Cisco Expands AI and Digital Learning to Empower Europe’s Next Generation

This week, I joined educators, industry partners, and policymakers at Cisco Networking Academy’s European Partner Conference in Thessaloniki. It was inspiring to meet people from across our community and discuss how we can accelerate digital skills and train Europe’s future workforce. During the week, we also unveiled several new initiatives that reinforce Cisco’s leadership in digital education.

Breaking Language Barriers in AI

The future belongs to those fluent in technology, and language should never be a barrier to accessing new skills. The latest research of the AI Workforce Consortium, an initiative of nine global companies led by Cisco, found that 78% of ICT job roles now require AI skills.

In response, our new AI courses are now available in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, and Romanian. More languages (Czech, Dutch, and Hungarian) will be launching in 2026. Our aim here is clear: make world-class tech education accessible to everyone, everywhere, in their own language.

A Gamechanger: The Cisco Networking Academy Cup with the collaboration of Real Madrid

Innovation thrives on challenge. That’s why, as part of our technology partnership with Real Madrid, we’re launching the Cisco Networking Academy Cup, created to inspire students to build their cybersecurity and networking skills.

The competition will kick off with a “Learn-a-thon”, where academies earn points based on student course completions and badge achievements. The top three academies in each country will then assemble a team of four students to advance to the “Capture the Flag” finals. Winners will receive five VIP tickets to a La Liga match and five passes for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the iconic Bernabeu stadium.

Building a Digital Future for All

The Cisco Networking Academy European Partner conference also marked the integration of Networking Academy into the newly rebranded Learn with Cisco organization, Cisco’s comprehensive ecosystem for technology education and career development. It includes various platforms and resources designed to help individuals acquire and advance their skills in networking, cybersecurity, AI & data science, programming, and other IT fields, expanding support for instructors and learners at every level.

Empowering Europe’s Next Generation

Across the world, countries are in a race for digital leadership, and Cisco Networking Academy is leading the charge. We want to give everyone, regardless of background, the ability to master critical digital and cybersecurity skills that open doors for their future.

In Europe, over 5.1 million students already gained vital tech skills through our vast network of 3,841 academies. In the past year alone, 771,100 new learners joined.

In support of the EU’s Union of Skills agenda, our CEO, Chuck Robbins, recently set a bold new target to train 1.5 million students in Europe by 2030. This cannot happen without educators who remain at the heart of this transformation. We’ve trained 5,000 instructors last year, with cutting-edge knowledge including AI.

A Call to Action
Cisco continues to develop innovative courses, rolling out local resources, and forging dynamic partnerships to help Europe thrive in a digital and AI-driven world. Our European Networking Academy Conference was more than a gathering. It was a catalyst for progress, transformation and inclusion. I look forward to seeing the continued impact of these initiatives as we shape the future of tech education in Europe.

Stay tuned for more updates! Check the Cisco Networking Academy Cup and register your team!