Cisco adds to skills initiatives

By Kimberly Guest for Cisco
Johannesburg, 14 Mar 2008

Cisco SA has introduced an additional skills development programme, which aims to accelerate the education of identified talent emerging from the region.

The company yesterday launched the global vendor's second Global Talent Acceleration Programme (GTAP), in Johannesburg. The first GTAP debuted in Jordan in November last year.

Mark Baptiste, GM of soon to be launched Cisco Technology Services, says the programme will help the company with its own skills requirements.

"We talk a lot about the skills shortage in SA, but I don't think we realise how bad it is until we are actively recruiting. We have definitely discovered that the situation is much worse than we thought it was. The first roll-out of GTAP involves 16 students. If they had finished the course, I could hire all of them right now," he explains.

The programme sees Cisco employing and training SA-based degree-holding students at professional and associate levels. By the end of the course, the students will be ready to sit for the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) lab test. CCIE-holding employment-seekers can expect to earn between R500 000 and R700 000 annually at today's rates, says Baptiste.

Students on the programme will also learn professional skills - like presentations, conflict management and customer service - and receive on the job training. Cisco SA says the programme could run between 12 and 18 months, though it is hoping to reduce this time as the programme develops.

Torque-IT has been involved in the development of the local programme.

Explains Baptiste: "We wanted to see the same results as you would in the US, but we recognised that those types of programmes may not suit the SA environment. Torque-IT has helped us to develop the local curriculum so that it is accessible for SA students. They will be our service provider on GTAP, looking after our students."

Around 350 people applied to become involved in the acceleration programme. Following two rounds of telephonic interviews, 26 were invited for panel interviews. Sixteen students accepted an offer for the first intake.