Cisco Systems Middle East has recently organized a daylong forum for partners and local vendors of the Cisco Networking Academy Program (CNAP) in Saudi Arabia. The program was organized in a bid to internalize the knowledge and expertise of the partners and to evaluate the latest developments of CNAP.
CNAP is a comprehensive instructor led global e-learning program formulated by Cisco Systems, to empower individuals to overcome the digital divide transcending the boundaries of geography and socio-economic status, by teaching students valuable Internet technology skills. It covers a broad range of topics, from basic networking skills to more complex concepts such as applying advanced troubleshooting tools.
There are 35 partners for CNAP in Saudi Arabia offering a range of courses that lead to Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification and courses that expose the learner to essentials of Information Technology, Voice and Data Cabling.
Commenting on the forum, Dr. Badr Al-Badr, Country Manager, Saudi Arabia, Cisco Systems Middle East, said: “As society is driven by technology, there is a great need to address the growing technology skills gap, which may prove vital for a country to stay viable in today’s digital age. CNAP is Cisco Systems’ flagship educational initiative founded in order to address this very need. As Saudi Arabia is set on a path of an increasing digital transformation, it has become the express intent of Cisco Systems to address the needs of the professional networking skill base in the Kingdom. Cisco Systems is committed to providing the most advanced training and is working to incorporate CNAP as part of technical courses in Saudi Arabia.”
During the forum the Cisco Academy Conference for Europe, Middle East and Africa, slated to take place in Valencia, Spain from Sept. 8-9, 2005, was brought to the notice of the participants. The Academy Conference is a key event for the Cisco Networking Academy Community, as latest updates on Cisco Technology and the Cisco Academy program will be unveiled at the two-day gathering.
Launched in 1997, CNAP has a curriculum made up of a variety of courses for careers in network design and administration, technical support, programming, software engineering, database development and administration. The curriculum is delivered in nine languages to over 400,000 students in Cisco Networking Academies in high schools, colleges, universities, technical schools, community based organizations and other educational programs around the world. Cisco Systems has localized the CNAP program into Arabic, for the benefit of the Middle Eastern countries.