BT and Cisco have strengthened their long-standing partnership, aiming to enhance digital skills and foster employment opportunities, particularly for underserved communities. Since 1990, both companies have worked together on a range of IT and communication solutions, and now they are turning their focus to STEM education and digital empowerment.
In January 2023, Cisco unveiled its Networking Academy (NetAcad) at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) in Dublin. After the event, BT invited Cisco to participate in a career initiative aimed at supporting Ukrainian women seeking employment in Ireland. This event served as a platform to explore opportunities in cybersecurity and various career paths, while also highlighting Cisco’s Networking Academy as a valuable learning resource, especially for these women.
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With backing from TU Dublin, a key partner of the Cisco Networking Academy, BT and Cisco launched a Cisco Academy in Ireland, offering free, self-paced courses in both English and Ukrainian. The curriculum spans cybersecurity, networking, programming, and data science. Since its launch in October 2023, the Academy has enrolled over 200 learners, with a primary focus on equipping Ukrainian women with essential digital skills.
Shay Walsh, Managing Director of BT Ireland, emphasized the initiative’s impact, “By integrating the Cisco Networking Academy into our initiative, we are not only enhancing STEM education but also providing valuable opportunities for Ukrainian women to develop crucial digital skills. This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to fostering innovation and inclusivity in Ireland.”
Niamh Madigan, Partner Leader at Cisco Ireland, echoed this sentiment, stating, “It’s great to see a Cisco global initiative having such a great impact in Ireland. The Cisco and BT Ireland partnership continues to evolve; joining forces with them to positively impact the community through the Cisco Networking Academy and Cisco’s Partnering for Purpose initiative is very rewarding.”
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Shane Heraty, Managing Director of Cisco Ireland, highlighted the broader impact of the Networking Academy: “We are proud to have reached around 50,000 students through the Cisco Networking Academy in Ireland since its inception, covering areas like networking, cybersecurity, programming, and AI. Partnerships like this help us reach underserved and underrepresented communities.”
Tom Nolan, Lecturer at TU Dublin, further added that, “This is an excellent example of academia and industry working together to create unique learning experiences. We hope to see many of the students who take these courses progress onto degree programs in the future.”
This partnership between Cisco and BT is a powerful example of how corporate and educational collaboration can drive social change and provide meaningful opportunities for communities in need.
