Cisco recently announced its intention to train 500,000 individuals in India in cybersecurity skills over the next three years.
In the midst of massive layoffs and fears of a recession, US- based multinational digital communications tech company, Cisco is planning to train 500,000 individuals in India in cybersecurity skills. The training will be provided by Cisco’s premier program, Networking Academy, which is one of the longest-running IT skills-to-jobs programmes in the world. ETInsights conducted an exclusive interview with Laura Quintana, Vice President and General Manager, Cisco Networking Academy, to better understand the implications of this vast training programme on India and future outreach plans.
Can you talk about the Cisco Networking Academy and its future perspective?
The number of networking academy students that we have every year is around 113,000. On a global level, it’s 3.2 million. But in India in particular, we have – 700, academies, which are colleges, universities, and non-profits. That enables us to expand our reach and continue to grow. India is where we envision a lot of opportunity –A fairly young population nation- with 66% under 30– 35. The Networking Academy is almost 24 years, and we have grown with the program. We see tremendous opportunity in India to the point that we have established partnerships with seven state governments within India, which has led us to expand our reach to technical colleges and universities broadly. We are also working with non-profits because it is important for us to ensure that we reach the underserved.
What is the scope of the Skill 4 All programme?
In July 2021 we launched Skills 4 all, collaborating with the networking academy. In those places where we didn’t have academies, – colleges, universities, and some instances, even companies. We have recognized the huge scope for training and upskilling and recognised that there are different Types of partnerships but we still wanted to get to an individual level.
This is when we created a mobile first experience. It allows us to reach learners directly-you have a smartphone, and you can access your tech skills for all, and we have started with the cybersecurity pathway to fill the tech skill gap. Cybersecurity and cyber security skills are such an important area, and that pathway leads to a global certification.
Reliable connectivity is a dream, but our learners do have smartphones, and what we saw in our first year alone, globally 300,000 individuals have trained for tech skills, and it allowed us to expand our reach into countries and the areas we were in.
This is the investment we are making for the future: educating and preparing warriors for tomorrow to tackle cybersecurity issues. We have developed a top-notch curriculum and made it a first mobile experience that is gamified. There are learning scientists involved in the development, technology experts and the development of our curriculum, and our in-kind value contribution in India. Since inception is 160 million USD, and contribution on an annual basis globally is 377 million USD. There is an inherent value in what we provide, not only the curriculum access to the platform, we have simulation software, we provide instructor professional development.
You have worked earlier on developing health technology for the Jordanian healthcare program – Are you looking at implementing such an initiative in India?
The country’s digitization acceleration programme that does invest in The Jordan model: We connected 7 hospitals, 2 mobile clinics so that individuals in rural communities, access experts.
We identify the areas where we look at digitization, help address a particular societal issue or business problem, and ultimately enable future scale. We are looking at more health-tech related connections in India and are working towards the same.
Speaking about powering an Inclusive Future for all, how do cybersecurity skills support this initiative?
We see cybersecurity skills supporting initiatives across the board – The threat landscape has increased massively given that so many things. I think it was 1.4 million malware threats, which Tallows was identifying, so cybersecurity and the need to address it is pervasive. And what we need to ensure is that.
We equip individuals with skills and in a way that’s inclusive. We are giving back to the society and help the most underserved, whether that be with programs like skills for all, or through non-profits like, an IT foundation – we’ve worked with NIIT’s to reach underserved communities, underrepresented individuals, especially women, who otherwise have less opportunities, to learn technical skills.
As individuals, if we are cyber aware to protect our devices, to protect our own data, , we are truly equipped to tackle this smart world today.
