2.48 Million. 915 students ICT taught in instructors preparing the ICT workforce. 6,340 students since inception

Transcription

1 Corporate Social Responsibility Impact Profile Rhode Island Cisco Networking Academy Education and technology are two of the greatest social equalizers. Education helps people improve their economic opportunities, while technology provides access to education. In the United States, Cisco partners with many private and public organizations to deliver programs that contribute to education and the innovative use of technology. The largest of these programs is Cisco Networking Academy. Every year, Networking Academy teaches hundreds of thousands of students worldwide the skills needed to design, build, manage, and secure computer networks, helping to enhance these students career prospects and fill the global demand for networking professionals. With over 2,100 academies across the country, Networking Academy delivers classroom instruction, online teaching materials, interactive tools, and hands-on learning to students from every socioeconomic background, so that they can develop the knowledge and skills required to succeed in a technology-driven market. As organizations become increasingly reliant on intelligent networks and innovative workers, Cisco and our partners are helping the workforce prepare by teaching the career-ready skills that employers need. 915 students ICT taught in ,340 students since inception 9 organizations offering Cisco courses 14 instructors preparing the ICT workforce 2.48 Million in-kind contribution to education you + networks = impact 2012 Cisco and/or its affiliates. Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 1 of 7

2 Economic and Workforce Development For a competitive and sustainable economy, the United States must have a skilled and well-trained workforce that can meet the needs of industry. Students must now acquire problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, in addition to specific job-related expertise, to reach their full potential as a vital work resource. The growth of global networks has resulted in a shortage of people who are qualified to design, build, manage, and secure the information infrastructure needed to do business, support communications and in some cases, save lives. Every business, school, hospital, nonprofit, and other organization that relies on intelligent networks requires trained professionals to keep them running and secure. A workforce that is well-schooled in information and communications technology (ICT) and engineering can spur innovation across many industries, which in turn inspires additional opportunities to fuel productivity and economic growth. ICT investments are expected to play a major role in generating stable, high-paying jobs and boosting the nation s gross domestic product (GDP). Every 60 seconds: million s sent - 13,000 iphone apps downloaded - 98,000 tweets - 698,000 web searches From an economic development perspective, the Internet accounts for 21% of GDP growth in the mature countries studied. The Internet creates 2.6 new jobs for every 1 job lost. McKinsey Global Institute Cisco Networking Academy is assisting the nation by helping to ensure the supply meets the demand. Innovative Education Program Cisco Networking Academy is a technology education program that partners with public and private organizations to provide the knowledge and skills required for career- and college-ready students. Students acquire basic-toadvanced knowledge of information communications technology and learn networking skills. They also develop the analytic, teamwork, and efficiency skills and the self-confidence that are so essential in the 21st century, both in the job world and in college. For career-ready students, this means preparation for globally recognized certification exams that qualify them for high-demand, high-wage jobs. Coursework reflects all STEM Cluster Topics, and teaches many of the reading and writing Common Core Standards for technical subjects. College-ready students strengthen their understanding of technology as well as math, science and engineering concepts, improving success in their advanced studies. The program is available to high schools, community colleges, universities and a variety of community based organizations. The coursework is comprehensive and free to nonprofit institutions. Technical and Career-Ready Skills Courses include IT Essentials, Cisco CCNA (Cisco Certified Networking Associate) Discovery, CCNA Exploration, CCNA Security, and the more advanced Cisco CCNP (Cisco Certified Networking Professional). With a focus on learning technical skills, the instructional approach encourages student engagement, enhancing students ability to synthesize what they learn Everything I learned in Cisco Networking Academy courses proved applicable in my career. Academy Student 2012 Cisco and/or its affiliates. Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 2 of 7

