Cisco and BT Partner to Upskill Ukrainian Refugees in Ireland

BT and Cisco have been in a strategic partnership since 1990, focusing on delivering a wide range of network, communications, and IT solutions to businesses both nationally and globally. Both companies are also passionate advocates for STEM promotion, with Cisco previously supporting the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE), one of the leading school STEM exhibitions in Europe which BT has organised and grown since 2001.

In January 2023, Cisco leadership attended the BT exhibition in Dublin, where the Cisco Networking Academy (NetAcad) was first mentioned as a potential benefit for the bright young contestants. Following a number of meetings related to the exhibition, BT invited Cisco Ireland to participate in a career event it organised with Ukrainian Action Ireland to help more Ukrainian women to secure employment in Ireland. The event, which covered a range of subjects from Cybersecurity to pursuing diverse career paths, provided a perfect opportunity to introduce the minority community in Ireland to the Cisco Networking Academy programme.

With the support of TU Dublin, the leading Cisco Networking Academy Partner in Ireland, BT Ireland established a Cisco Academy to create a variety of free, online, self-paced courses in English and Ukrainian, spanning Cybersecurity, Networking, English for IT, Data Science, and Programming. TU Dublin and Cisco then set up a dedicated webpage for the students to learn more about each of the courses and enrol. The Academy has reached over 200 learners since establishing the Academy in October 2023 and hope to impact even more individuals in the future, particularly Ukrainian women who have benefited greatly from these educational opportunities.

Participant Nataliia Cherkaska, a Project Manager, said “Recently, I completed the ‘English for IT’ course offered by Cisco. The material was presented excellently, divided into multiple stages, allowing me to revisit any necessary section. I particularly appreciated the well-structured video content and assignments. I am confident that the knowledge I gained from this course will be instrumental in advancing and enhancing my career.”

Shay Walsh, Managing Director, BT Ireland added, “Our long-standing partnership with Cisco has further enabled us to make a significant impact on the communities we serve. By integrating the Cisco Networking Academy into our initiative, we are not only enhancing STEM education but also providing valuable opportunities for Ukrainian women to develop crucial digital skills. This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to fostering innovation and inclusivity in Ireland.”

Niamh Madigan, Partner Leader at Cisco Ireland added “It’s great to see a Cisco global initiative having such a great impact in Ireland. The Cisco and BT Ireland partnership continues to evolve, joining forces with them to have a positive impact on the community through the Cisco Networking Academy and Cisco’s Partnering for Purpose initiative is very rewarding, Collectively we can have an even greater impact through our CSR programmes”

Shane Heraty Managing Director Cisco Ireland “We are proud to have reached around 50,000 students through the Cisco Networking Academy in Ireland since inception through a curriculum spanning Networking, Cybersecurity, Programming, AI, and more. Partnerships like this are a fantastic means of augmenting our impact with underserved and underrepresented communities”