DCU Postraduate Guide 2026

Dr Mathieu Mercadier DCU Business School mathieu.mercadier@dcu.ie MathieuMercadier is the programme chair of the newMSc in Business Analytics. He is a researcher and lecturer in business analytics, with a focus on the intersection of finance, statistics, and machine learning. “Like many of us, I have often wondered how we can make better decisions when the future is uncertain. That curiosity shaped my path, beginning with studying Economics and Quantitative Finance, and leading to a decade-long career in the financial sector. There, I discovered another computational approach to decision-making: Machine Learning, a powerful set of tools capable of uncovering patterns, enhancing predictions, and supporting decisions in ways traditional models could not. While machine learning applied to finance remains a key focus of my research, a broader field has opened its doors to me: Business Analytics, an area that brings together the tools, techniques, and frameworks that help organisations make faster, smarter, evidence-based decisions. What drives me today is the belief that data, when used responsibly and intelligently, can help solve real-world problems. But making the most of data requires more than technical skills. It demands critical thinking, business acumen, ethical awareness and strong communication skills. This is the mindset I strive to instil in my students, and this is why I designed the MSc in Business Analytics. Students learn in an environment that reflects the real world, through challenge-based learning, virtual reality presentations, access to a new AI-ready Analytics Lab, and client-sponsored projects. In an increasingly data-driven world, there is a critical need for people who can turn complexity into clarity and insight into action. This is more than a technical field; it is a way to shape the future. And that is why I do what I do.” Inspiring Academics 9