3 and apply it in other contexts. Networking Academy course content integrates four skill areas identified by education researchers as critical for 21st century workers: Problem solving and decision making: Students practice and test their knowledge by configuring and troubleshooting networks using hands-on labs and simulation software. Creative and critical thinking: Students understand the how and why of networking by combining hands-on learning with conceptual and analytical exercises. Collaboration, communication and negotiation: Students acquire individual and teamwork skills as they perform lab exercises and practice solving problems in the context of business scenarios. Intellectual curiosity and information handling: Students develop the ability to locate, select, structure and evaluate information. Real-world case studies give students the opportunity to develop advanced problem-solving techniques. Courses also prepare and motivate students to pursue further education or to apply these skills in their own businesses. Comprehensive with Communities of Support Each course is free to non-profits and includes instructor-led course content, lab exercises and simulation software, skills assessments, case studies, a gaming application, and interactive teaching guides and grade books. All materials are available to instructors online with 24/7 support. Unique to Networking Academy is our focus on instructor professional development, and the creation of communities to support both instructors and students. Instructors receive training prior to teaching their first class and many free professional development opportunities throughout the year. Cisco hosts peer communities where instructors can collaborate and share best practices online and in person. Students have access to skills competitions and a global network of peers to troubleshoot coursework and prepare for exams, while mentoring and encouraging one another. We ended up with an amazing high school graduation rate of at-risk young people getting involved with IT, and pursuing postsecondary education. High School Principal The tools and support are the reason we chose Cisco Networking Academy over any other tech ed program. Academy Instructor Human Network At the heart of Cisco Networking Academy is a unique publicprivate partnership model, directing vast networks of human passion and expertise into creating the world s largest classroom. Cisco partners with governments, businesses, schools, universities, nonprofits, non-governmental and community organizations in 165 countries to deliver its innovative ICT curriculum. Technology Network Networking Academy uses technology networks and cloud computing to deliver innovative, comprehensive ICT education through a blended learning model that provides immediate interactive feedback. Instructors access teaching content and assessments online. Students create, configure, secure, and troubleshoot highly complex simulated networks through Cisco Packet Tracer, a powerful network simulation and visualization tool. Future Workforce With more than 4 million students to date, Networking Academy helps to ensure a supply of ICT professionals around the world. Many Networking Academy graduates have gone on to successful ICT careers in a variety of industries, including education, healthcare, financial services, and of course technology. Other graduates have harnessed the entrepreneurial spirit and knowledge they ve acquired to start businesses and create new jobs Cisco and/or its affiliates. Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 3 of 7

4 The Growing Demand for ICT Skills The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides insight into some of the demand with occupation projections for five selected ICT job titles. Table 1. National employment projections for select ICT occupations 1 U.S. Occupation Projections Employment Change Increase % Computer Support Specialists 565, ,700 78, Computer Systems Analysts 532, , , Network and Computer Systems Administrators 339, ,400 78, Network Systems/Data Communications Analysts 292, , , Computer and Information Systems Managers 293, ,500 49, Table 2. Employment projections for select ICT occupations 1 Employment Change Rhode Island Projections Increase % Computer Support Specialists 1,140 1, Computer Systems Analysts 1,708 1, Network and Computer Systems Administrators 1,613 2, Network Systems/Data Communications Analysts 984 1, Computer and Information Systems Managers 712 1, Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Impact in Rhode Island The partnership between Cisco and Rhode Island has touched the lives of 6,340 students and generated an estimated in-kind contribution value of $2.48M. Table 3. Impact since the adoption of Cisco Networking Academy in Rhode Island Students 6,340 In-kind contribution value $2.48M Table 4. Detailed results of Cisco Networking Academy over the last 12 months in Rhode Island Students 915 Female students 14% Instructors 14 Academies 9 Education Level 1 Secondary Community colleges Universities Other 2 Students 17% 32% 33% 18% Academies 67% 11% 11% 11% Curricula 1 B as ic ICT IT Essentials B asic networking CCNA 1, 2 Intermediate networking CCNA 3, 4 Advanced networking CCNA-S, CCNP Students enrolled in each curriculum 18% 45% 33% 3% 1 Academies and students that teach or enroll in more than one education level or curriculum in 12 months may be counted more than once 2 Community-based organizations, middle schools, military, nontraditional educational settings, and post-graduate institutions 2012 Cisco and/or its affiliates. Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 4 of 7

