South Auckland Students Learn Vital Networking Skills with Cisco Program
Cisco Networking Academy Program enables Maori and Pacific Island adult learners to bridge the digital divide
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - June 12, 2003 - Cisco Systems, Inc. is providing poor and disadvantaged people in South Auckland the chance to profit from the Internet and networking technology. Through the implementation of the Cisco® Networking Academy® Program, Maori and Pacific Island adult and second-chance learners at the Pukapuka Training Academy, based in Mangere East, are learning the skills necessary to prosper within the digital workforce.
Designed to bring the skills of an IT driven economy to Maori and Pacific Island communities, the Pukapuka Training Academy is one of seven local Networking Academies launched by Cyberwaka Enterprises, a joint venture between the Te Runanga o Te Whanau Maori Tribal Authority on the East Coast and the Pacific Island Matagi e Fa Trust in South Auckland. Begun in 2000 at a nonused school in Te Kaha, the Cyberwaka project has grown to be a highly resourced operation, empowering hundreds of secondary and tertiary students from predominantly lower socio-economic areas.
According to Cyberwaka project manager, Filemoni Timoteo, the Cisco Networking Academy Program is an ideal vehicle to equip Maori and Pacific Island peoples with highly employable and transportable skills that are sought after both locally and overseas. "The program is not only proving an effective educational tool, but also helping transform traditionally disadvantaged groups into a skilled and knowledgeable workforce to the benefit of New Zealand's digital economy," Timoteo said.
Launched in 1997, the Cisco Networking Academy Program is an internationally recognised vocational training course which teaches secondary school and tertiary students the fundamentals of computer and Internet networking. More than 10,800 Academies operate in 152 countries worldwide, equipping students with the necessary skills to sit industry certifications, including the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). In Asia Pacific there are more than 79,000 students from 24 countries enrolled, with the 1,000th Cisco Networking Academy in the region established earlier this year in India.
The Pukapuka program has 12 students of Maori and Pacific Island origin enrolled in the four-semester course. Offered in conjunction with an entry-level course, "Bridging to Tertiary," students at the Mangere East campus undergo a series of interactive Web-based training modules covering topics such as computing basics, local-area networks, Internet protocols and network cabling to provide the necessary skills to gain their first industry certification, the CCNA certification.
Pukapuka Community of New Zealand manager, Nuku Rapana, said, "The course has enabled previously disadvantaged groups access to the very latest in technology and educational methods to a level that meets the highest industry standards both within New Zealand and overseas. The hands-on nature of the course, in combination with the small class sizes, has proved an ideal learning environment for adult and second-chance learners to not only achieve an internationally acclaimed qualification, but also a defined and rewarding career path."
Cisco Systems® New Zealand country manager, David Barker, said; "The Cisco Networking Academy Program is an effective educational and empowerment tool to equip disadvantaged groups with both the desire and aptitude to succeed within the networking field. Initiatives such as the Pukapuka Academy are helping to meet the global demand for highly skilled and qualified Internet specialists and are acting to bridge the digital divide."
About Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at www.cisco.com.
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Cisco, Cisco Systems, the Cisco Systems logo, CCNA and Networking Academy are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.
