ORLANDO, FL – Cisco on Tuesday unveiled a Web 2.0 social network that enables networking professionals to collaborate globally through document sharing, open-forum discussions and idea exchanges. Called the Cisco Learning Network (www.cisco.com/go/learnnetspace), it is designed for both the seasoned professional as well as individuals considering a career in information technology (IT).
The Cisco Learning Network will provide social networking features such as blogs, wikis and forums so that individuals can discuss top-of-mind issues.
It is anticipated that the community will also directly contribute to the continued development and co-creation of Cisco’s education strategies by providing real-world community feedback that can be used for training development and assessment.
With the built-in document-sharing tool, there is now a single source for the certified community to seek out product documentation, configuration and troubleshooting advice along with expert opinions on networking challenges, Cisco said in a media release.
Cisco also announced enhancements to its associate-level career certification with the introduction of three concentrations: CCNA Security, CCNA Voice and CCNA Wireless. By expanding on the competencies and skills in the CCNA curriculum, these highly specialized concentrations offer individuals a career stepping-stone into the converged technologies that make up today’s sophisticated networks, Cisco said in a statement.
“As networks continue to stimulate economic growth, collaboration and human interaction, the need for networking talent will grow in importance. To address the growing global demand for networking talent, we estimate that we will need to double or even triple our certified individuals over the next five years,” said Learning@Cisco General Manager Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn. “With the expansion of the CCNA portfolio and the launch of the Cisco Learning Network, we have added two more critical components to our companywide initiative to address the global IT talent shortage, accelerate the development of the information economy and improve the productivity of this vital technical community.”