5 Congressional Districts Many of the state's congressional districts have institutions offering Networking Academy courses. Table 5. Congressional districts are summarized below Congressional districts partnering with Cisco in the state 1-2 Table 6. Institutions in the state offering Networking Academy courses, in alpha order by county COUNTY CITY SCHOOL Community College of Rhode Island Kent Warwick New England Institute Of Technology Warwick Area Career and TechCenter W Greenwich Exeter-West Greenwich Senior HS Cranston Cranston Career and Technical Center Pawtucket Charles Shea High School Providence Hope High School Providence Year Up Providence Washington Narragansett Narragansett High School Academy Impact Stories Networking Academy at Clinton Global Initiative Angel Gavidia, an academy student from the Community College of Rhode Island, was selected to represent Networking Academy at the 2011 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in New York. Angel participated on a discussion panel called Transformative Tools for a Skilled Workforce made up of students representing innovative youth education programs around the world. The one-hour discussion and Q&A session focused on workforce development and how technology is helping youth find new pathways to career success. Cisco sponsors CGI annually to push the dialog forward on key global economic and educational issues.the audience is comprised of CEOs, heads of state, NGOs, philanthropists, Nobel laureates, and prominent media. Angel spoke eloquently about how Cisco Networking Academy provides industry-recognized curricula and certification prep, as well as opportunities for students to showcase their knowledge and skills outside the classroom. Earlier in the year, Angel had been chosen to participate in the network operating center for CiscoLIVE, a large annual customer event in Las Vegas. He and 5 other academy students assisted Cisco engineers with the setup of the network for the entire venue. He also coordinated social media during the event, posting on Twitter and Facebook to extend the experience to other academy students. I was fortunate enough to be nominated to attend CiscoLIVE, where I got to experience first-hand the kind of field work that not all students get to see. Angel has completed Cisco CCNA 1-4, CCNA-Security and VoIP courses, and is currently enrolled in Cisco CCNP. While at CiscoLIVE, he took the Cisco CCNA certification exam and is now certified. Also during his participation at CiscoLIVE, Angel s interpersonal and technical skills came to the attention of the Cisco Corporate Affairs marketing team, which led to his selection to represent Networking Academy on the CGI panel. Mary Anne Petrillo added the following comment about the panel discussion to the Corporate Affairs blog: On the horizon lies a new generation of teaching professionals and administrators who are savvy to new ways of engaging the young mind. Progressive organizations understand intuitively the importance of connecting learning to the real world. We need to make these connections explicit for students. [The panel] highlighted the power this connection has for students today. Four young students spoke passionately about how learning by doing was the transformative tool in their life. As soon as he finished his Cisco courses at CCRI, Angel was offered a position at Atrion Networking Corporation as a Support Center Associate. Atrion is a Cisco Gold Partner that provides student work-study programs and a full-time Apprentice program for graduates. Atrion provided Angel with time off to participate at the Clinton Global Initiative Cisco and/or its affiliates. Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 5 of 7

