Connecting the dots from skills to careers: Inside Cisco’s Networking Academy

The following is an excerpt from the 2019 CSR report.

Access to opportunity can change lives and change communities. Cisco Networking Academy partners with educators, governments, and employers to bring global and inclusive access to digital skills to millions of people. Because the workforce of the future will look different. Large-scale growth is predicted based on the adoption of new technologies bringing upwards of 133 million new job roles by 2021. So Networking Academy couldn’t be timelier and more relevant. In partnership with thousands of traditional and nontraditional learning organizations, such as universities, community colleges, and prisons, we’re helping to bridge the shift from conventional jobs to in-demand IT-savvy jobs. By providing best-in-class curriculum to these education partners free of charge, we’re bringing greater career possibilities to people everywhere. Learn more about the life-changing potential of Networking Academy from those who have lived it:

“There was a time when I said, ‘maybe it’s not the right career for me’…but something told me that it was possible.”Sara Martínez, a student of indigenous background in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, who learned Spanish in order to earn a degree

“It’s not just reading a book. It’s actually setting up things with your hands and running into situations that you’re going to face in the real world. That’s what helped me prepare for a career.” Megan Chapman, an IT professional in North Carolina who was inspired by Networking Academy to empower women in IT.

“Because of my background, I never dreamed I could have a career in IT. Cisco Networking Academy changed all of that.” Sergio Sales, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico.

Download the full 2019 CSR report: