’ work, sharing, “I’ve heard projects which, in four or five months, have done some tremendously deep work. I’m very impressed with the quality of projects, and I’m also very excited that these are the students that we’ll have available in the near future to hire.”
Echoing this sentiment, Bryan Lee, Manager Director, Group Head of Data, Innovation Group, UOB, emphasised the importance of practical industry exposure. “The solutions that they built are very close to real-world problem statements. That’s very important because students get to experience what’s happening in the real world, so when they enter the workforce, it won’t be such a big transition.”
For students, the experience extends beyond technical development. Hrithik Kannan Krishnan, an NUS MSBA student presenter, reflected, “The rigorous programme trained me to work under pressure. It gave me technical expertise, while also helping me grow as a person and develop the ability to tackle challenges like these.”
These experiences highlight how the NUS MSBA programme prepares students to become industry-ready professionals, equipped with the analytical capabilities, business acumen and adaptability needed to navigate an evolving technological landscape.
Recognising Excellence: Outstanding Capstone Project Awards 2026
A highlight of BACS each year is the presentation of the Outstanding Capstone Project Awards (OCPA), recognising students whose projects demonstrate excellence in applying analytics and AI to complex real-world challenges.
Congratulations to the 2026 Outstanding Capstone Project Award winners:
The breadth of this year’s award-winning projects reflects the diverse applications of analytics and AI across industries, from financial services and AI governance to software development and healthcare.
Their achievements exemplify the innovation, analytical rigour and problem-solving capabilities that define the NUS MSBA programme.
Connecting the Analytics and AI Community
Beyond the capstone showcase, BACS continues to serve as a valuable platform for connecting academia and industry, bringing together students, alumni, faculty and industry professionals to exchange ideas, explore emerging technologies and forge meaningful relationships.
For students, the symposium provides an opportunity to showcase their capabilities, gain exposure to different industries and connect with potential employers. For industry partners, it offers fresh perspectives on emerging applications of analytics and AI, while creating opportunities to engage with future talent.
Returning to the symposium as an NUS MSBA alumna, Sandy Nyoe, Data Scientist at UPS, reflected on the growing adoption of AI and the value of industry collaboration. “The adoption of AI is becoming faster and wider in scope. What stands out is the fact that industries are letting interns work on real-life projects. That makes the whole engagement very meaningful and helps students prepare themselves for the workforce.”
These interactions reinforce what makes BACS special: its ability to bring together a vibrant community of analytics and AI enthusiasts, fostering connections that extend beyond the symposium and contribute to the continued growth of the analytics ecosystem.
Shaping the Future of Analytics and AI
BACS 2026 highlighted an important message: creating meaningful impact with analytics and AI requires more than adopting the latest technologies. It calls for the ability to integrate different analytical approaches, embed AI into real-world workflows and ensure solutions are developed and deployed responsibly.
Across 129 capstone projects, NUS MSBA students demonstrated these capabilities, showcasing how innovation, industry collaboration and academic rigour can come together to address complex business challenges.
As analytics and AI continue to transform industries, the NUS Business Analytics Centre remains committed to nurturing the next generation of professionals who can bridge business, analytics and AI to drive meaningful real-world impact.
We extend our sincere appreciation to our industry partners, supervisors, faculty, students, alumni and all attendees who made BACS 2026 a success. Together, we continue to strengthen the connections between industry and academia, shaping a future driven by innovation and collaboration.
📩 For sponsorship opportunities or enquiries about the NUS Business Analytics Centre Symposium, please reach out to us at msba@nus.edu.sg.
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