6 Excerpts from Angel s comments from the panel: I attended Cisco Networking Academy courses at CCRI, where the faculty and staff, including John Mowry, Tony Rashid, and Charlene Pelski, were able to convey their knowledge to students at a level we can understand, and not let it overwhelm us. The program is structured so that not only do we get theory and book knowledge, we also get practical skills. We prepare for industry-recognized certifications, so as soon as we graduate, we have more than enough of the required abilities to start a career. Networking Academy schools are found in 165 countries and kids around the world who are studying this and want to get somewhere in their lives know that they can definitely achieve it. They can work toward something that shows the fruits of their labor, and feel more accomplished. Youth everywhere are struggling to find what interests them as they decide whether or not to go to college. I say this: Just make that first step and decide to go. If you don t have the resources to go to a 4-year school, go to a community college. You ll find that the faculty, staff and students themselves offer more than enough inspiration for your success. In my experience, and I can speak for many other students, these educators have pursued a career, and have come back to teach and share their stories. The professors are very involved and are more like mentors than instructors. They are more than willing to help and guide you. That absolutely helps. It would make a huge difference if more of the corporate world got involved with education, from middle school, high school, colleges, and universities, to develop their own programs to teach students the tools they need out in the world. It s overwhelming to go through years of studies, and then go out into the world and start searching for a job, with no idea of where to turn or what to do. But if you have studied in a program collaborating with business, with globallyrecognized abilities and certifications, then you can graduate and get a job anywhere. Thank you for this once-in-a life time experience to talk about the great things Cisco Networking Academy is achieving for students. After the event, Angel received a thank-you letter from Bill Clinton. Atrion s Student Apprentice Program Atrion Networking Corporation, a Cisco Gold Certified Partner headquartered in Rhode Island, has twice made Inc. magazine s 5000 list of the nation s fastest growing private companies. Patrick Halpin joined the firm in 2010 as a talent recruiter, tasked with establishing a pipeline of high calibre job candidates to keep pace with the company s growth. Atrion s Apprentice Program plays a key role in identifying and training available candidates. It has evolved from its original form, which contributed one or two new hires each year, to a structured, intensive six-month training program lead by Jamie Boughman, who took on the role of Apprentice Program Manager in Ten participants have completed the June 2011 apprentice class and are now moving into engineering roles. Patrick and Jamie have just completed the selection of an additional ten participants for the January 2012 apprentice class. Often students graduating from community colleges or technical schools need a bridge from classroom learning to work experience, says Patrick. They have invested time and money in a technology education to build a successful career. But after graduation, they may find that a lack of experience makes it hard for them to get job interviews. Our Apprentice Program provides that critical bridge. Apprentices train full-time on the job and receive the same benefits as employees. To find more apprentice candidates, Patrick connected with John Mowry, Cisco Networking Academy instructor at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). It is invaluable to have an instructor like John who is willing to work closely with a Cisco partner to identify the right candidates for our Apprentice Program, says Patrick. Instructor advocacy is vital, because we can get recommendations on graduates who would be a good fit, increasing our confidence that they will be successful in the program. Jamie says that academy students excel in the program...like night and day compared to many potential candidates from technical schools. We are a heavy Cisco shop, so the experience that students get in the academy courses relates directly to what we teach in our classrooms and in the field. The Apprentice Program is like boot camp it s a very intense program of theory, network design, equipment staging for real customer installations, and fieldwork under 2012 Cisco and/or its affiliates. Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 6 of 7

7 the supervision of senior engineers. Because of their previous experience, academy students often jump at the opportunity to embrace more advanced challenges, and many have become mentors to their peers around them. John Mowry said, I am pleased that Atrion has partnered with us here at CCRI. As a premier networking company, Atrion provides our students with an outstanding opportunity to further their skills. It is unusual for a company to take talent emerging from schools and provide them with the additional training normally acquired through years of employment. Atrion sees CCRI graduates as well-trained and dedicated to success in the networking field. With the quality of the Cisco Networking Academy curricula, we are confident that academy graduates will perform at a more advanced level, says Jamie. They are better prepared to take their Cisco CCNA certification exam sooner, which makes them more valuable as job candidates. We can also move them into the field sooner. We have even found success hiring Networking Academy graduates as associates and having them bypass the Apprentice Program entirely. Some of our more experienced engineers go back to Networking Academy courses for Cisco CCNP training. The June 2011 apprentice class included Angel Gavidia, an academy student from CCRI who was invited to represent Networking Academy at the 2011 Clinton Global Initiative. Four June apprentices, including Angel, have accepted fulltime positions with Atrion. Four other academy students joined the company during the previous months. Atrion is already thinking about ways to expand their Apprentice Program, including a fast track for students to move from Cisco CCNA right into Cisco CCNP training. They are also looking for job candidates from post-secondary schools with Cisco Networking Academy programs in New York and across New England. The Apprentice Program is a strategic part of our business success, says Patrick. It s unusual for a company as small as Atrion to commit to a program like this, but we re already seeing the dividends in our business. Apprentice graduates tend to be outstanding engineers and employees. Networking Academy apprentice graduates in particular are passionate ambassadors of the program, and are always willing to speak to students about a career in networking. We look forward to welcoming many more apprentices from Networking Academy into our program. Learn More For additional information on Networking Academy, impact stories, contacts in your area, and how you can get involved, visit our website: cisco.com/go/netacad/us cisco.com/go/csr Cisco Corporate Social Responsibility We believe that businesses have a responsibility to operate in ways that respect and ultimately benefit people, communities and the planet we live on; we call this Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Our core CSR philosophy is that impact multiplies whenever human and technology networks combine to solve a problem. This is why we approach CSR the same way we approach business by applying our technology, employee expertise and partnerships. We are focused on four primary goals: improving the well-being of people and communities around the world, reducing our environmental impact and helping our customers do the same, conducting our business ethically, and creating a workplace where our employees thrive Cisco and/or its affiliates. Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 7 of 7