Schools Participating in Cisco's Networking Academy Program

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - Jan 12, 2016) - Cisco Canada ( NASDAQ : CSCO ) in partnership with TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Organizing Committee, donated CDN $3,776 million of technology to 32 educational institutions to enhance student learning opportunities for Cisco Networking Academy® Program participants across Ontario and Canada. The donation marks the largest contribution of technology infrastructure under the Pan Am Technology Legacy Plan, made possible by Cisco's sponsorship of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.

Cisco® Networking Academy is an IT skills and career building program for learning institutions and individuals worldwide. From secondary schools to universities to community organizations, more than 9,000 institutions in 170 countries offer the Cisco Networking Academy curriculum to more than 5.5 million students and graduates. Over 215 Cisco Networking Academies operate across Canada, with 22,500 students currently enrolled and approximately 142,000 graduates since its inception in 1997.

This donation will help academies augment their current curriculum-aligned equipment. As some of the equipment goes beyond the curriculum, students will now have the opportunity to configure enterprise-level networks for a building or venue, similar to the Toronto 2015 games, providing students an enhanced learning experience.

"The PanAm legacy contribution to Cisco Networking Academies will offer students a deeper hands-on learning opportunity with the latest Cisco equipment," said Bernadette Wightman, president, Cisco Canada. "Cisco Networking Academy continues to inspire the next generation of students to seek an education in STEM skills, and pursue successful careers in technology."

"The equipment donated to Fanshawe's School of Information Technology allows us to provide more advanced educational opportunities for our Cisco Networking Academy CCNA and CCNP courses," said Chad Hoevenaars, Program Coordinator at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. "Students will have an opportunity to work with some of the latest Cisco equipment and get hands-on training that will better prepare them to meet the challenges of today's IT skills requirements."

The Cisco Technology Legacy Plan from the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games is focused on deploying technology across four key pillars: sporting venues; Canadian high schools, colleges and universities, including members of the Networking Academy program; select schools participating in the Connected North program; and select not-for-profit organizations with a focus on driving productivity, scale, innovation and economic development.

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