Corporate and academic curricula Anastas Misev Institute of Informatics Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics University “Ss Cyril and Methodius” Skopje, Macedonia

The possibilities More corporate curricula available Universal and worldwide availability Better workforce development “Closing the digital divide”

Corporate curricula examples SUN Academic Initiative CISCO Networking Academies Microsoft IT Academies …

SUN Academic Initiative Oriented towards SUN technologies Covering both HW and SW Most useful for Java training More details in last years’ WS presentation

CISCO Networking Academy “Comprehensive e-learning program that provides students with the Internet technology skills” Launched in October 1997 with 64 educational institutions in seven states Today: more than 150 countries, over 1.6 million students have enrolled at more than 10,000 Academies located in high schools, technical schools, colleges, universities, and community- based organizations. Standardized curricula –

The CCNA model Training the trainers 3 levels CATC Regional Local Regional Local

GLN Blended learning environment –Rich Media, promoting broad, media-intensive curricula for text, video, audio, interactive, and animated content, all of which address multiple learning styles and needs –Course materials and assessments done on-line –Practical, hands-on exercises done on actual equipment at labs –Simulators and remote labs for practicing when equipment not available –Personalized Feedback, providing students and instructors with information on each student's progress and proficiency level Prerequisites –Institution with accredited curricula –PC or MAC lab –Internet connection

Courses and partners CCNA 1-4 (280h) –Basic networking courses –Suitable for high schools, universities CCNP 1-4 (280h) –Advanced networking –Technical university level

Courses and partners (2) Fundamentals of Network Security (70h) –Suitable for specialized high schools, universities (especially short 2-3 year studies) Fundamentals of Wireless LANs (70h) –Suitable for specialized high schools, universities

Courses and partners (3) HP IT Essentials I: PC Hardware and Software (70h) –Partnership with HP –Suitable for high school, non CS/CE universities HP IT Essentials II: Network Operating Systems (70h) –Partnership with HP –Suitable for specialized high schools, universities (especially short 2-3 year studies)

Courses and partners (4) Fundamentals of Java Programming (70h) –Partnership with SUN –Terminating by –Suitable for universities Fundamentals of UNIX (70h) –Suitable for specialized high schools, universities (especially short 2-3 year studies)

Courses and partners (5) Fundamentals of Web Design (70h) –Partnership with Adobe Systems –Terminating by –Suitable for high schools, non CS/CE universities Panduit Network Infrastructure Essentials –Partnership with Panduit –Suitable for technical high schools

13 © 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID Curricula Offerings 2005 High School Career University College Fundamentals Courses ITE 2 HP UNIX Sun JAVA Sun NIE Panduit ITE 1 HP 3 Switching 1 Basics 4 WAN 2 Routing CCNA CCNP 3 Multilayer Switching 2 Remote Access 4 Trouble Shooting 1 Advanced Routing Wireless Security Career Network Installer Basic IT Support System Admin Software support / dev SMB Networking Enterprise Networking 1120 Hours of learning

Academy Curricula and Certifications IT Essentials I & II CCNA 1&2 Wireless CCNA 3&4 Security CCNP 1 CCNP 2 CCNP 3 CCNP 4 SECONDARY SCHOOLS Secondary Schools, Colleges, University Higher Education Higher Education, Technical University BSCI Comptia A+ PC Hardware & Operating Systems ICND Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Exam CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate CWNA Certified Wireless Network Administrator CFSS+ Cisco Firewall Specialist & Security + CFSS+ CCNA CWNA ICND Comptia A+ BSCIBuilding Scalable Cisco Internetworks BCMSNBuilding Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks BCRANBuilding Cisco Remote Access Networks CITCisco Internetwork Troubleshooting support BCMSN BCRAN CIT

Microsoft IT Academies Designed to allow accredited academic institutions to deliver to students a premium education on the latest Microsoft technologies Prepares students for academic education tracks, rigorous Microsoft certification exams, and for career opportunities as IT professionals

Academy curricula Designed around Microsoft Software –Operating System Software –Developer Software –Server Software –Productivity Software Requires yearly membership fees Depending on the model, instructors training can be free Benefits in software licensing

Academy Levels IT Pro Plus –designed to provide complete workforce development resources to institutes offering career development from the desktop to the IT professional for degrees or certifications: IT Pro (MCP) and Microsoft Office Specialist certification. IT Pro –designed to provide workforce development resources to institutes offering career development in the IT profession for degrees or certifications: IT Pro (MCP) only Office Specialist –designed to provide benefits toward Microsoft Office Specialist certification. This level does NOT include IT Pro (MCP) benefits.

Levels of integration Loose integration –Offering the courseware as additional, non required course material –Left to the students to choose Strong integration –Offering the courses in the integral part as the whole or including the courses in the integral part as parts of other academic courses Independent offering of the courses out of the curricula –Open for students, but also for general public

SUN Loose integration –Offered as supplement to the students of the courses: Programming languages Data structures and algorithms Internet technologies (partly)

CISCO Strong integration –The students of the courses: Computer networks Computer networks design are offered an option to take the course according to the CCNA program Independent offering of the courses to the general public The new curricula will add two more courses from the 3 year studies to the list: Wireless networks Wireless and mobile technologies which will be accompanied with the Wireless LANs

Microsoft In the process of establishment Possible integration –Strong for the subjects System software (partly) Networking operating systems (partly) –Independent offering as additional courses to the students, but also to the general public

Very positive!!! Example: CISCO –When offered as option, all the students choose to take CISCO curricula –Small fee charged, covering only the material expenses (manuals, cables, connectors,…) –Very high attendance, especially the labs

(cont.) Three models used so far –The first one (used with the first generation) Computer Networks given by our curricula CCNA 1 and 2 covered the whole course in Computer Networks Design –The second one Computer Networks given by our curricula Computer Networks Design covered mostly by CCNA 1 and 2, but with additional course material –The third one Computer Networks given as combination of CCNA1 and our curricula Computer Networks Design (will be given this year) as combination of CCNA 2 and 3, with additional course material CCNA courses not included in the curricula offered as additional independent courses

Final thoughts Positive experience so far Positive feedback from the industry “Ready-to-work” graduates Big interest from the students Include more industry curricula … … but maintain the academic level