HANOI, Vietnam, Dec. 3, 2007 - Cisco® Vietnam marked the 10th anniversary of the Cisco Networking Academy® program with a celebration in Hanoi. Participating in the event were representatives from regional and local networking academies, Cisco channel partners, universities, colleges and high schools nationwide, and the media.

The Networking Academy is a comprehensive program that provides students with the Internet technology skills essential in a global economy. The Networking Academy delivers Web-based content, online assessments, student-performance tracking, hands-on labs, instructor training and support, and preparation for industry standard certifications. Over the past decade, the Networking Academy program has touched more than 2 million students in 166 countries around the world.

At the celebration, Cisco presented awards to the best academies and partners that collaborated with Cisco in developing the Networking Academy in Vietnam. The award winners include:

1.Bachkhoa Networking Academy, Hanoi University of Technology, for best academy of the CCNA® curriculum
2.Bachkhoa Networking Academy, Hanoi University of Technology, for best academy of ITE curriculum
3.Pronet Academy, Vietnam National University, Hochiminh City, for first academy to integrate the new CCNA curriculum
4.Dalat Academy, University of Dalat, for best academy for program development
5.SaoBacDau Technologies Group, for best partner of the Cisco Networking Academy program
6.Dr. Trinh Ngoc Minh, Pronet Academy, Vietnam National University, Hochiminh City, for best instructor of the Cisco Networking Academy program

The seminar also addressed the challenges facing the current information technology (IT) skills shortage in Vietnam and identified ways in which educational, training and government bodies can collaborate to help bridge this gap. According to an IDC study commissioned by Cisco, there will be a shortage of 1,900 workers with networking skills in Vietnam by the year 2009.

One of the key objectives of the Networking Academy in Vietnam is to increase the awareness of the value of networking and IT training among local students. Christina Anthony, regional program development manager for Southeast Asia and Indochina, said: "Employers everywhere recognize the importance of all job candidates having experience with technology. Even if a student doesn't want to pursue a career in IT, having that knowledge base is critical in today's job market. Students who go on to obtain industry-recognized certification have an even greater competitive advantage."

"The Networking Academy has come a long way in the last 10 years and we are really proud of the effect and impact it has made in Vietnam. With the support of our partners and universities, we hope to continue to improve and expand the program," said James Chia, general manager of Cisco Vietnam. "Cisco truly understands how the Internet is changing the way people work, live, play, and learn. The Networking Academy has been a very effective way of providing an e-learning model that combines curriculum, assessment and instruction to improve student learning that will enable them to be successful in an IT-based economy."

The IT training and education process represents Cisco's commitment to help Vietnam develop its own information infrastructure and keep pace with global IT developments.

Trinh Ngoc Minh, director of Pronet Networking Academy, National University of Hochiminh, said: "We are trying our best to find ways to generate a continuous supply of competent ICT professionals who will design, develop, implement and manage computer-based information systems. Being a Cisco academy equips us with the skills and the knowledge to disseminate the training that will address the shortage in skilled networking specialists in Vietnam."

Nguyen Khac Kiem, director of Bach Khoa Networking Academy of Hanoi University of Technology, said: "IT development for the young is very essential in building the foundation for strong human resources in Vietnam, especially now that Vietnam has joined World Trade Organization. The cooperation between Hanoi University of Technology and Cisco Vietnam via the Cisco Networking Academy program will create more opportunities to organize training courses at an international level to help our students to improve their abilities and confirm their pioneering roles in national socio-economic development."

The Networking Academy is one example of Cisco's focus on, and investment in, education programs. The program's success stems from partnering with academia, business and nonprofit organizations.