Global technology Cisco laid down its plans to train 25 million students worldwide to enhance their cybersecurity and digital skills. About 6.7 million of the total  number are coming from the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

Under Cisco Networking Academy, the skills-training program is intended to run for 10 years.

“For countries and businesses to fully harness the opportunities that are being created, they need a workforce with adequate skills,” said Guy Diedrich, SVP and chief innovation officer, Cisco. “As such, building a local pool of next-generation talent is critical to long-term social inclusion and economic resilience.”

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In the Philippines, Cisco’s Networking Academy has onboarded over 557,000 students since its inception in 1998. 

Cisco Networking Academy, a skills-to-jobs program, offers technology education through public-private partnerships, a high-quality curriculum, and inclusive workforce development programs. 

Cisco Networking Academy

Globally, the program has reached 17.5 million students across 190 countries. Since starting operations in APAC, the program has spread to 34 markets and trained nearly 4.5 million students through 1,950 partnerships with institutes of higher learning and organizations offering Networking Academy courses. In the Philippines, it has partnered with 125 partner organizations in to offer training under the program. 

In partnership with educational institutions, government leadership, and community-based organizations around the world, Cisco Networking Academy leverages Cisco’s industry expertise to deliver information and communications technology (ICT), cloud-based curriculum, and tools, focused on technologies shaping the future such as security, networking, collaboration, and Internet of Things (IoT). Courses are designed with a learning science foundation, integrated with gamification, assessments, and problem-solving to support learner success.

Courses

Supporting a continuum of learning, from curiosity to careers, courses align to industry-recognized certifications and prepare learners with transferable, vendor-neutral, job-ready skills. Over the years, 97% of students surveyed in the region who took Cisco certification-aligned courses obtained a job and/or educational opportunity.

The program supports Cisco’s purpose to power an inclusive future for all and its commitment to positively impact 1 billion people by 2025. Beyond building digital skills and expanding access to quality education and promoting STEM led by Cisco Networking Academy, Cisco is focused on crisis response – supporting programs and solutions focused on disaster relief, food insecurity, housing, clean water, and economic empowerment – investing in technology solutions that help underserved people gain financial independence.