TORONTO, ONTARIO - July 6, 2000 - Cisco Systems Canada Co. today announced the first group of Canadian students graduated from the Cisco Systems Networking Academy program. Approximately 110 high school and college students from British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are poised to fill some of the estimated 30,000 unfilled jobs in Canada's IT industry.

Building a strong, networking-literate workforce is of critical importance to building a strong Canada in the information age. It is also what the Networking Academy program is all about," said Pierre-Paul Allard, general manager, Cisco Systems Canada Co. " I would like to congratulate all the graduates. I know they will become the business leaders of tomorrow because they have a jump start on the skills they need to compete in the Internet Economy."

Graduate Bruce Link will be attending the University of Manitoba in September and hopes to find a job in Manitoba's high-tech industry. He feels well prepared for the challenges ahead as a result of the Networking Academy program. "I certainly have a big head start on anything I might learn in university," says Link, 17. "With the fundamentals I've learned, I don't anticipate having any problems at all."

The program prepares students for immediate openings in the talent-hungry IT job market. "The reaction from local business has been tremendous," says Don Daigle, New Brunswick Community College's Networking Academy instructor. "At job fairs, our students merely mention they have taken Cisco's Networking Academy curriculum and the lights go on - they're either offered a job on the spot or called in for an interview. NB Tel has even hired some of our students to expand their networking support."

The Networking Academy program is a unique partnership between Cisco and schools that teaches students how to design, build, and maintain networks capable of supporting today's national and global organizations. The 280-hour technical education program gives students the opportunity to develop their hands-on technical skills within the communications networking industry and prepares high school, college and university students for the Internet Economy.

In order to help smooth the transition of Networking Academy graduates into the working world, Cisco has set up a program with Industry Canada's Campus WorkLink where Networking Academy students can post their resumes to be viewed by Cisco partners interested in hiring graduates.

The format for the Networking Academy classes reflects the content: interactive lessons stored largely on the classrooms' Cisco Web server. The Academy design also accommodates diverse learning styles. For those who learn by reading, text is available. More visual learners can focus on the course material's extensive graphics and QuickTime movies. To promote development of the personal skills that underpin successful careers, projects require students not only to resolve technical issues but also to successfully address network users' needs.

Since the launch of the program in Canada in June 1998, approximately 180 schools/colleges are involved in Canada.

For additional information about the Cisco Systems Networking Academy program in Canada please visit our web site at: http://www.cisco.comnetworking_academy/net_acad.html.

About Cisco Systems Canada Co.

Cisco Systems - with $16.7 billion (US) in revenues and over 30,000 employees - is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Established in 1990, Cisco Systems Canada employs over 500 Canadians and is headquartered in Toronto, with field sales and service offices across the country. In addition, Cisco also has a state-of-the-art development centre in Kanata, ON - focusing on the development of optical internetworking solutions to build the next generation of the Internet backbone.

The Internet is changing the way people work, live, learn and play - and Cisco Systems Canada is a primary agent of this change and a compelling example of the power of this revolution. By widely deploying business solutions based on the Internet, Cisco Systems saves over $825 million (US) per year in operating costs, has grown revenues by 100% in two years and has increased customer satisfaction at the same time. Cisco produces networking solutions for enterprise organizations, service providers and small/emerging businesses.

For additional information:

• Tiffany Schier
  Strategic/Ampersand Inc.
  416-961-5595 ext. 406>
  E-mail: tiffany@stratamp.com