Cisco Empowers Current and Next Generation of Global IoT Scientists, Engineers and Innovators

BARCELONA, SPAIN – INTERNET OF THINGS WORLD FORUM, Oct. 29, 2013 – Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO, news, filings) today announced a global commitment to educate and empower current and future generations of Internet of Things (IoT) entrepreneurs, scientists and innovators. According to a recent study published by the World Bank, the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector is rapidly growing, with an addressable market of $800 billion globally. Additionally, it is estimated that over the next 10 years there will be two million unfilled ICT-related jobs globally[1], correlating with a projected talent gap of 8.2 percent by 2022. To address this gap, education and training institutions will need to increase the number of technical graduates significantly – 222,000 more each year between 2014 and 2022. Recognizing this projection, Cisco is committed to meeting the critical demand for high-skill workers through strategic programs and collaborations for current and future generations.

Today’s announcement reinforces Cisco’s investment in education, revealing a new portfolio consisting of IoT curricula, assessments and an upcoming Cisco® Specialist Certification to advance skills development in industrial networking. In collaboration with major industry leaders, this education portfolio will help meet the growing need for specialized talent that can provide Internet Protocol (IP) networking expertise, with a focus in automation, manufacturing and energy, and future expansion to include equally transformative industries. Through this certification program, Cisco and new industry partners will join forces to help to reskill a significant number of individuals in these areas.

In addition to identifying the need to enhance skills of current members of the workforce, Cisco is dedicated to preparing current and future students for the demands of a modern workforce. An enhanced focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills is increasingly relevant for graduates to transition into careers in the information technology industry. As such, Cisco also announced today a key alliance with the New York Academy of Sciences. Recognizing the need to empower and educate the next generation of the IoT workforce, Cisco and the New York Academy of Sciences have established the Global STEM Alliance to bring curriculum resources, intergenerational mentorship and access to cutting-edge science and technology research to students around the world. The Country of Malaysia and the City of Barcelona will be the first to join the Alliance.

Key Highlights:

• Learning@Cisco, along with its partners, will be delivering IoT education courses and certifications that map to new and evolving career opportunities across multiple industries. These world-class programs will help lay a framework for individuals to achieve rewarding careers in IT and industry automation. STEM education collaborations will provide fundamental skills needed to support a sustainable workforce globally.

• The Global STEM Alliance will allow for the seamless integration of technology and content—effectively linking the New York Academy of Sciences’ successful local programs to locations around the world through in-person and online platforms. This partnership will enable sharing of knowledge resources to every corner of the world—humanizing science, through the use of technology, by connecting science-interested people of all ages across geographic boundaries.

• The Cisco Networking Academy program will help individuals prepare for globally recognized certifications and entry-level ICT careers in virtually every type of industry. Students develop foundational skills in ICT while acquiring vital 21st-century career skills such as problem solving, collaboration, and critical thinking. Courses are offered in multiple languages through a blended learning model that combines classroom instruction with online curricula, interactive tools, hands-on activities, and online assessments. The Networking Academy, in collaboration with education institutions, currently reaches over one million students in 165 countries.

Supporting Quotes:

Wim Elfrink, executive vice president, Industry Solutions and chief globalization officer:
“The Internet of Things is a reality today and will only continue to create unprecedented opportunities.  Empowering and preparing the next generation workforce to take part in this global opportunity is a critical piece of fueling IoT innovation. ”

Ellis Rubinstein, president and chief executive officer of the New York Academy of Sciences:

“Our planet needs scientists and engineers to address the challenges of poverty, health, and sustainability. Cisco has the vision and savvy to help our Academy’s young scientists and Nobel Prize winners inspire children throughout the world on an unprecedented scale—through the application of the Internet of Things.”

Mayor of Barcelona, Xavier Trías:

“Joining the Global STEM Alliance, together with Cisco and the New York Academy of Sciences, is for Barcelona an opportunity to develop the specialized talent and skills needed to nurture the transformative power of young people. Barcelona is also proud to host this edition of the Internet of Things World Forum. From health to social care, from education to public transport and electric mobility, the Internet of Things is already changing the way we live.”

Prof. Tan Sri Sharifa Hapsah, vice chancellor, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM): “Nothing is more fascinating than to watch students from schools, their teachers and young scientists engage energetically with the best scientific minds in learning how to be successful in the sciences. The Nobelist Mindset programme that UKM developed with the New York Academy of Sciences helps them appreciate creativity, determination and ability to see connections between ideas as key elements in learning STEM. We are pleased to join the Alliance together with the New York Academy of Sciences and Cisco in sharing how we develop this learning community with the world.”
Zeus Kerravala, principal analyst, ZK Research:

“As the Internet of Things accelerates, there is a growing need for qualified, specialized technical talent that can implement next generation networking technologies across industries such as manufacturing, energy and others. With its proven track record of preparing workforces for new technology opportunities and redefining industries through certifications such as CCNA, combined with established partnerships across public and private sectors, Cisco is ideally positioned to create and deliver focused training and certifications that will help close the gaps in knowledge and skills in these critical areas.”

Rockwell Automation Chairman and CEO, Keith D. Nosbusch

“As the industrial space continues to become a more pervasive element of the Internet of Things, the operational rewards of securely making the right information available at the right time throughout the enterprise are even greater. That seamless integration of the enterprise, supply chain and plant is becoming the next wave of competitive differentiation. We support initiatives that help educate and certify the high-skilled people who are creating that integrated enterprise of the future.”

Additional resources:

•    More resources on the IoTWF: http://www.iotwf.com

•    To learn more about Cisco training and certifications, visit the Cisco Learning Network: www.ciscolearningnetwork.com

•    More information on the Cisco Network Academy http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/index.html

•    Learn more about the Global STEM Alliance: www.nyas.org/GlobalSTEMAlliance

About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in IT that helps companies seize the opportunities of tomorrow by proving that amazing things can happen when you connect the previously unconnected. For ongoing news, please go to http://thenetwork.cisco.com

About The New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that since 1817 has been committed to advancing science, technology, and society worldwide. With 22,000 members in 140 countries, the Academy is creating a global community of science for the benefit of humanity. The Academy’s core mission is to advance scientific knowledge, positively impact the major global challenges of society with science-based solutions, and increase the number of scientifically informed individuals in society at large. Please visit us online at www.nyas.org

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