Are you looking for talent for your company?

Cisco Networking Academy connects its students and alumni with employers looking for job-ready IT and networking candidates.

Academy curricula cover a broad range of topics from basic network design to object-oriented programming, network security, and advanced troubleshooting tools. Soft skills such as career planning and teamwork are also integrated into each curriculum.

Networking Academy courses are available at high schools, community colleges, universities and community-based organizations. Use the Academy Locator to the right to search for existing academies in your area.

How Does Cisco Networking Academy Work?

Networking Academy is an innovative educational initiative designed to improve student career and economic opportunities in today’s networked economy. It is Cisco’s largest educational corporate social responsibility initiative.

Interactive, web-based courses are supported by trained instructors, course materials, 24/7 student access, and hands-on labs where students can practice skills.

Over the last 11 years, Networking Academy has educated more than 128,000 students in the United States, and more than 2.6 million students worldwide, in over 160 countries.

Academy Students Bring In-Demand Skills

Even during the economic downturn, the jobs outlook in IT for 2009 is better than that of many other industries, since IT is no longer at the periphery of industries but at their competitive core. IT will play a critical role in economic recovery. Obama’s pro-tech agenda could increase the number of technology jobs in the United States by 10 percent, adding about 300,000 high-paying IT positions. (Computerworld, 1/5/09, Stimulus could create thousands of IT jobs)

However, statistics show that there is an increasing gap between the demand for IT and networking professionals and qualified individuals to fill those jobs

Networking Academy students enter a growth field with increasing opportunity for success. Job roles range from supporting small businesses and home offices to designing and supporting enterprise networking architecture. Students and alumni are provided with career resources and employer networking opportunities to prepare for high-demand, high-wage careers.

How do I get started?

• See the Course Catalog
• Find an existing Networking Academy in your area
• Learn about opportunities to bring Networking Academy courses to your school or education program