Teaching MLOps in Higher Education through Project-Based Learning

TL;DR

This paper introduces a project-based learning approach for teaching MLOps in higher education, emphasizing hands-on experience with the full ML component lifecycle and emerging tools.

Contribution

It presents a novel course design integrating practical labs on MLOps, and reports preliminary results from its initial implementation in university settings.

Findings

Initial course delivery showed positive student engagement

Preliminary assessments indicate improved understanding of MLOps practices

Course adaptation across universities demonstrates flexibility and scalability

Abstract

Building and maintaining production-grade ML-enabled components is a complex endeavor that goes beyond the current approach of academic education, focused on the optimization of ML model performance in the lab. In this paper, we present a project-based learning approach to teaching MLOps, focused on the demonstration and experience with emerging practices and tools to automatize the construction of ML-enabled components. We examine the design of a course based on this approach, including laboratory sessions that cover the end-to-end ML component life cycle, from model building to production deployment. Moreover, we report on preliminary results from the first edition of the course. During the present year, an updated version of the same course is being delivered in two independent universities; the related learning outcomes will be evaluated to analyze the effectiveness of project-based learning for this specific subject.