Doing the Right Thing Through Education
May 14, 2008
By Leigh Bailey
Cisco's commitment to socially responsible programs is deeply engrained in the company's operating philosophy, and has its roots in Cisco's earliest days.
The company's education initiatives are a cornerstone of our CSR activities, and represent some of the company's most successful and enduring programs.
"For millions of people around the world, education is the ticket to a better life," explains Michael Stevenson, Cisco's newly appointed VP of Global Education. "Through education, people can fulfill their potential, and improve their lives and the lives of others in their communities, wherever they may be in the world."
And as good corporate citizens, "We believe it is our responsibility to help people flourish, by helping to develop and support 21st century education across the globe."
IT Education with a Global Reach
The Cisco Networking Academy, established in 1997, is the company's longest running, and most far-reaching educational program.
A public/private partnership between Cisco, local and national governments, educational institutions, non-government organizations (NGOs) and other industry leaders, the Networking Academy program now boasts more than 8,000 established academies in more than 160 countries, providing IT education to more than 600,000 students each year.
"Through education, people can fulfill their potential, and improve their lives and the lives of others in their communities, wherever they may be in the world."
"The basic purpose of the Cisco Networking Academy is to help ensure that entry IT education is available to anyone who wants it throughout their local universities and schools," explains Amy Christen, VP, Corporate Affairs. "We have Networking Academies in over 100 countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, the West Bank in Israel, in impoverished neighborhoods in Kenya, as well as in Chicago and New York."
Students-of whom nearly 20 percent are female-learn IT skills that prepare them for employment in the 21st century economy, using the network as the platform for their education.
"Because we're offering the Networking Academy curricula over the network itself, students are getting an equivalent education no matter where they are in the world," Christen explains. Through a blend of classroom instruction, online curricula, hands-on lab exercises, realistic network simulations, and an Internet-based assessment tool to deliver a consistent, standards-based learning experience, the Networking Academy's 18 courses prepare students for entry-level IT career opportunities, continuing education, and globally recognized certifications. "Once they've completed their training, they're ready to accept employment in IT. And that can be life-changing," Christen adds.
21st Century Schools
Students aren't the only ones who benefit from having the 21st century brought into the classroom.
Through the 21st Century Schools (21S) Initiative, now in its third year, Cisco is helping to bring the power of IT and networking technology to teachers and administrators as well.
In the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, Cisco created the 21st Century Schools Initiative, conceived to serve as a blueprint for rebuilding and improving schools across Louisiana and Mississippi.
Led by 21S Executive Director Bill Fowler, the purpose of the program is to help schools transform the approach to learning by creating a 21st century education model that improves the quality of education, prepares students with 21st century skills, and creates a foundation for economic opportunities and community success.
Critical to the program's success are the Cisco employees who sign on to serve as 21S "Fellows." "These dedicated individuals agree to move to the area for at least a year, often with their entire families, to work directly with the local school districts to implement the programs," says Fowler.
The schools in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, represent one of the program's most successful partnerships to date, notes Fowler. "Originally, we'd planned on working with eight of the district's 85 schools, but the program was so well received that we made the decision early on to expand it to 16 schools."
District administrators were so impressed with the results that they decided to replicate the 21S model incorporating the technology, pedagogy, teacher training and development, and 21st century curricula at all 84 schools across the district by 2010.
"This is exactly the kind of profound educational transformation we were hoping to affect," Fowler says.
Teachers Without Borders
As John Chambers has often repeated, "Education and the Internet are the two greatest equalizers in life."
It's a philosophy that is exemplified through Teachers Without Borders-a global, technology-based program dedicated to closing the digital divide through teacher development.
Established in 2000, Teachers Without Borders delivers standardized curricula, educational support materials, best practices, and professional support to teachers in predominately developing countries through the establishment of Community Teaching and Learning Centers (CTLCs).
"In many areas of the developing world, teachers receive no training at all," explains Peter Tavernise, senior manager, Corporate Affairs. "Fred Mednick, who founded Teachers Without Borders, came to us and made a great case for how corporate support by a company like Cisco can bring the power of the network to this kind of program and help bring primary and secondary education to millions of children around the world."
Through the Cisco Foundation, Cisco has supported Teachers Without Borders' mission since 2001, and has helped the program expand into local communities in 84 countries.
"We began with a relatively small initial grant, but the program has been so successful and so effective that we have continued to support it, and have expanded our support with each successive year," Tavernise explains. "Teachers Without Borders is very much in line with our core beliefs about education, so it's a relationship we intend to continue."
Global Educational Alliance
Expanding on the success of our involvement in the Global Educational Initiative in Jordan, Egypt, and Rajasthan, India, at the January meeting of the World Economic Forum, John Chambers announced Cisco's intention to participate in the Global Educational Alliance (GEA)-a global, collaborative effort by the private sector industry, UNESCO, and the International Donor Community, to achieve the Millennium Development and education for all goals.
Beginning with a pilot program in Rawanda, the GEA aims to create "an unprecedented collaboration between corporations, the national government, and the local donor group to obtain the greatest efficiencies and sustainable, long-term results" in education.
"Providing universal access to education is crucial to influencing the standard of living and economic prosperity for individuals and countries," John says. "We believe this new alliance will be a powerful advancement in global education, uniting public and private sectors to provide children a future of greater social and economic opportunity."
According to Adrian Godfrey, director, Corporate Social Responsibility, Cisco's leadership in the GEA is a natural extension of our social investment strategy to provide replicable, sustainable solutions for education reform in the developing world.
"We believe passionately in the power of technology to support education, and the power of education to transform lives," says Godfrey. "Cisco is regarded as a leader in CSR, and we are proud of our efforts to help create sustainable educational opportunities for communities across the globe. Empowering people in the communities in which we do business is a critical part of our efforts to be a good corporate citizen, and it makes good business sense."
Leigh Bailey is a freelance journalist for News@Cisco.