Impact in Québec

Partnering with Québec to Educate Canada’s Workforce

A sustained economic recovery requires a skilled and well-trained workforce. To reach their full potential as a vital resource for the nation, graduates now need to acquire problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, in addition to specific job-related expertise.

As organizations become increasingly reliant on innovative workers and intelligent networks, Cisco® Networking Academy® is helping Canada prepare for stable, high-paying jobs by teaching the skills that employers need.

A Leader in Education Innovation Cisco Networking Academy is a transformative, technology education One million students engaged program that prepares college- and career-ready students for the this year in 165 countries makes 21st century with curricula that builds information communications Cisco Networking Academy one technology (ICT) and networking knowledge and skills. of the world’s largest classrooms. Since its inception in 1997, more Networking Academy is recognized worldwide as a leader in than 3.75 million students have education innovation and e-learning. The courseware is developed by been enrolled, attending courses Cisco and delivered through public and private education offered at local high schools, organizations. Curricula include instructor-led course content, online community colleges, universities, and nontraditional settings. learning and skills assessments, hands-on labs, and innovative

simulation and gaming technology. Core courses include IT Cisco uses the network to con- ® Essentials, CCNA (Cisco Certified Networking Associate) Discovery, nect students and instructors, and CCNA Exploration, and CCNA Security. Students may then enroll in to partner with over 10,000 educa- the more advanced CCNP® (Cisco Certified Networking Professional) tion institutions, while delivering courses. 1 million online assessments per month, around the world. Successful completion of the course work prepares Networking Academy students to take exams and earn ICT certifications that are Networking Academy cultivates partnerships with a broad range valued by employers in diverse global industries and public-sector of education, government, NGOs organizations. Courses also prepare students to pursue further and private organizations to ad- education or apply these skills in their own businesses. vance education.

As of October 31, 2010, approximately 167,000 students were being Cisco is the worldwide leader in taught by 4214 instructors in 2388 academies across the United networking for the internet, deli- States and Canada. Rapid growth over the past decade has vering innovations that change how we work, live, play and learn.

demonstrated the program’s success and versatility with its geographic reach, the diversity of students, the number and variety of partners, the breadth and relevance of curricula, and its ability to keep pace with technical and pedagogical advances. Course content is consistent, providing students everywhere the same knowledge, skills development, and assessments.

Unique to Networking Academy is a focus on instructor professional development and its creation of communities to support both instructors and students. Instructors receive training prior to teaching their first class. They also get many professional development opportunities throughout the year, and access to peer communities where they can collaborate and share best practices online and in person. Students become part of a global network that helps them to troubleshoot coursework and prepare for exams, while also providing mentors, and encouragement to one another.

National Education Standards for a 21st Century Workforce There is a growing concern on the part of government, foundations, and business organizations about the ability of our future workforce not only to enable economic recovery, but also meet the challenges of global economic competition. Several efforts are under way to help schools identify requirements for more rigorous studies that will improve outcomes, develop career-ready skills, and stimulate student interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (recognized internationally as STEM). An example of one of these efforts is the Focus on Information Technology (FIT). This is a unique program developed by the Information and Communication Technology Council (ICTC) in conjunction with the ICT industry to enable a workforce for economic growth. The program is a two-year high school course designed to teach the necessary technical, business and interpersonal skills through observation, investigation and action.

According to Prime Minister Harper, a key to building a stronger economy for Canada is to create high-quality jobs in the science and technology sectors. The foundation for those jobs, and for many ICT-related positions in other sectors, can be gained at Cisco Networking Academy.

The emphasis on technology is a common theme in many of the nation’s education efforts. With our increasingly Internet-centric world, most careers in this century will require a strong understanding of how to take full advantage of technology-enabled communications and business processes. Educators want to use technology in their classrooms to better engage students, develop skills, and extend the learning experience. In addition, a workforce that is well-schooled in ICT and engineering can help spur innovation across many industries, which in turn opens up additional business opportunities to fuel productivity and economic growth. ICT investments are expected to play a major role in generating stable, high-paying jobs and boosting the nation’s GDP.

Networking Academy combines an emphasis on education standards and the skills that will be required in future job markets. Networking knowledge will be especially important in critical areas such as green technologies, healthcare, smart energy grids, and the push toward universal broadband deployment. The educational infrastructure at Networking Academy helps to ensure that the program’s curricula will evolve to deliver technology knowledge and skills that can meet future learning requirements.

State-of-the-Art Learning Environment The instructional approach at Networking Academy encourages student engagement, enhancing the student’s ability to synthesize learning and apply it in other contexts. Four skill areas identified by education researchers as critical for 21st century workers have been integrated into the course content:

• Problem solving and decision making: Students practice and test their knowledge by configuring and troubleshooting networks using hands-on labs and simulation software.

