In FY08 Cisco Networking Academy celebrates 10 years of providing information and communication technology education to students around the world. We partner with educational institutions, nonprofits, NGOs, businesses, and government organizations to deliver globally consistent and locally relevant experiences, improving economic and career opportunities for students. As of September 2007, more than 2 million students have participated in courses since the Cisco Networking Academy was established.

Ongoing Commitment to Excellence

Today’s companies increasingly rely on networking technologies to support their business objectives, and demand is growing for skilled employees to support their networks. In response, Cisco has redesigned the Networking Academy curricula to provide students with the skills they need to succeed in a wide range of IT careers across a broad range of industries.

The Networking Academy blends classroom instruction with online curricula, hands-on lab exercises, realistic network simulations, and an Internet-based assessment tool to deliver a consistent, standards-based learning experience. The Networking Academy portfolio comprises 18 courses designed to prepare students for entry-level IT career opportunities, continuing education, and globally recognized certifications.

This year we made several changes to better serve the needs of students from differing socioeconomic, cultural, and educational backgrounds, while also aligning curricula with market demands. Two new Cisco CCNA associate-level certification tracks—CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration—were added, featuring an updated user interface to simplify translation and embedded learning tools to improve comprehension. The Cisco CCNP professional-level certification and IT Essentials curricula were also revised to make sure they remain up to date and relevant, continuing to serve student needs in a fast-changing industry.

Cisco also introduced a new entry-level certification, Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT), to the Career Certification Program. CCENT offers a new point of entry for those just beginning to build a career in networking. As an optional first step toward CCNA certification, CCENT validates the skills required to successfully install and verify basic networks—a requirement for most entry-level network support positions in small and midsize businesses.

In addition, the Cisco Networking Academy IT infrastructure has been upgraded with new equipment and transferred to the Cisco data center to improve service to our students, instructors, and administrators. This data-management system processes nearly a million assessments each month and delivers online courses in multiple languages.

Networking Academy Achievements in FY07

The Cisco Networking Academy made considerable progress this year in several areas worldwide. Among these achievements:

SPARK Initiative

This initiative brings IT training to disadvantaged youths in Turkey at no charge. Co-funded by Cisco and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), SPARK established Networking Academy sites at the Gebze Institute of Technology and Erciyes University in Kayseri, with more locations anticipated in the future. Approximately 100 students have completed Cisco Networking Academy courses to date, and graduates serve as volunteer instructors to keep costs down.

Soccer Academies

In South Africa, an innovative Soccer Academy program reaches at-risk youths and young adults who have been incarcerated or have overcome crime, poverty, health risks, and other obstacles. The program offers them a chance to build their confidence, marketable skills, and leadership qualities. To create the program, Cisco partnered with Lee Sharpe Soccer, Ambassadors in Sport, the iTpod Company, and Global Events Group. The academies offer coaching, life skills development, and educational training programs, including Networking Academy courses. Future plans call for development of an additional 10 soccer academies in South Africa, including one at the Pollsmore Prison, where former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela was incarcerated until 1990.

First Nations SchoolNet

Cisco partnered with the Canadian government’s First Nations SchoolNet to bring technology training to remote aboriginal communities across Canada. Since its inception in 2005, this program has become a best-practices model for distance learning. To date, 30 students in two Canadian provinces have found IT jobs as a result of this training, and 14 have passed certification exams in another province. First Nations SchoolNet was created by the Canadian government to establish stimulating, technology-enabled learning environments in the First Nations schools.

Other Achievements

New Networking Academy sites for the blind and visually impaired were established in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Perth, Australia; a Networking Academy was created at the Arya Orphanage in Delhi, India; and IT curricula were made available to economically disadvantaged youths in the United States through Job Corps, the U.S. Labor Department’s largest youth training program.