Python is one of the most versatile and widely used scripting languages. Its clean and uncluttered syntax as well as its straightforward design greatly contribute to this success and make it an ideal language for programming education. Its application ranges from web development to scientific computing. Especially in the fields of data science and artificial intelligence, it is the most common programming language supported by all major data-handling and analytical frameworks. This course provides a thorough introduction to the language and its main features, as well as insights into the rationale and application of important adjacent concepts such as environments, testing, and version control.

1. Introduction to Python
   1. Data structures
   2. Functions
   3. Flow control
   4. Input / Output
   5. Modules & packages
2. Classes and inheritance
   1. Scopes and namespaces
   2. Classes and inheritance
   3. Iterators and generators
3. Errors and exceptions
   1. Syntax errors
   2. Handling and raising exceptions
   3. User-defined exceptions
4. Important libraries
   1. Standard Python library
   2. Scientific calculations
   3. Speeding up Python
   4. Visualization
   5. Accessing databases
5. Working with Python
   1. Virtual environments
   2. Managing packages
   3. Unit and integration testing
   4. Documenting code
6. Version control
   1. Introduction to version control
   2. Version control with GIT

Machine learning is a field of scientific study concerned with algorithmic techniques that enable machines to learn performance on a given task via the discovery of patterns or regularities in exemplary data. Consequently, its methods commonly draw upon a statistical basis in conjunction with the computational capabilities of modern computing hardware.

This course aims to acquaint the student with the main branches of machine learning and provide a thorough introduction to the most widely used approaches and methods in this field.

1. Introduction to Machine Learning
   1. Regression & Classification
   2. Supervised & Unsupervised Learning
   3. Reinforcement Learning
2. Clustering
   1. Introduction to clustering
   2. K-Means
   3. Expectation Maximization
   4. DBScan
   5. Hierarchical Clustering
3. Regression
   1. Linear & Non-linear Regression
   2. Logistic Regression
   3. Quantile Regression
   4. Multivariate Regression
   5. Lasso & Ridge Regression
4. Support Vector Machines
   1. Introduction to Support Vector Machines
   2. SVM for Classification
   3. SVM for Regression
5. Decision Trees
   1. Introduction to Decision Trees
   2. Decision Trees for Classification
   3. Decision Trees for Regression
6. Genetic Algorithms
   1. Introduction to Genetic Algorithms
   2. Applications of Genetic Algorithms

Neural networks and deep learning approaches have revolutionized the fields of data science and artificial intelligence in recent years, and applications built on these techniques have reached or surpassed human performance in many specialized applications.

After a short review of the origins of neural networks and deep learning, this course will cover the most common neural network architectures and discuss in detail how neural networks are trained using dedicated data samples, avoiding common pitfalls such as overtraining.

The course includes a detailed overview of alternative methods to train neural networks and further network architectures which are relevant in a wide range of specialized application scenarios.

1. Introduction to Neural Network and Deep Learning
   1. The Biological Brain
   2. Perceptron and Multi-Layer Perceptrons
2. Network Architectures
   1. Feed-Forward Networks
   2. Convolutional Networks
   3. Recurrent Networks, Memory Cells and LSTMs
3. Neural Network Training
   1. Weight Initialization and Transfer Function
   2. Backpropagation and Gradient Descent
   3. Regularization and Overtraining
4. Alternative Training Methods
   1. Attention
   2. Feedback Alignment
   3. Synthetic Gradients
   4. Decoupled Network Interfaces
5. Further Network Architectures
   1. Generative Adversarial Networks
   2. Autoencoders
   3. Restricted Boltzmann Machines
   4. Capsule Networks
   5. Spiking Networks

The topic of artificial Intelligence (AI) has been addressed in computer science and cognitive science research since the 1950s; however, the meaning associated with the term has changed considerably over time. Having once been predominantly associated with logical calculus, reasoning, and planning, AI is now primarily interpreted in the context of deep networks of computational units. Despite these changes in approach, the important characteristic of AI continues to be the understanding and reproduction of cognitive abilities and functions by machines. This seminar strives to elucidate current research trends in AI. The students learn to independently analyze selected topics and case studies and link them with well-known concepts, as well as critically question and discuss them.

• The seminar covers current topics in artificial intelligence. Each participant must write a seminar paper on a topic assigned to him/her.

Building a successful data-based product requires a significant amount of high-quality code which needs to run in a professional production environment. This course starts by introducing the agile approaches Scrum and Kanban and then discusses the shift from more traditional software development approaches to the DevOps culture.

Special focus is given to the discussion and understanding of techniques and approaches for producing high-quality code such as unit and integration testing, test-driven development, pair programing, and continuous delivery and integration.

Since many software artefacts are accessed via APIs, this course introduces concepts of API design and paradigms.

Finally, this course addresses the challenges of bringing code into a production environment, building a scalable environment, and using cloud-cased approaches.

1. Agile Project Management
   1. Introduction to SCRUM
   2. Introduction to Kanban
2. DevOps
   1. Traditional lifecycle management
   2. Bringing development and operations together
   3. Impact of team structure
   4. Building a DevOps infrastructure
3. Software Development
   1. Unit & integration test, performance monitoring
   2. Test-driven development & pair programing
   3. Continuous delivery & integration
   4. Overview of relevant tools
4. API
   1. API design
   2. API paradigms
5. From Model to Production
   1. Building a scalable environment
   2. Model versioning and persistence
   3. Cloud-based approaches

The focus of this first course in the Data Engineering elective module is to introduce students to important principles, concepts, methods and approaches in this subject domain.

In order to achieve this goal, the course moves from an exposition of the foundational principles of data engineering to a thorough treatment of the core data processing classes. Modern architectural paradigms such as Microservices are explained, and important factors in data governance and protection are addressed. In this context, students are enabled to reflect on modern data protection principles and their societal implications and implement these principles into large-scale data-intensive systems. Aspects of cloud computing are introduced via an overview of the most common offerings on the market. Finally, a state-of-the-art agile perspective on the operation of data pipelines is given by an exposition to the emerging notion of DataOps and the productivity tools around it to facilitate working in interdisciplinary teams.

1. Foundations of Data Systems
   1. Reliability
   2. Scalability
   3. Maintainability
2. Data Processing at Scale
   1. Batch Processing
   2. Stream and Complex Event Processing
3. Microservices
   1. Introduction to Microservices
   2. Implementing Microservices
4. Governance & Security
   1. Data Protection
   2. Data Security
   3. Data Governance
5. Common Cloud Platforms & Services
   1. Amazon AWS
   2. Google Cloud
   3. Microsoft Azure
6. Data Ops
   1. Defining Principles
   2. Containerization
   3. Building Data Pipelines