• Creative and critical thinking: Students understand the how and why of networking by combining hands-on learning with conceptual and analytical exercises.

• Collaboration, communication and negotiation: Students acquire individual and teamwork skills as they perform lab exercises and engage in business scenarios through gaming, all which prepares them for the job world.

• Intellectual curiosity and information handling: Students develop the ability to locate, select, structure and evaluate information. Real-world case studies give students the opportunity to develop cutting-edge problem-solving techniques.

Spotlight on Community Colleges A unique feature of these institutions is their link to business and industry, and hence their integration into economic development. Community colleges are working to align their curricula, certifications and degrees with new ICT jobs through Networking Academy implementations.

According to researchers, students today are faced with high tuition costs, a weak economy, and increased competition for admission to four-year colleges. They are more likely than at any other point in history to attend community college. Community colleges are also an invaluable resource for adults seeking to acquire new skills that are needed by employers. As a result, community colleges have experienced a spike in enrollment.

The Data Behind the Demand Tables 1 and 2 outline the growth and projected demand for ICT related careers in the nation and province.

Table 1. Projection of selected ICT occupations in Canada1 Employment Estimated Total Midrange Canada Occupation Projections Hiring Requirements 2008 2015 2008-2015

Computer and Information Systems Managers 45,822 50,734 12,819

Information Systems Analysts and Consultants 144,686 160,533 39,059

User Support Technicians 64,896 80,428 22,750

Telecommunication Carrier Managers 10,433 11,482 2,984

Computer Network Technicians 48,782 50,876 8,548

Broadcast Technicians 2,763 2,783 513

1 Source: ICTC, www.ictc-ctic.ca/uploadedFiles/ICTC_Outlook_2008-2015_final_accurate(1).pdf

Table 2. Projection of selected ICT occupations in Québec1

Estimated Total Québec Occupation Projections Midrange Hiring Requirements 2008-2015 Computer and Information Systems Managers 2,528

Information Systems Analysts and Consultants 8,040

User Support Technicians 4,351

Telecommunication Carrier Managers 667

Computer Network Technicians 1,778

Broadcast Technicians 110

1 Source: ICTC, www.ictc-ctic.ca/uploadedFiles/ICTC_Outlook_2008-2015_final_accurate(1).pdf

The Impact in Québec The partnership between Cisco Networking Academy and Québec has touched the lives of 22,029 students, and generated an estimated in-kind contribution value of CDN $10,173,385 to education in Québec.

Table 3. Cisco Networking Academy in Québec1

Students 4,674

Female students 8%

Distinct cumulative students 22,029

Instructors 149

Academies 50

Education level Secondary Community 2 Universities Other (students/academies at more than one Schools Colleges education level are counted proportionately)

Students 19% 60% 19% 3% Academies 17% 66% 15% 2%

3 Curricula Advanced (students/academies that take/teach multiple ITE CCNA 1, 2 CCNA 3, 4 Technologies / 4 curricula are counted more than once) Other

Students 29% 77% 27% 3% Academies 38% 90% 76% 18%

5 In-kind contribution value (estimated cumulative value to academies including donations and discounts) CDN $10,173,385

1 Source: Quarterly Metrics, October 2010 2 Includes community-based organizations, middle schools, military, nontraditional educational settings, and post-graduate institutions 3 Source: MRE report 4415P51, November 2010 4 Includes CCNA Security, CCNP, Security, Wireless, IP Telephony, Java, UNIX and Panduit Network Infrastructure Essentials (PNIE) 5 Source: MRE report 4549, November 2010. CDN value based on Cisco’s Fiscal Year 2011 averaged Exchange Rate of 1.04

Table 4. Active academies in Québec1 Active academies are defined as those that have taught a class with at least 3 distinct student assessments, or adopted a new curriculum, within the last 12 months. An asterisk indicates a Cisco Networking Academy Training Center.

