TORONTO, Ontario - May 22, 2003 - Cisco Systems' Networking Academy Program is celebrating its five-year anniversary and has become a shining example of Cisco's community spirit in action. The Academy is a comprehensive, global e-learning program that teaches the Internet technology skills needed to prepare students for the twenty-first century work force.
|
"I truly believe that education and the Internet are two great equalizers in life," says Cisco Systems President and CEO John Chambers. "The Networking Academy program is succeeding every day in teaching students around the world the skills they need to join the information age and to help their communities."
Corporate citizenship is integral to Cisco's culture. The Academy program has proven to be the embodiment of that philosophy as its positive impact on individuals, their communities and education spreads throughout the world.
A Meteoric Rise to Success
The Academy program's success is seen in the large number of participants, its global reach and efforts towards gender equality, among other factors.Launched in 1997, it has grown to more than 10,000 Academies in the U.S. and in 149 countries, with a curriculum taught in nine languages. More than 468,000 students and over 21,000 instructors are active in Academies in high schools, colleges and universities, technical schools, community-based organizations and other educational programs.
Here in Canada, the Academy program operates in 360 academic institutions from coast to coast. Since 1997, more than 15,000 students have completed the Academy curriculum and over 1,500 instructors have been trained.
From Humble Beginnings
The Networking Academy program traces its roots back to 1993, when Cisco initiated a project to design practical, cost-effective networks for local schools. These schools needed on-site people trained to maintain their evolving networks and Cisco responded with instruction for teachers and staff that inspired a seminar program across the U.S. The success of those seminars prompted schools to ask for a formal curriculum and the result was the Cisco Networking Academy Program. The company has since extended the program to community colleges and universities worldwide.The Networking Academy program features a highly effective, blended learning model that combines Web-based content, hands-on labs, online assessment and face-to-face teaching. "Well-trained and supported instructors encourage the students to leverage their own learning style - whether it be visual, auditory or other," says Anne Miller, manager of education marketing at Cisco Systems Canada.
The assessment strategy, completed using interactive online exams and hands-on performance assessments, is designed to inform or improve learning and to hold students and teachers accountable for results. On average, about 30,000 online assessments are taken daily in Academies worldwide.
Canadian Impact
Teaching basic to advanced Internet technology skills, the Academy program prepares students for opportunities in the modern, information economy. All across Canada, there are examples of how the Academy program has helped young Canadians. Here are some of their stories.CCNP Grad Manages Campus IP Network
Mathieu Boutin now works for the Université de Quebec ` Montreal where he helps manage the university's vast and complex Internet Protocol network that serves nearly 44,000 students in 22 buildings. He qualified for this job by enrolling in the Cisco Networking Academy at McGill University.
CCNA Grad Finds Her Niche at EDS Canada
The Networking Academy was part of the curriculum for students at Nova Scotia Community College and that was the turning point for student Jennifer Hurlburt. After completing her studies, Jennifer volunteered for a six-week co-op at EDS Canada in Ottawa and supported the company's contract with Canada Post. Soon after, Jennifer was hired full-time by EDS to work on its Canada Post contract and since then has become an Advanced Systems Administrator.
Networking Grad Makes the Trains Run On Time
The Networking Academy provided Charles Gervais with the technology knowledge to work as a systems administrator in Moncton, New Brunswick providing desktop support for Canadian National Railways' offices in Moncton and its line points throughout the Atlantic region.
Career Changes are Possible
Jerry O'Brien knew it was time for a career change. In 2000, the former auto-upholsterer received his diploma at Okanagan University College and started working for Thompson Interior Savings Credit Union of Kelowna, British Columbia. In June 2002, Jerry returned to the College to enroll in the Cisco Networking Academy and completed the CCNA program in the Fall. The program prepared him for the new network environment that was created as a result of the 2001 merger between Interior Savings and Thompson Valley Savings.
Multiple Success Factors
The Networking Academy program's success is due to many factors. Cisco has managed to harness its unique assets and expertise into what the Harvard Business Review recently described as "a program that no other educational institution, government agency, foundation or corporate donor could have designed as well or expanded as rapidly.""What the authors point out, and what we're very proud of, is that we engage our whole set of assets - not just our dollars but our human capital, products, services, employees, facilities and global reach - and we bring all that together to create this unique learning environment," says John Morgridge, chairman of the board at Cisco. "Through the Academy we blend the goals of the business and of outreach; it's only through blending those goals that one can have sustainability."
Cisco looks forward to helping many others - individuals, local and national governments and international organizations - by continuing to leverage this proven learning model. Its accomplishments to date in helping people, communities and education from rural Africa to Shanghai bode well for a similarly successful next five years - and beyond.
About Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information are available at www.cisco.com.About Cisco Systems Canada
Cisco Systems Canada Co. has offices across Canada dedicated to customer support, sales, and service. In addition, Cisco Systems has a significant research and development centre in Ottawa, Ontario.
Press Contacts:
Gareth PettigrewStrategic/Ampersand (for Cisco)
416-961-5595 ext. 428
gareth@stratamp.com
