Promoting IT Careers

A: All Academy Day (AAD) is a competition that gives students the chance to show off the skills they have learned in Cisco Networking Academy and explore career pathways by interacting with IT professionals. The first All Academy Day was conducted in San Jose, California, in 2004. Since then, many All Academy Days have been held across the United States.

All Academy Day is part of the Promoting IT Careers initiative, which helps young people explore the skills and education needed to succeed in information technology and encourages the development of relationships between students and professionals.

A: If it is your first time hosting an All Academy Day event, we suggest keeping it simple. Start with just your class, school, or school district. If you are a regional academy, consider hosting an event for your local academies. You may incorporate one, two, or all three of the skills events.

Invite industry representatives, such as your school district’s technology director, to talk to your students about careers in IT. If you are near a Cisco office, we can help you identify field engineers or sales executives. You can also contact technology vendors that serve your school or those in the local community. Refer to our Industry Support section for ideas.

A: All Academy Days bring Networking Academies and local IT professionals together to:

• Allow students to show off their skills by competing in fun, team-oriented skills competitions
• Introduce students to real-world IT topics
• Promote interest in IT careers and motivate students to continue their studies
• Help students explore career pathways by networking with IT professionals
• Build relationships between academies and their local IT community
• Provide a forum for students to interact with other Academy students and local IT professionals

A: Refer to Steps to Success for suggested guidelines and procedures.

A: We recommend hosting six to eight teams, each composed of four to five students, at your All Academy Day event. The contest scales well, so team numbers can be adjusted according to your situation.

A: About 90 percent of All Academy Day was designed for students with experience in IT Essentials I and CCNA 1-2. Some CCNA 3-4 skills are also involved. Points are awarded for what your team knows and can demonstrate.

A: Refer to the detailed equipment list for each event. The list also notes what equipment individual teams should bring to the event.

A: You can hold the All Academy Days between your classes or with other academies. Design your event so it fits your program.

A: Any student enrolled in your IT Essentials I or CCNA is an asset to your team. Select those students who enjoy working together and have different levels of computer skills.

A: We suggest students study the rules for each competition and ask questions in advance. Also remember to check the equipment your students will be bringing: laptop, copper termination tools, and cable tester. You can also develop a team strategy.

A: Please contact us by sending an e-mail to allacademyday@external.cisco.com.