Last June Cisco Systems Inc. Chief Executive Chuck Robbins unveiled a new purpose for the company: to use its networking expertise and products such as Webex to power an inclusive future for all. One of the ways Cisco is fulfilling on its promise of inclusivity is through training the underprivileged and underserved.

Not everyone has equal access to jobs and opportunities, and certain regions of the world — and locally here in the U.S. — are experiencing a skills shortage. Race, cultural background, physical abilities and socioeconomic factors are key reasons why so many people are underrepresented in the global economy. Cisco is trying to change that with its skills-to-job program, which prepares people from all backgrounds for in-demand information technology jobs.

Cisco recently held an analyst-only session and provided an update on its Networking Academy program, or NetAcad for short. Cisco founded NetAcad to address the global skills shortage, while creating opportunities for millions of people to participate in the workforce. Cisco develops the courses and tools and partners with the government, academia and nonprofits worldwide to prepare students for careers in networking, cybersecurity and software development.

There isn’t another program with the reach, scale and impact of NetAcad that I’m aware of. I’ve personally talked to dozens of people who have gone through the program, many from less developed countries or underserved areas of the U.S. where opportunities to succeed aren’t plentiful. NetAcad gives people networking skills and enables them to find meaningful employment.

With 2.3 million students currently enrolled in NetAcad across 180 countries, inclusivity plays a big role. Globally, 26% of the students are female. In the U.S., 29% are underrepresented minorities, including 14% black or African American, 14% Hispanic or Latino, and 1% American Indian. Over the past two years, NetAcad also created opportunities for 56,000 students with disabilities.

In the Cisco Networking Academy ecosystem, there are more than 11,800 academies — high schools, vocational colleges, universities and nonprofits — that teach NetAcad courses. One such academy is the Camden Dream Center, located in one the most impoverished cities in the U.S.: Camden, New Jersey. The charitable organization provides science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, education to inner-city youth.

Camden Dream Center CEO Keith Davis sees the organization’s partnership with NetAcad affecting both academics and future careers of students who wouldn’t otherwise have these opportunities because of oppressive living conditions. “We strongly believe that students living in underserved communities can excel in high-quality training programs,” he said during the call with analysts this month. “Making available contextual learning, internships and apprenticeship opportunities are the strategies that will make a difference.”

The Camden Dream Center is an excellent example of how NetAcad can provide opportunities in an area that wouldn’t necessarily have any. In fact, Davis noted that if the program can be successful in Camden, it can be successful anywhere.

The demographics of Camden show the struggles of the area. It’s New Jersey’s eighth-largest city and 40% of the population live in poverty. Camden High School minority enrollment is 99%, and 64% are economically disadvantaged.  Reading proficiency is a shockingly low 2%, reading proficiency is 5% and the graduation rate is only 62%.

One of the speakers in the event was 20-year-old Joshua Mendoza, who graduated from NetAcad by going through the Camden Dream Center. Even at this young age, by getting his CCNA certification, he has had the opportunity to work around the world and now has a job as an information specialist in the U.S. Army. Mendoza is a good example of how having a good education and skills can change the fortune of one’s life. He explained that half the friends he went to high school with are now in prison.

Mendoza had been heading down a similar track and he admitted he had been kicked out of high school for causing an SQL injection attack. A person within the Camden Dream Center persuaded him to use those skills for good and he went through the program. He’s very focused and told us he has no debt, has a savings account and retirement plans.

Students who aren’t near a facility or who want to work at a different pace can take NetAcad courses independently at their own pace via netacad.com. There are several introductory courses on topics such as cybersecurity, the “internet of things” and Linux, well-suited for those who want to explore a tech path prior to taking more intensive courses provided by the affiliate academies.

Cybersecurity courses are particularly popular in NetAcad’s self-paced portfolio. The courses prepare students for entry-level positions such as security operations center analyst and incident responder, while providing them with the necessary certifications.

Beyond the courses, students can practice their skills through simulation tools, gaming exercises, assessments, virtual labs and physical equipment labs using Cisco’s Packet Tracer. NetAcad students who are ready to enter the workforce can connect with Cisco’s global partners offering job opportunities through the Talent Bridge job matching engine.

The need for programs such as NetAcad is even greater today. COVID-19 affected people’s livelihood, putting jobs at risk among the most vulnerable populations. However, the lowest-paid and the least-educated aren’t the only ones encountering inequality.

Women — especially mothers and women of color — are facing more challenges. Research conducted by the McKinsey Global Institute in September 2020 found one in four women are considering downshifting their careers or leaving entirely because of COVID-19.

Flexible jobs, training and other opportunities that allow women to manage their careers are necessary to keep them in the workforce. Millions of workers, including women, are likely to change occupations by 2030, according to McKinsey. Empowering people to take control of their careers by skilling, reskilling and upskilling is vital to building an inclusive future.

Photo: Tumisu/Pixabay