Cisco Systems, Inc., signed an agreement with the Minister
of Education and the Chairman of the Board of EDUC.AR (the
first state-owned Internet company in Argentina) in September
2000. The Agreement will allow 3,200 Cisco Networking Academy
students design the networks of more than 40,000 schools in
Argentina over a 24-month period. The 60 instructors and 3,200
students will start work as soon as the information is distributed
by the Ministry of Education of Argentina. The agreement will
help improve high-tech qualifications and provide better opportunities
for teachers and students in the country.
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The Cisco Networking Academy Program, a 560-hour, eight semester
curriculum teaches students how to design, build and maintain
computer networks. The program started in Argentina in March
1999, but in spite of its short life, the program has been
growing rapidly. The Regional Academy, which is responsible
for recruiting up to ten Local Academies, took special care
to expand its Local Academy activities not only in Buenos
Aires, but throughout Argentina.
This agreement is the first of a series of business agreements
with other high-tech companies. The Cisco agreement is a necessary
first step, in order to establish the network reference architecture
for future educational programs, based on partnerships with
other high-tech organizations.
"This project, given its magnitude and scope requires
logistics that commit human, technical and institutional resources
of the highest level," said Jorge Mantovani, general
manager of EDUC.AR. It is estimated the Argentina government
will save $25 million, equivalent to the costs of surveying
and designing the networks for all 40,000+ schools. Without
Academy student involvement, the national authorities would
have called for international bids, with the consequential
administrative and financial costs implied.
"The program also guarantees human resources that are
qualified in these technologies, and who will contribute to
future maintenance, support and quality of the networks (in
Argentina)," Jorge continued.
The Academy students participating in this project are primarily
fourth semester Academy students from University and other
higher educational institutions within Argentina. According
to Javier Nunez, Cisco Systems South America COO, "Cisco's
education model will allow students in each country work-related
experience after designing the networks in schools in their
own country."
EDUC.AR is the first state-owned Internet company that will
provide users with access to electronic resources in education
and education-related subjects. EDUC.AR is an ambitious project
developed by the Argentina government, will focus on national
content and will be used as a tools at all levels of the education
system. In this way, Cisco will be the building block for
access to electronic networks.
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