Union of Skills: Cisco to Equip 1.5 Million People in the EU with Digital Skills by 2030

News Summary

Cisco announces new goal to equip 1.5 million people in the EU with basic digital skills by 2030 through the Cisco Networking Academy.

Aligned with the EU’s Union of Skills, Cisco also plans to train 5,000 instructors in the EU over the next five years to develop a future- and AI-ready workforce through vocational education and training (VET), and higher education.

With this two-pronged approach, Cisco’s initiative will help address the skills gap and build a resilient workforce in line with the EU’s ambitions to put digitization and AI at the center of the competitiveness agenda.

Brussels, 5 March 2025 – Today, Cisco, the worldwide leader in networking and security, outlined the company’s continued commitment to skills at the European Commission’s Employment and Social Rights Forum. Cisco Chair and CEO Chuck Robbins announced plans to equip 1.5 million more people in the European Union (EU) by 2030 with basic digital skills. Additionally, Cisco aims to train 5,000 instructors on the new competencies professionals need to succeed in AI, cybersecurity, data science, and the digital transformation of industry. To achieve these goals, Cisco will build on its extensive resources, network, and expertise through Cisco Networking Academy, one of the world’s longest running skills-to-jobs programs.

“Cisco is committed to supporting the EU and our education partners in developing the talent essential for thriving in an AI-driven future,” said Robbins. “This new initiative strengthens our partnership to build a resilient and skilled workforce ready to meet Europe’s digital transformation and AI objectives.”

Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness and Cisco Chair and CEO Chuck Robbins

Free Basic Digital Education for Europeans

With its longstanding, successful skills programs, such as Cisco Networking Academy, Cisco is poised to play a transformative role in realizing the Union of Skills agenda through this new goal under the EU’s Pact for Skills.

As part of its basic skills initiative, Cisco will offer free courses designed to enhance digital literacy for an additional 1.5 million individuals across the EU. These courses will focus on digital awareness, cybersecurity, data science, IoT, and AI. The goal is to provide citizens with free access to the foundational skills necessary for the digital world, in line with the European Commission’s 2030 Digital Decade targets.

Training the Trainers for Workforce Empowerment

In addition to basic digital skills, Cisco will support the development of a future-ready workforce through vocational education and training, and higher education, by training 5,000 teachers over the next five years. This effort will include courses on AI, from basic to intermediate levels, as well as novel material addressing AI’s impact on cybersecurity, networking, and other IT jobs. The courses will provide educators with the knowledge and skills required to teach the next generation of professionals and will incorporate existing content and newly customized courses tailored to the AI landscape.

The new Cisco Industrial Networking curriculum will also provide detailed course material in operational and energy efficiency, innovation, and the connected factories of tomorrow. The courses are designed to equip workers with the skills they need to succeed in the digital transformation of industry, including the automotive and manufacturing sectors.

To maximize adoption and allow for the integration of the content into national curricula and public education systems, Cisco Networking Academy will deliver content in multiple European languages. Cisco will also work in collaboration with its European partners to deliver free training modules for all educators, focusing on platform usability, curriculum alignment, and teaching strategy development.

Cisco Networking Academy

Cisco Networking Academy is a pioneering global program that offers digital skills training through partnerships across the public and private sector. It provides a comprehensive curriculum that prepares learners for careers in the digital economy.

Operating for more than 27 years, Cisco Networking Academy continues to empower individuals through skills development and job readiness. It operates through an unequaled ecosystem of over 3,000 partner institutions and over 7,000 educators across the EU. Since its inception in the EU in 1998, over 3.2 million learners in the Union have participated in courses offered by Cisco Networking Academy. The program recently accomplished the goal to train 250,000 people in cybersecurity skills, contributing to the EU’s Cyber Skills Academy initiative.

Cisco’s Learning Continuum

Cisco offers additional specialized courses to upskill entry level professionals into highly skilled experts. Earlier this year, Cisco introduced its AI Skills Journey program to build critical AI Infrastructure skills from entry to expert for our customers and partners on u.cisco.com.

As a part of its continued efforts to enhance AI skilling, Cisco has also updated certifications such as Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) and Internetwork Expert (CCIE) to reflect the AI and cybersecurity skills essential for impactful business outcomes.

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that is revolutionizing the way organizations connect and protect in the AI era. For more than 40 years, Cisco has securely connected the world. With its industry leading AI-powered solutions and services, Cisco enables its customers, partners and communities to unlock innovation, enhance productivity and strengthen digital resilience. With purpose at its core, Cisco remains committed to creating a more connected and inclusive future for all. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco.

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Media contact

Lauriane Giet
Public Relations
+32 2 704 10 20
lgiet@cisco.com