Cisco Launches Networking Academy Ambassador Program in Hong Kong to Nurture IT Talent

Cisco Launches Networking Academy Ambassador Program in Hong Kong to Nurture IT Talent

To nurture young local information technology (IT) talent and promote the use of IT in education in Hong Kong, Cisco® today announced the launch of the Cisco Networking Academy® Ambassador Program in Hong Kong and Macao. Coinciding with the inauguration, Cisco is also participating in the innovative Wireless Mathematics Trail 2007. The competition provides the ambassadors with an opportunity to help realize their mission of promoting the use of IT in the community.

According to Cisco-commissioned research in 2006, the shortage of IT professionals in Hong Kong will increase from 2,000 in 2006 to 2,800 in 2009. Also, a survey by the Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in 2006 shows that 87 percent of respondents believe online learning helps students learn more effectively.

“The Cisco Networking Academy Ambassador Program is our latest initiative to help bridge the IT skills gap in Hong Kong and Macao. It will facilitate IT learning among the connected youth of Hong Kong and Macao, providing them with great opportunities to be collaborative and creative contributors to the development of the Internet,” noted Charleston Sin, general manager of Cisco Hong Kong and Macao.

During the initial stage of the program, 24 ambassadors were selected from among Networking Academy students; a total of 50 ambassadors are expected to be recruited by July 2008. As ambassadors, they will have the opportunity to gain real-life experience in putting IT knowledge and theories into practice. Their task is to promote IT adoption in Hong Kong and Macao by participating in activities to educate the community about the benefits of networking technology. The multi-school Wireless Mathematics Trail 2007 sets a great example. The first of its kind in Hong Kong, the competition was held at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Shatin today.

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