Cisco for faster roll-out of networking academies in India
By Frederick Noronha
A networked world would be a far happier place for the student. So
believes global networking giant Cisco Systems, as it pushes on with the
ambitious roll out its 'networking academies' which it hopes could make
a big difference to IT education in an 'Internet age'.
But, in India, bureaucratic delays are affecting the plan, says Cisco
International Partnership Programme Manager for Worldwide Education Elli
Takagaki. The pace of setting up these crucial training centres could be
speeded up, she suggested while speaking to this correspondent.
Ms Takagaki noted that Cisco CEO John Chamber had offered to establish
academies in some 34 states and union territories across in India,
during his visit to the country in January 2000.
We reached about the half-way stage. But we're still in Phase I. We
plan to work with universities (and local training centres too). Even
NGOs (non-governmental and volunteer organisations) can set up centres
if they have a 56 kbps dedicated line to the Internet and 20 computers,
she said.
Cisco, a giant in the global computer networking industry, says its
programme -- a highly successful alliance between the corporation,
education, business, government and community -- offers a practical
solution to promoting greater IT literacy and advanced skills.
The 'networking academy' teaching students to design, build and maintain
computer networks. The academy curriculum covers a broad range of
topics, from basic networking skills such as pulling cable to more
complex concepts such as applying advanced troubleshooting tools. It is
a highly successful alliance between Cisco Systems, education, business,
government and community organisations around the world. It offers a
practical solution to address the need for greater IT literacy and
advanced skills, adds Cisco.
Over the past year, Cisco says it has already implemented the programme
across 66 institutions in 14 states in India.
This includes, says Cisco Education Project Manager for the SAARC region
Lokesh Mehra, even remote locations like Andaman and Nicobar (Port
Blair) and Himachal Pradesh (Hamirpur).
Delhi-based Mehra, who looks after the SAARC region, says that academies
have also been started in Bhutan (1), Bangladesh (1) , Nepal (5) and Sri
Lanka (1). This resource-poor, talent-rich centre of computing skills
hopes to see some 100 academies by the end of August 2002, Mehra told
this correspondent.
For administrative purposes of the Cisco network academy project,
Pakistan comes under Europe and Middle East region and not under Asia
Pacific. It comes under my counterpart based in Dubai. We have 22
academies there, comprising three regional and 19 local academies, says
Mr Mehra.
He informed that the UNDP, particularly its Asia Pacific Development
Information Programme (APDIP) lead in Asia by a South Asian, Shahid
Akhtar, has been working with Cisco to ensure that other LDC countries
in SAARC (Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka) benefit from the
implementation of the Cisco Networking Academy Program. This program is
being expanded, and UN Volunteers are being provided in some areas, to
support the same.
Besides this Cisco says it is also focussing specially on
gender-focussed academies so that girl students too can avail the
benefit of networking education, which is otherwise considered to be
mainly a male dominated area.
Some of Cisco's exclusive women academies include Banasthali Vidyapeeth
(Rajasthan), SNDT (Mumbai), and PMC Tech (Tamil Nadu).
In Karnataka, the Bangalore-based IIIT(B) is the Regional Academy under
the aegis of Dr.Sadagopan. Local Cisco Academies have been set up or are
build put in place out of engineering colleges such as BVB Hubli, KVGCE
Sulia, MP Birla Institute (Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan) of Bangalore,
M.S.Ramaiah Institute (Bangalore), Sir MVIT (Bangalore), NIE of Mysore
and the Vijaynagar Engineering College.
Another four to five colleges will be added soon (in Karnataka),
informed Mehra.
Yes, there are loads of bureaucratic hassles (in setting up these
centres in India). Inspite of Cisco providing the curriculum and
administrative tools free of cost, the respective state governments feel
that there is some hidden agenda that Cisco has, Mehra said.
It seems quite odd that 136 countries world wide have seen value in
this non-profit program but Indian bureaucracy loves to create hurdles
in such ventures, he added.
Citing one example, he said, in the small western coastal state of Goa,
despite repeated talk about promoting the IT industry, the state
government at Panaji has been working at a snail's pace. Said Mehra:
The Goa University wants Cisco to donate even the equipment free of
cost though one does provide that at a 50% subsidized cost.
Globally, some 136 countries are participating in this project, with
8615 networking academies set up catering for some 246,000 students.
There are some 26,350 instructors and
