NEWS: Cisco for faster roll-out of networking acads in S.Asia

[Frederick Noronha <fred@bytesforall.org>]

Cisco for faster roll-out of networking academies in South Asia

By Frederick Noronha

A networked world would be a far happier place for the student. So believes
global networking giant Cisco Systems, as it pushes on with the ambitious
roll out its 'networking academies' which it hopes could make a big
difference to IT education in an 'Internet age'.

But, in parts of South Asia, bureaucratic delays are affecting the plan,
says Cisco International Partnership Programme Manager for Worldwide
Education Elli Takagaki. The pace of setting up these crucial training
centres could be speeded up, she suggested while speaking to this
correspondent.

In India, for instance, Ms Takagaki noted that Cisco CEO John Chamber had
offered to establish academies in some 34 states and union territories
across in India, during his visit to the country in January 2000.

"We reached about the half-way stage. But we're still in Phase I. We plan to
work with universities (and local training centres too). Even NGOs
(non-governmental and volunteer organisations) can set up centres if they
have a 56 kbps dedicated line to the Internet and 20 computers," she said.

Cisco, a giant in the global computer networking industry, says its
programme -- a "highly successful" alliance between the corporation,
education, business, government and community -- offers a "practical
solution" to promoting greater IT literacy and advanced skills. 

The 'networking academy' teaching students to design, build and maintain
computer networks. The academy curriculum covers "a broad range of topics,
from basic networking skills such as pulling cable to more complex concepts
such as applying advanced troubleshooting tools. "It is a highly successful
alliance between Cisco Systems, education, business, government and
community organisations around the world. It offers a practical solution to
address the need for greater IT literacy and advanced skills," adds Cisco.

Over the past year, Cisco says it has already implemented the programme
across 66 institutions in 14 states in India.  This includes, says Cisco
Education Project Manager for the SAARC region Lokesh Mehra, "even remote
locations like Andaman and Nicobar (Port Blair) and Himachal Pradesh
(Hamirpur)".

Delhi-based Mehra, who looks after the SAARC region, says that academies
have also been started in Bhutan (1), Bangladesh (1) , Nepal (5) and Sri
Lanka (1). This resource-poor, talent-rich centre of computing skills hopes
to see some 100 academies by the end of August 2002, Mehra told this
correspondent.

For administrative purposes of the Cisco network academy project, Pakistan
comes under Europe and Middle East region and not under Asia Pacific. "It
comes under my counterpart based in Dubai. We have 22 academies there,
comprising three regional and 19 local academies," says Mr Mehra.

He informed that the UNDP, particularly its Asia Pacific Development
Information Programme (APDIP) lead in Asia by an expat of Pakistani origin
Shahid Akhtar "has been working with Cisco to ensure that other LDC
countries in SAARC (Bhutan, Bgladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka) benefit from the
implementation of the Cisco Networking Academy Program". This program is
being expanded, and UN Volunteers are being provided in some areas, to
support the same.

Besides this Cisco says it is also focussing specially on "gender-focussed
academies" so that girl students too can avail the benefit of networking
education, which is otherwise considered to be mainly a male dominated area.

Some of Cisco's exclusive women academies in South Asia include Banasthali
Vidyapeeth (Rajasthan), SNDT (Mumbai), and PMC Tech (Tamil Nadu).

"Yes, there are loads of bureaucratic hassles (in setting up these centres
in India). Inspite of Cisco providing the curriculum and administrative
tools free of cost, the respective state governments feel that there is some
hidden agenda that Cisco has," Mehra said.

"It seems quite odd that 136 countries world wide have seen value in this
non-profit program but Indian bureaucracy loves to create hurdles in such
ventures," he added.

Citing one example, he said, in the small western coastal state of Goa,
despite repeated talk about promoting the IT industry, the state government
at Panaji has been "working at a snail's pace". Said Mehra: "The Goa
University wants Cisco to donate even the equipment free of cost though one
does provide that at a 50% subsidized cost."

Globally, some 136 countries are participating in this project, with 8615
networking academies set up catering for some 246,000 students. There are
some 26,350 instructors and over 35,000 online tests taken in one day.

In the Asia-Pacific region alone, after a roll-out in 1999, some 800
academies have been set up with 33,000 students enrolled in 24 participating
countries. India alone has 66 academies out of 75 in the SAARC region,
launched since just 2000. 

IDC estimates that by the year 2003, there will be a "global shortage" of
some 1.4 million networking professionals worldwide, the current IT slowdown
notwithstanding. 

Cisco's belief is that the Internet and education are the "great equalizers"
in life, eliminating barriers of time, distance and socio-economic status.
Using e-learning, the Cisco academies combine web-based, instructor-lead
learning with hands-on labs.

"Frequent online testing allows for assessing student comprehension and
determination of program refinements," says Cisco. 

This program promises to "prepares students and workers for Internet-based
economy" by providing students with internships, mentor programs and
on-the-job training with local Cisco partners and customers. 

Students will be taught to build, design, operate and maintain computer
networks through a "vendor neutral" 280 hour-programme, after which they
could sit for the Cisco Certified Network Administrator (CCNA) exam. 

This programme is based on e-learning "on a scale that local education
systems can easily manage". It includes hands-on learning and skill-set
development. Academy administrators and instructors are given access to 24 x
7 "high quality" technical support. 

Students get a two-semester internship. Different 'learning styles' are used
-- using multi media, including text, audio, extensive graphics and movies.
"Countries around the globe now have the chance to accelerate the
development process by embracing information technology," says Cisco. ENDS

SEPARATE BOX PLEASE: 

Networking academy links:

Information on networking academies in Asia Pacific:
http://www.cisco.com/asiapac/academy

Information on the global networking academy programme:
http://www.cisco.com/edu/academy

Academy locator
http://cisco.netacad.net/cnacs/pub-doc/locator.shtml

Email inquiries
asiapac-academies@cisco.com

Cisco Education Project Manager for the SAARC region Lokesh Mehra
lokesh@cisco.com