Cisco Systems' academy

On behalf of Cisco Systems, thank you for covering the recent agreement by the Vocational Training Council to join the Cisco Systems Networking Academy Programme (Technology Post, February 9).

However, while the story was informative, I do take issue with the headline which suggested networking industry concern about the programme. The sole industry source quoted was from a company that competes directly against Cisco. It is misleading to imply that one competitive view represents the feeling of the networking industry as a whole.

Nor is it accurate for the source to imply that the Cisco programme overly focuses on our own hardware or that graduates will lack all-round skills. About 70 per cent of the Networking Academy curriculum is open standards-based networking knowledge - precisely the sort of thing that will stand students in good stead.

The only portions that are Cisco-specific are those necessary to provide hands-on exercises. While students may practise on Cisco-donated equipment, the practical knowledge and skills acquired are useful whether the student eventually goes on to manage Cisco equipment or not.

While we donate Cisco equipment to schools and colleges and provide teacher training, this does not mean the curriculum cannot be taught on non-Cisco equipment.

In fact, the majority of topics included within the Networking Academy curriculum can be taught on equipment from any vendor.

The Networking Academy is a non-profit initiative to provide students with skills and expertise they can use to maximise their potential in an increasingly networked world.

As well as being free, the relationships we have established with some of the world's leading educational institutions are non-exclusive.

I think it speaks volumes that today, less than 16 months after the launch of the programme, more than 1,000 schools have joined the programme, 28 of which in Asia.

DAVID KO Public Relations Manager North Asia Cisco Systems