Transforming the Lives of Learners, Educators, and Communities
The Cisco Networking Academy is a global education programme that aims to transform the lives of learners, educators, and communities through the power of technology, education, and career opportunities. With over 50 courses, learners can find their fit with introductory to advanced courses spanning topics like Networking, Cybersecurity, Programming, English for IT, AI, and more.
We are proud to have reached over 24 million learners in 191 countries and 500,000 in the UK alone since programme inception in 1997. This global impact is the result of collaboration with our ecosystem of outstanding partnerships, including governments, academic institutions, nonprofits, and Public Sector organisations like the NHS.
Free digital skills training for the NHS workforce
In 2023, as the National Health Service celebrated 75 years, we launched an Academy with the Skills Development Network to offer free digital skill training to all NHS employees. The free, online, self-paced courses are designed to help employees deepen their knowledge of Networking and Cybersecurity topics. Learners can choose their preferred pathway, one focussed on Networking and the other Cybersecurity, which are aligned to the CCST Networking and CCST Cybersecurity industry certifications. The first course in each pathway has no pre-requisites and is beginner friendly, so a good fit for anyone interested in developing their foundational Networking and Cybersecurity skills.
In addition to the technical pathways, the Cisco Networking Academy also offers a range of free, self-paced digital literacy courses aimed at helping learners in non-technical roles build foundational digital skills. As healthcare systems shift towards digital solutions, these courses could be valuable to the entire NHS workforce.
“In an increasingly digitised world, feeling confident and competent using digital tools is critical. Our partnership with the Skills Development Network demonstrates our commitment to ensuring people who use and work in the health service have the opportunity to develop their digital skills.”
The value of industry-aligned qualifications
Vendor qualifications like the ones on offer through the Cisco Networking Academy are a great way to develop a deep understanding of networking principles, protocols, and configurations and to acquire the expertise to design, implement, and manage network infrastructures effectively. In fact, 99% of organizations surveyed use technical certifications to make hiring decisions and 91% of employers believe IT certifications are a reliable predictor of a successful employee, as highlighted in the Pearson Vue 2023 Value of IT Certification report.
The courses have a strong emphasis on practical experiences, allowing learners to apply their theoretical knowledge. Notably, Packet Tracer is a network simulation tool that allows students and professionals to design, configure, and troubleshoot network scenarios in a virtual environment. Packet Tracer supports a variety of network protocols and technologies, enabling users to experiment with different configurations and network scenarios, and includes built-in activities and assessments to test students' understanding and skills.
How to get involved
If you are interested in enrolling in the free Networking or Cybersecurity courses, you can head to https://www.thelisteralliance.co.uk/resources
If you are interested in becoming a Cisco Academy at no cost and offering courses to your learners, fill out a form at netacad.com/become-an-academy.
Stay tuned for our non-technical digital literacy pathway or reach out if you are interested in leveraging these courses.
