MANILA, Philippines -- 8 March 2001 -- Cisco Systems, the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, today posted another milestone for its education initiative with the launch of the first local academy under the Cisco Networking Academy Program in the Catanduanes island.
Catanduanes College is the fifty-ninth networking academy in the Philippines, and the second after Ateneo De Nagao University in the province of Bicol. As a Local Academy, Catanduanes College comes under the supervision of De La Salle University Professional Schools Inc., a Regional Academy. Under the Cisco Networking Academy program, a Regional Academy provides the training and supervision to faculty members of Local Academies under its jurisdiction.
Ephraim Antonio Gianan, president of Catanduanes College, said that their participation in the program is in line with the school's vision to provide the Catandungons the opportunity to be globally competitive. "With the introduction of the program, students from the rural locations are provided with a level playing field for them to be more competitive. Students are also prepared for industry standard certifications, including Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA).
The twelfth largest island in the Philippines, Catanduanes is situated in the easternmost fringe of Luzon. Spanning more than 1,500 square kilometers. Catanduanes is home to 223,134 residents and boasts six major colleges and universities.
The Cisco Networking Academy program is a non-profit, comprehensive, education program from Cisco Systems, that teaches the students the basics of networking, down to how to design, build, and maintain computer networks. The program combines lectures and online learning with hands-on laboratory exercises in which students apply what they learn in class while working on actual networks.
Noel Rivera, country manager of Cisco Systems Philippines, emphasized the value of the program, especially in distant rural areas. "Cisco is committed to extending this initiative further to benefit even those living in areas where education is impeded by issues such as distance or poor infrastructure. This is where the program will be most advantageous."
Catanduanes College will be offering the program to both students and in-transition workers alike starting school year 2001-2002. The program shall be incorporated in the ladderized curriculum of the school and will also be made as an elective to the other computer courses.
"We are confident enough that an initial 30 students will enroll under the program and we expect a 20 to 30 per cent steady increase in enrollees per school year," said Gianan.
To complement the Networking Academy program, Gianan added that the school has already set up two laboratories to be used by students enrolled in the program. Two more laboratories will be set up and will be operational by the start of the school year.
To substantiate its leap into the information technology space, the school has also initiated the first Catanduanes Information Technology Convention (CATLINK), which attempts to bridge the gap by bringing public and private access to current information and communications technology (ICT), providing opportunities to professionals.
The convention covered topics relevant to the local conditions and resources current and future needs, like ICT in education, the Cisco Networking Academy program, the Future of Telecoms in Region 5, WAP Technology, LAN/WAN, e-Services, amongst others. Cisco Systems Philippines Systems Engineer Manager, Rio Hernandez, spoke about the Cisco Networking Academy program at the event.
"We have decided to come up with this convention to eliminate the conditional acquisition of information and knowledge and provide opportunities to both individuals and organizations to be globally competitive," said Gianan.
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