Cisco expands global e-learning program

Internet and education are the world’s great equalizers of modern times, providing powerful means to uplift whole nations out of economic underdevelopment.

Despite the worldwide economic slump, US conglomerate Cisco Systems Inc. is aware that the Internet still offers vast growth potentials, that it is best to prepare for the global recovery ahead of the rest.

Crispian Tan, manager of Cisco Systems’ Asia-Pacific Education Program Partnerships, and Cristina de Jesus, manager of Cisco Systems Phils.’ Area Academy, said Cisco is now boldly investing in the future by increasing its non-profit Internet education activities worldwide.

Cisco Systems has undertaken an aggressive and unique e-learning model that delivers Web-based educational content, online testing, students’ performance tracking, hands-on labs and instructor training through the Cisco Networking Academy Program.

During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit in Shanghai, China last Oct. 21, a three-year, Internet-based human capacity building promotion (HCBP) program was launched, incorporating key elements of the phenomenally successful Cisco Networking Academy Program.

It was a distinct honor for Cisco to have two of its information technology (IT) training programs selected among the chosen four, from a list of the world’s finest international IT training programs.

World’s largest e-learning lab

The Cisco Networking Academy Program is today the world’s largest e-learning laboratory. It has attracted over 230,000 students from 131 countries, and is now available at more than 8,400 educational institutions worldwide.

The program is an eight-semester, 560-hour course that trains students and in-transition workers to design, build and maintain computer networks. Its graduates receive either one of the two industry-standard certifications – Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP).

Cisco Systems chief executive officer John Chambers launched the Asia-Pacific’s Cisco Networking Academy Program in the Philippines in 1998 with the Philippine Science High School. Today, the Philippines ranks the fourth largest in this program in the region after China, Australia and Japan.

In the Philippines, over 80 colleges and universities have enlisted in the program, according to Tan and De Jesus.

In China, they said Cisco has enlisted 150 academies to date. In the less-developed western regions of China, Cisco has tapped 30 academies.

In India, they said Cisco will train 100,000 people in five years in 34 states. In Japan, about 90 academies are taking part in the program.

Global demand for IT skills

The global demand for highly trained workforce with Internet networking skills, especially in the design, implementation and maintenance of an Internet-based economy, is fast-growing. The Cisco Networking Academy Program helps people and students gain technical skills needed for high-paying jobs in the IT and other industries.

In fact, De Jesus said their graduates do not necessarily work with Cisco clients or products only, but can also work with products of their business competitors.

Although its corporate profits remain flat due to the US economic slowdown, Cisco Systems, according to Tan and De Jesus, is still growing very fast and is optimistic that economic recovery will come sooner than expected.

They said the Cisco Networking Academy Program is successful because the US and the rest of the world still need more skilled IT people.

Tan and De Jesus said Cisco Systems recognizes the huge global demand for skilled Internet workers, especially in the Asia-Pacific where Internet use is growing faster than anywhere else in the world.

Established in 1984, Cisco Systems is the world’s leading Internet networking firm, with offices in 115 countries and annual gross revenues of $22.2 billion. Exceeded only by Microsoft and Intel, Cisco is the third biggest firm in the Nasdaq with market capitalization of $179 billion.