Cégep de Sherbrooke (Sherbrooke) Collège Durocher Saint-Lambert, Cégep de Chicoutimi (Chicoutimi) Pavillon Durocher (Saint-Lambert) Cégep de St-Laurent (Montréal) Cégep de Drummondville Collège Édouard-Montpetit (Drummondville) Cégep de Victoriaville - Tinfo (Longueuil) (Victoriaville) Cégep de Jonquiere (Jonquière) Collège Lasalle (Montréal) Cégep du Vieux Montréal (Montréal) Cégep de la Gaspesie et des Iles Collège Lionel Groulx (Sainte Thérèse) (Gaspé) *Cégep Limoilou (Québec City) Collège Shawinigan (Shawinigan) Cégep de la Pocatiere (La Pocatiere) Cégep Montmorency (Laval) Commission scolaire Marguerite- Cégep de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue Cégep Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Bourgeoys (Saint Laurent) (Rouyn-Noranda) (Saint Jean Sur Richelieu) Dawson College (Westmount) Cégep de Lanaudière - Joliette Cégep Sept-Îles (Sept-Îles) (Joliette) École de technologie supérieure *Cégep Ste-Foy (Sainte Foy) (Montréal) *Cégep de l'Outaouais (Gatineau) Cégep St-Felicien (Saint Félicien) École Secondaire Calixa-Lavallée Cégep de l'Outaouais Campus Cégep Trois-Rivières (Trois-Rivières) (Montréal) Gabrielle-Roy (Gatineau - Secteur Hull) Centre Administration, Commerce et *EMICA de Montréal (Montréal) Secretariat de Gatineau (Gatineau) Cégep de Matane - Dept. Institut Teccart (Montréal) Informatique (Matane) CFP des Riverains (Repentigny) John Abbott College (Sainte Anne de *Cegep de Matane - Groupe Collegia CFP Fierbourg (Québec City) Bellevue) (Matane) Champlain College - St-Lambert Pearson Adult and Career Center Cégep de Rimouski - (Saint Lambert) (Lasalle) Dept.Informatique (Rimouski) Collège Ahuntsic (Montréal) Polyvalente l'Érablière (Gatineau) Cégep de Rimouski-TGE (Rimouski) Collège Bois-de-Boulogne (Montréal) Séminaire Saint-François (Saint- Cégep de Rivière-du-Loup (Rivière Du Augustin) Loup) Collège de Maisonneuve (Montréal) Séminaire St-Joseph de Trois- *Collège de Rosemont (Montréal) Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe (Saint- Rivières (Trois-Rivières) Hyacinthe)

1 Source: Academy Briefing Book November 2010

The Impact in Québec Academy student at Cegep Limoilou, Quebec City, Quebec wins SkillsCanada, and will compete in WorldSkills London 2011.

Skills/Compétences Canada is a national, not-for-profit organization that works with employers, educators, labour groups and governments to promote skilled trades and technology careers among Canadian youth. Its unique private and public partnerships work toward securing Canada’s future skilled labour needs, while helping young people discover rewarding careers.

Guillaume Parent, a student at Cegep Limoilou in Quebec City, Quebec, won the gold medal for the intense two-day IT PC Network Support (#39) contest within SkillsCanada. He was then selected to represent Canada in London at the 41st annual WorldSkills International competition in 2011. Guillaume will compete as a member of Team Canada.

“SkillsCanada is a great way to prove what you have learned in school,” says Guillaume. “Definitely check it out. And also, Cisco Networking Academy offers very good training and material for all things related to networking, at high school, college and university levels.”

Every two years, hundreds of young people from 53 member countries compete in the prestigious WorldSkills competition. Member countries include: Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Canada, Australia, Brazil, the U.S. and many others. Considered “the best of the best,” these contestants compete for four days in 45 occupational skill areas, including ICT, manufacturing, transportation, construction and services. Participants compete before the public in contests that are run and judged by industry representatives using demanding international standards. Many competitor countries invest time and money to prepare their teams for WorldSkills.

This year in London, more than 1,000 competitors will test their skills. Approximately 5000 international experts, delegates and judges will gather from around the world, and 3,000 volunteers will be recruited to assist in the event. A total of 150,000 student and public spectators will attend.

Over its 60-year history, WorldSkills International (formerly known as the "Skill Olympics") has come to symbolize the pinnacle of excellence in professional training. It provides a unique means of exchange and comparison of world-class competency standards in the industrial trades and service sectors of the global economy. The continued growth of WorldSkills attests to the fact that traditional trade and craft skills, along with newer technology multi-skilled occupations, make an essential contribution to economic and social well being everywhere.

Canada’s previous WorldSkills results include: • WorldSkills 2009 Calgary – Matthew Chadder, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Alberta, placed in the middle of the pack • WorldSkills 2007 Japan – Tommy Boucher, Cegep de Limoilou, Quebec, placed fourth (missed third place by 1 point) • WorldSkills 2005 Helsinki – Menno Vanderlist, SAIT, Alberta, won a silver medal

See Guillaume’s video here: www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/us-can/impact.html~#Videos

Learn More For additional information, impact stories, how you can get involved, and contacts in your area, visit our website: www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/canada

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