Cisco Launches Job Training Program for Students

By Gail Repsher, Staff Writer


JUNE 21 ? Cisco Systems Inc. this week announced a new teaching endeavor that will provide its Networking Academy students with real-world work experience.


The Cisco Work-Based Learning Initiative sets up internships, mentoring programs and on-the-job training with local Cisco channel partners.


Cisco, a San Jose, Calif.-based leader in networking for the Internet, teaches more than 81,000 students the basics of networking technologies at more than 3,600 academies in 64 countries. Including on-the-job training and mentoring in the program will help students prepare for the work force, company officials said.


Job-specific training also will help fill the demand for skilled network specialists, which is expected to grow to more than 3 million in the next five years, according to Kevin Warner, director of worldwide education at Cisco.


"In order to develop a more highly trained work force, our Networking Academies need to add real-world work experience to their curriculum," Warner said.


Macon Technical Institute, a Cisco Networking Academy in Macon, Ga., and TechLAN, a Cisco reseller also located there, established one of the first collaboration agreements under the new initiative. Fifteen current and former Macon Tech students already are working at TechLAN, according to Gardner Long, head of the school's information technology department.


"The one thing missing was real-world experience [in the academy curriculum]. And you can't duplicate that in the classroom," Long said. "We needed a local partner to help us provide our students with the real world work experience they need to succeed."


The arrangement provides TechLAN with a pool of knowledgeable students, said Leland Lee, the company's president and chief executive officer. "On top of that, with the proper mentoring and hands-on experience, well-trained Macon Tech students become well-trained TechLAN employees, giving us two significant competitive advantages," he said.


The initiative's Web site uses search and matching functions to connect networking academies with channel partners interested in offering hands-on opportunities, and it allows Cisco partners to search for academies with students that match needed skills, experience and location. To participate, visit wbl.netacad.net.

By Gail Repsher, Staff Writer


JUNE 21 ? Cisco Systems Inc. this week announced a new teaching endeavor that will provide its Networking Academy students with real-world work experience.


The Cisco Work-Based Learning Initiative sets up internships, mentoring programs and on-the-job training with local Cisco channel partners.


Cisco, a San Jose, Calif.-based leader in networking for the Internet, teaches more than 81,000 students the basics of networking technologies at more than 3,600 academies in 64 countries. Including on-the-job training and mentoring in the program will help students prepare for the work force, company officials said.


Job-specific training also will help fill the demand for skilled network specialists, which is expected to grow to more than 3 million in the next five years, according to Kevin Warner, director of worldwide education at Cisco.


"In order to develop a more highly trained work force, our Networking Academies need to add real-world work experience to their curriculum," Warner said.


Macon Technical Institute, a Cisco Networking Academy in Macon, Ga., and TechLAN, a Cisco reseller also located there, established one of the first collaboration agreements under the new initiative. Fifteen current and former Macon Tech students already are working at TechLAN, according to Gardner Long, head of the school's information technology department.


"The one thing missing was real-world experience [in the academy curriculum]. And you can't duplicate that in the classroom," Long said. "We needed a local partner to help us provide our students with the real world work experience they need to succeed."


The arrangement provides TechLAN with a pool of knowledgeable students, said Leland Lee, the company's president and chief executive officer. "On top of that, with the proper mentoring and hands-on experience, well-trained Macon Tech students become well-trained TechLAN employees, giving us two significant competitive advantages," he said.


The initiative's Web site uses search and matching functions to connect networking academies with channel partners interested in offering hands-on opportunities, and it allows Cisco partners to search for academies with students that match needed skills, experience and location. To participate, visit wbl.netacad.net.