Cisco Networking Academy Helps Latin America Fill Skills Gap

There probably is no better way to learn about professional opportunities in a certain market than to hear from companies with a leading presence in that market. And this is what Cisco Networking Academy does. It helps individuals prepare for industry-recognized certifications and entry-level information and communication technology (ICT) careers in a wide range of industries.

Cisco recently held a Cisco Networking Academy Student Day in Chile, where it had held a regional competition in the beginning of the month. The Cisco Networking Academy NetRiders is a hands-on competition that gives students the opportunity to compete on national and international levels for a chance to win a prestigious recognition and the grand prize, which is a trip to Cisco Headquarters in the United States. The winner was Juan Zambrano, a student from Technical University INACAP Sede Santiago Sur in Chile. Juan won both the regional competition as well as the international competition.

The fact that the event was in a Latin American country holds special significance as a gap in skilled workers in that part of the world is expected to grow to 35 percent by 2015. This equals to over 300,000 jobs that will need to be filled by qualified professionals, making training in ICT skills even more important than ever to help prepare students for careers.

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Antonio Pasolini is a Corporate Social Responsibility writer for Justmeans, Antonio Pasolini is a journalist based in Brazil who writes about alternative energy, green living and sustainability. He also edits Energyrefuge.com, a top web destination for news and comment on renewable energy and Elpis.org, a recycled paper bag/magazine distributed from health food stores in London, formerly his hometown for over a decade. He is also a happy herbivore.