IDA, NTU and CISCO Systems Collaborate on Networking Education Initiative

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Cisco Systems, Inc., today announced a major education initiative for Singapore that will see the formation of the first Cisco Academy Training Center (CATC) in ASEAN and sponsorship from the Government...

Singapore, 9 May 2000 | For Immediate Release

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Cisco Systems, Inc., today announced a major education initiative for Singapore that will see the formation of the first Cisco Academy Training Center (CATC) in ASEAN and sponsorship from the Government, NTU and Cisco Systems for students to take up scholarships for an advanced level of the Cisco Networking Academy Program.

NTU will become the first CATC in ASEAN, supporting and managing over 180 Cisco Networking Academies in the region. The Cisco Networking Academy Program is a comprehensive e-learning system that covers the principles and practice of designing, building, and maintaining computer networks. Cisco Systems and NTU will also collaborate in e-learning, by extending the experience and knowledge from the Cisco Networking Academy Program into the NTU environment.

In addition, 20 scholarships will be offered to students to attend the advanced level of the Cisco Networking Academy Program at the CATC, leading to Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification. The aim of the Government and the industry for giving such scholarships is to attract qualified international talent as well as to train the local pool of infocomm talent in networking skills.

"NTU aims to be a world-class university nurturing high level manpower and leaders for the professions, industry and business, and to advance research and development in academic and professional disciplines," said Professor Er Meng Hwa, Deputy President and Dean of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, NTU. "We examined the Cisco Networking Academy Program closely, and found it to be an excellent model for e-learning as well as a good vehicle for imparting vital skills and knowledge in an increasingly important area, the Internet."

Said Dr Kaizad Heerjee, Assistant Chief Executive of the Online Development Group of IDA, "IDA is committed to see more of such partnerships forged between our local IHLs and the industry. This collaboration certainly puts Singapore on the radar screen in the area of networking. The on-line training delivery also augurs well with our aim to establish Singapore as an e-learning hub. This e-learning model allows constant renewal of skills and more importantly, makes it possible to extend our reach to regional students. We will see an excellent interplay of high technology content and infrastructure in this model. Apart from augmenting the industry with skilled infocomm manpower, this training will ensure that our infocomm manpower are equipped with critical networking skills. This is important as we see new technologies emerging at Internet speed. Hence, IDA will do its utmost to facilitate more of such partnerships between the IHLs and the industry."

"We are extremely honored to have the support of both the Singapore Government and an educational institution as distinguished as NTU for our Cisco Networking Academy Program. One reason for the success of the program is the collaboration between government, educational institutions, industry and the community," said Lou McElwain, Managing Director, ASEAN, Cisco Systems. "In Singapore alone, there are already more than 600 students in secondary schools, ITEs and polytechnics who are going through the program. By the end of the year, this number will be over 1,000. This is a significant contribution to increasing the pool of workers for the info-communications technology industry."

ISSUED BY CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIVISION
INFOCOMM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
About the Cisco Networking Academy Program

In Singapore today, the Cisco Networking Academy Program is running in the following educational institutions: Temasek Polytechnic, Institute of Technical Education, Dover, Broadrick Secondary, Chai Chee Secondary, Chinese High School, Dunman Secondary, Greenview Secondary, Loyang Secondary, Madrashah Al-Arabiah Al-Islamiah, Ping Yi Secondary and Siglap Secondary. As the CATC in ASEAN, NTU will manage and support these as well as other Cisco Networking Academies around the region.

The Cisco Networking Academy Program offered by these institutions is a comprehensive four-semester program on the principles and practice of designing, building and maintaining computer networks capable of supporting national and global organizations. The program is localized for the individual needs of the institutions, and features hands-on, project-driven training in high-demand job skills.

Students who complete the program will have an option of sitting for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification exam, which is the first step in Cisco's professional certification path. In the US, CCNA certified candidates command annual salaries of around US$40,000 to US$50,000.

In addition to being a CATC, NTU, with support from the Singapore government, will also run an advanced Cisco Networking Academy Program that also runs over four semesters but which equips the candidates with greater depth and breadth of networking knowledge and skills. Students who complete this program will be able to qualify for the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification, the next step in Cisco's professional certification path. The CCNP qualification puts students on a path to the widely-respected Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE). CCIEs typically earn about US$150,000 a year.

About NTU

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) was established by an Act of Parliament on 1 July 1991. It has its origin in the former Nanyang Technological Institute (NTI), which was set up in August 1981. NTU aims to become a university with general academic excellence and niches of international eminence. Its mission is to train leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs for Singapore and the region, and to advance research and development in both the academic and professional disciplines.

About Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore

The IDA is a new statutory board formed on 1 December 1999 under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Created as a result of the merger between the National Computer Board and the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore, the IDA will spearhead Singapore's drive to be a vital global info-communications center, catalyzing Singapore's transformation into a knowledge-based digital economy and society, in order to realize the benefits of the digital future.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at http://www.cisco.com. Asia Pacific news and information are available at http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/146/asia_pr/.

Cisco, Cisco Systems and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.