HONG KONG -- 27 October 2000 -- Education requirements are being radically transformed in the Internet Age and Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, is working with industry leaders in Hong Kong to meet those new needs and to bring e-learning to the masses.
The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology's School of Business and Management (Business School) became the latest educational institution in the SAR to join the Cisco Networking Academy Program, a technology-based curriculum that embodies the elements of e-learning while teaching the fundamentals of planning, building and maintaining computer networks, an essential skill in the Internet Economy.
NCR will become the first Corporate Sponsor of graduates of the Cisco Networking Academy Program (CNAP). They have planned to offer 32 Graduate Program opportunities to CNAP academy students across the Asia Pacific region of which 6 will be offered in Greater China. The NCR Graduate Program will sponsor the selected graduates to pursue CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert) certification. Candidates must have passed the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) exam that the first four semesters of the Networking Academy Program prepares them for.
"Education and the Internet are the two great equalizers today and not only are we seeing a need to deliver education, and training, over the Internet - e-learning, but we have to equip the next generation of Hong Kongers with the skills to compete in the Internet Economy," said Frankie Sum, Managing Director, Cisco Systems (HK) Ltd. "Cisco is proud to be able to work with established leaders such as HKUST Business School and NCR to empower the Internet Generation of Hong Kong.
As a Regional Academy, HKUST Business School receives instructor training from Cisco as well as networking equipment for the lab. The School's Department of Information and Systems Management (ISMT) will begin two new undergraduate courses that integrate the Cisco Networking Academy curriculum. In addition to offering the program to its students, HKUST Business School will recruit, train and manage ten Local Academies.
These will offer the Networking Academy courses as optional after-school elective courses for advanced college-prep students. Other Local Academies are expected to complete their initial training programs by the middle of 2001, with all local high schools or colleges invited to participate.
"We think Cisco has come up with a very timely solution to the high-tech skills shortage that the world is facing. The Networking Academy curriculum does more than just teach networking skills, it also does it using e-learning methodologies and sound teaching principles. As Cisco's Regional Academy, we shall be happy to see this program running in our local high schools as well," said Prof. Kar Yan Tam, Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Programs of HKUST Business School.
First launched in Hong Kong in February 1999, the Cisco Networking Academy Program now has six Regional Academies and 27 Local Academies in Hong Kong, which collectively are training about 660 students. The Cisco Networking Academy Program has been established in over 3500 education institutions in 60 countries around the world. The Program is the world's fastest growing IT education program, consisting of a four-semester curriculum that imparts the skills of designing, deploying and maintaining computer networks to students.
To increase the momentum for this program further, Cisco Systems is also working with leading companies to provide graduates of the Networking Academy a solid career path in the internetworking industry. NCR Corporation has become the first such corporate sponsor and will offer its graduate program opportunities to the brightest academy students to pursue the CCIE certification. CCIE is the networking industry's highest professional certification. CCIE certified engineers build some of the world's largest networks. There are currently over 4,700 CCIEs in the world with about 800 in the Asia Pacific.
"NCR believes that at the heart of the Internet Revolution is the individual and without individuals with the right skills and abilities, it will be difficult for any country or business to sustain itself. We will put in the investments to provide the best and brightest individuals with the opportunities to get skilled up," said Dilys Cheng, Director of Customer Services, World Customer Services, NCR (HK) Limited.
About HKUST Business School
HKUST was established in 1991. Its business school offers a full range of degree programs from the bachelor to PhD levels. It is Asia's only school to be awarded dual accreditation by US-based AACSB-the International Association for Management Education and the European Foundation for Management Development. It was the only Asian program ranked by the Financial Times earlier this year as among the world's top 75. More information available at www.bm.ust.hk/.
About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a US$6.2 billion leader in providing Relationship TechnologyTM solutions to customers worldwide in the retail, financial, communications, manufacturing, travel and transportation, and insurance markets. NCR's Relationship Technology solutions include privacy-enabled Teradata® warehouses and customer relationship management (CRM) applications, store automation and automated teller machines (ATMs). The company's business solutions are built on the foundation of its long-established industry knowledge and consulting expertise, value-adding software, global customer support services, a complete line of consumable and media products, and leading edge hardware technology. NCR employs 32,500 in 130 countries, and is a component stock of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. More information about NCR and its solutions may be found at www.ncr.com.
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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