How does the programme bridge the urban-rural digital divide and the gender divide?
It bridges the ‘digital divide’ as it takes technical education to non-metros and semi-urban areas particularly in states that have so far not benefited much from the IT and technology wave sweeping the country. Cisco Networking Academy also focuses on bridging the ‘gender divide’ by forging tie-ups with women-only institutes to impart networking education. Cisco also has the Women’s Action Network (WAN) – a volunteer employee network of women within Cisco. ‘Girls in Technology’ (GIT), a community outreach program hosted by WAN, is an interactive engagement between Cisco and engineering colleges to educate young women on careers in IT. How many people have benefited from Networking Academies so far? Nearly 9,000 students have benefited in India from NetAcad. There are over 2,000 additional students enrolled in the nearby SAARC countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
