Cisco Expands Strategic Collaboration with MexicoFIRST

Enhanced Offerings Now Encompass All Certification Levels to Address Growing Need for Networking Talent in Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Mexico, Oct. 24, 2012 – To foster the development of information technology (IT) talent to support the increasingly important role of the network, Cisco today announced the evolution of its strategic partnership with MexicoFIRST, an initiative of the Ministry of Economy of Mexico (MoE) and the National Association of the Electronic, Telecomunications and Information Technology Industry (CANIETI), sponsored by the World Bank, to improve the global competitiveness of Mexico’s IT industry. Previously focused on just students attaining Cisco CCNA® and CCNP® certifications, this strategic partnership is expanding to now encompass training and certification offerings across all of Cisco’s associate, professional and expert levels, as well as specializations, and now provides access to all networking professionals and Cisco partners, university students and businesses across Mexico.

Analysts indicate that Mexico’s real GDP growth will be 3.4 percent for 2012, and should rise in 2013 to 3.0 percent¹. Mexico presents an attractive harbor for investment¹ and is rated fourth worldwide as a provider of IT services². Gartner, in their Analysis of Mexico as an Offshore Services Location, indicates that “The number and diversity of technology vendors and service providers keep growing, and thus the demand for Mexico’s IT workforce is increasing, which continues to stimulate more interest in job opportunities in the technology field.³”

While opportunities continue to increase, Manpower in its 2012 Talent Shortage Survey highlights that in Mexico, 22 percent of employers say the lack of available applicants is a problem, and 43 percent have difficulty filling jobs including in technical positions⁴. In sectors such as healthcare, analysts indicate that a key constraint is due to a lack of human and technical implementation capability⁵. As networks continue to drive economic growth, the need for skilled networking talent increases in importance.

MexicoFIRST

• MexicoFIRST is an initiative of the MoE of Mexico and CANIETI, sponsored by the World Bank through Prosoft. MexicoFIRST collaborates with other relevant industry associations in Mexico like AMITI and ANIEI.

• Cisco is expanding access to authorized Cisco certifications to thousands of aspiring IT professionals through the MexicoFIRST program and the network of participating Cisco Learning Partners: Centro Netec, CTT, FastLane, Global Knowledge and SLS Latam.

• Through MexicoFIRST, networking professionals and students have access to better and more cost-effective networking certification programs, including industry-leading Cisco CCNA, CCNP, CCIE® and specialist certifications to support the growing global competitiveness of Mexico’s IT sector.

Training and Exams:

• Learning@Cisco has released Spanish versions of CCNA course materials, exams and learning games to aid in training and certification exam preparation.

• Individuals may validate their knowledge by taking a certification exam at any of the 56 Pearson-VUE test centers located throughout Mexico.

• The CCIE Mobile Lab program has been highly successful in Mexico City providing mobile lab testing for more than 100 students since 2009.

Supporting Quotes:

• Andres Simon Bujaidar, director, MexicoFIRST, said: “The demand for technically certified individuals is growing worldwide. By promoting technical talent in Mexico, we are helping to ensure that individuals entering the labor market have the most in demand skills that employers need today, strengthening labor supply in both quantity and quality.”

• Rogelio Velasco, vice president, Cisco Mexico, said: “MexicoFIRST’s leadership in IT education combined with Learning@Cisco’s experience in addressing the need for technical talent for Cisco customers, partners and network professionals, increases student’s opportunities to better compete in the job market and obtain rewarding careers. Public-private partnerships such as this are key to developing human capital to support the competitiveness of the Mexican technology sector.”

• Jeanne Beliveau Dunn, vice president and general manager, Learning@Cisco, said: “As networks become critical communication platforms across all industries, there is a growing need for qualified network professionals with the skills to accurately anticipate, diagnose and resolve complex network issues. Cisco is proud to support the development of needed technical talent in Mexico by providing educational training and certifications at a highly accessible price.”

Supporting Resources:

• To learn more about the MexicoFIRST Program, please visit: http://www.cisco.com/go/mexicofirst or contact: Marc Asturias, Strategic Marketing Manager – Americas, Learning@Cisco – masturia@cisco.com+1 408 853 2488
• Cisco Learning Network: http://www.ciscolearningnetwork.com

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About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO, news, filings) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

¹ Telecommunications Report, Business Monitor International, Q3 2012.

²  Pro México, Negocios, October 2012. http://negocios.promexico.gob.mx/english/04-2011/art01.html

³  Analysis of Mexico as an Offshore Services Location, Gartner, November 2011.

⁴  2012 Talent Shortage Survey, Manpower Group.

⁵  Healthcare Landscape, Outlook, and Growth Opportunities in Mexico 2011-2015, Sullivan and Frost, October 2012.

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