Cisco has announced its plan to provide digital and cybersecurity training to 10 million individuals in the EMEA region over the next decade.
This effort is part of Cisco’s broader goal to empower 25 million people globally with digital skills through its Networking Academy program over the next 10 years. The Networking Academy program, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, has already trained 17.5 million students across 190 countries, including 6.3 million students in the EMEA region through partnerships with 5,800 educational institutions and organisations.
With technology and automation expected to eliminate 85 million jobs and create 97 million new ones by 2025, building a digitally skilled workforce is crucial for innovation, growth, and global competitiveness. Cisco’s Networking Academy aims to equip individuals with the necessary skills to succeed in the workforce of the future.
“We need a global workforce equipped with digital skills to develop sustainable and secure businesses, and more equitable societies. Building a local pool of next-generation talent is critical to long-term social inclusion and economic resilience,” said Guy Diedrich, SVP and Chief Innovation Officer, Cisco.
“It takes an entire ecosystem working together to achieve this. Through Cisco Networking Academy partnering with local organisations, we have impacted the lives of 17.5 million students over the past 25 years.”
Wendy Mars, President of Cisco EMEA, expressed her concern about the shortage of digital skills in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region.
“Without access to a strong talent pool, it will be harder to continue the digital transformation at pace. I’m proud of the achievements of the Cisco Networking Academy to date and look forward to welcoming many more skilled people from diverse backgrounds to the industry,” she said.
In an effort to address this shortage of digital skills, Cisco has partnered with Randstad, a global leader in HR services. The partnership aims to develop the digital skills of talent, equipping them to navigate the rapidly digitising labour market. Specifically, Cisco and Randstad plan to re-skill and upskill 300,000 individuals in cybersecurity, programming, and infrastructure automation. Currently, the partnership is active in The Netherlands and Italy, with plans to expand to more countries through 2023.
