The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is bringing Big Data training around the world. Beginning in March, MIT will offer a four-week online course, “Tackling the Challenges of Big Data,” aimed at technical professionals and executives worldwide.

Big Data topics will include data collection, storage and processing, analytics, visualization, and a range of real-world applications. Experts from the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) will be teaching the course.

(Can MOOCs branch out beyond academia?)

“Big Data technologies will help us better understand and improve the world around us,” said Daniela Rus, director of CSAIL and co-director of the online course. “Tackling the challenges of Big Data will provide a one-of-a-kind learning experience for professionals looking to learn about the tools and skills they need to solve their Big Data problems.”

The course, which marks MIT’s first online professional course, is part of a line of professional courses called Online X Programs. The Online X Programs use MIT and Harvard’s open-sourced online education platform, edX, to provide companies with training and education on topics that challenge most industries. Participants will obtain an MIT Professional Education certificate of completion and gain access to the university’s professional alumni network.

The course can be taken individually or in groups of employees from the same organization, and will run from March 4 to April 1.