Cisco is creating public-private partnerships to help bridge the digital divide by bringing Cisco Networking Academy classes to underserved populations in least-developed countries (LDCs) around the world. Since 2000, more than 250 Networking Academy sites have been established in 53 LDCs, reaching nearly 50,000 students. More than 12,700 of these students have successfully completed all four modules of the Cisco CCNA curriculum for network associates, with women representing 29 percent of the CCNA graduates in participating countries.

LDC Impact Assessment of Student Success

In FY07 Cisco and the Cisco Learning Institute (CLI), along with partners UNDP, USAID, and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), sponsored a study by GCR Custom Research to examine the impact of the Networking Academy on least-developed countries.

This LDC Impact Assessment evaluated the initiative in six countries chosen to represent Africa’s overall geographic, cultural, and economic profile: Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, and Zambia. The study’s primary purpose was to determine the effects of the program on individual stakeholders—former students, instructors, employers, and community leaders—so the data could be used to make informed decisions about future initiatives and resource allocation.

The results indicate that the Networking Academy has had a very positive impact on least-developed countries by:

• Supporting the development of IT skills
• Improving job opportunities
• Promoting self-confidence among women entering the IT field
• Raising the overall education level within communities

Nearly two-thirds of the students who participated in the survey found employment after completing the program, while three-quarters of those employed obtained jobs that require networking skills. Over three-quarters of the employers surveyed rate the skills of employees who have completed Networking Academy courses to be superior to those who have not completed these courses. Over 10 percent of the students surveyed started their own businesses after completing the courses.

The survey also identified some areas for improvement that we plan to address in the coming year:

• Provide more hands-on experience and access to the latest equipment
• Increase the availability of programs in rural areas
• Offer students more employment assistance, such as arranging internships and locating job opportunities