Canadian Industry Applauds Program Designed To Combat Technology Skills ShortageEducational Program Aims to Fill Shortage of Qualified Network Administrators in CanadaTORONTO, ON - June 3, 1998 - In a national news conference today, educators and industry announced the Cisco Networking Academy program, a new program which will help to combat the technology skills shortage in Canada by bringing advanced technology training into Canadian high schools. In conjunction with the announcement Canadian companies including the Toronto Dominion Bank, Allstream (formerly know as AT&T), GE Capital I. T. Solutions and Ingram Micro pledged to support the program by hiring graduates and offering financial support for Cisco Networking Academy students. "The Internet is changing everything - how we work, live, learn and play," said Robert Lloyd, general manager, Cisco Systems Canada Co. "Building a strong, networking-literate workforce is of critical importance to building a strong Canada in the information age." "Today, there are too few skilled workers to meet the demands of our customers, partners and telecommunications companies," continued Lloyd. "As the market leader in the Internet, Cisco needed to take a new approach to solve this problem. With the Cisco Networking Academy program we are enabling educators to teach students the essential, transferable skills this industry needs to meet its potential." "The Internet is having a tremendous impact on the financial services industry," said Michael Foulkes, Executive Vice President, Operations Division, Toronto Dominion Bank. "The Toronto Dominion Bank is proud to offer student intern positions as part of the Networking Academy program and looks forward to hiring program graduates." Foulkes added, "The Networking Academy program levels the playing field for students from every walk of life. The Toronto Dominion Bank will be offering financial assistance to ensure students from all economic backgrounds have an opportunity to pursue high tech careers through this exceptional program." Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) analysis suggests a technology "innovation gap" is a key contributor to slow productivity growth in Canada. According to the OECD, one important element of this gap includes a mismatch of the skill needs and supply in this country. According to Canadian businesses of all sizes a lack of skilled personnel is considered to be the biggest impediment to innovation. (Source: Industry Canada, Micro-Economic Policy Analysis Branch, December, 1997). The Cisco Networking Academy program is designed to teach high school students to design, build and maintain computer networks capable of supporting national and global businesses. "Allstream (formerly know as AT&T) Services is proud to support the Cisco Networking Academy program by offering internships to the program's students," said Laurence P. Hudson, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Allstream (formerly know as AT&T) Services. These internships will give the students the practical experience in working with, and understanding one of the most sophisticated networks in Canada." "Our networking business is booming," said Paul Cooper, Vice President, Systems Division, GE Capital I. T. Solutions. "The Cisco Networking Academy program will provide us with the skills we need to keep growing." "The demand is so hot, networking products are flying off the shelves," said Graz Castellani of Ingram Micro, Canada's largest distributor of computer products. "The skills acquired by these young people are in demand by thousands of our channel customers across Canada. Supporting the Cisco Networking Academy program will support our customers' success and our own." To kick-start the program, Cisco Systems is contributing curriculum, equipment and resources to help bridge the gap. The investment has already begun in high schools, colleges and technical schools in five provinces - Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Ontario. By the program's first anniversary in June 1999, more than 1,200 students from 30 schools will have gained some of the necessary skills to begin working in the information technology field. About Cisco Systems Canada Co.Cisco Systems Inc. is a multinational corporation with more than $6 billion (U.S.) in annual revenues and more than 13,000 employees worldwide. Cisco Systems Canada Co. (formerly Cisco Systems Canada Ltd.) was established by Cisco Systems in 1990 and is the 12th largest IT company in Canada. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, the company has more than 140 employees in Canada with regional sales and services offices in Dartmouth, NS; Moncton, NB; Quebec City, PQ; Montreal, PQ; Ottawa, ON; London, ON; Winnipeg, MB; Calgary, AB; Edmonton, AB; and Vancouver, BC. Cisco produces networking solutions for enterprise organizations, service providers and small/medium businesses. With 80 per cent of the backbone of the global Internet built with Cisco Systems, Cisco is empowering the Internet generation. Cisco also uses the Internet to conduct a substantial amount of its own business. Cisco provides more than 70 per cent of its customer support over the Internet and since August of 1996, the value of Cisco product orders handled over the Internet have surpassed the $1 billion (U. S.) mark. Additional information on the company and its products can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.cisco.com or /global/CA/. Contact:
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