Cisco provides Arabic networking curriculum

The Cisco Networking Academy Program is a comprehensive e-learning program, which provides students with the Internet technology skills essential in a global economy.

The Networking Academy program's objective is to help grow a nation's talent and knowledge pool. In providing an Arabic version, Cisco is hoping to provide a positive impact at the community's grass-roots through high schools and college education.

"Today's announcement highlights Cisco's continued commitment to the Arab world. As a comprehensive educational program, the Networking Academy curriculum will now include high-schools and graduates in Arabic speaking communities and make it easier for these people to gain essential employment, overall helping to meet the needs of the community," said Nathalie Soueidan, Area Academy Manager for Cisco Systems GCC.

The Cisco Networking Academy Program is a public, private partnership between Cisco, governments, educational institutions, non-governmental organisations and industry created to teach students how to design, build and maintain IT networks and infrastructure. The courses deliver web-based content, online assessment, student performance tracking, hands-on labs, instructor training and support, and preparation for industry standard certifications. The curriculum has been developed by Cisco Systems through its worldwide experience of IT needs and reflects ongoing enhancements to raise the bar for over 10,000 academies in 160 countries worldwide. To date more than 488,000 students have enrolled in academies operating in high schools, colleges and universities around the world.

"Cisco has made a long-term commitment to developing the networking and IT infrastructure industry across the Middle East & North Africa region. We aim to do all we can to increase the number of people with high-calibre networking qualifications and by providing the curriculum in Arabic we have made a long stride in achieving this. The benefit will be particularly felt by young people as they aim to develop a career in information technology," Nathalie Soueidan concluded.