New Cisco academy set up

Cisco Systems (Thailand) has appointed King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) as its third regional networking academy to build up the skills of teachers and students here.

Under the agreement, KMITL will initially teach 30 graduate students from the IT faculty and train teachers in six universities: Dhurakijbundit University, Rajabhat Institute Bansomdejchaopraya, Rajabhat Institute Chandra Kasem and Rangsit University, Siam University and Walailak University.

Cisco marketing programme manager Supoet Srinutapong said Cisco has supported KMITL with five routers and three switches to set up a networking lab. In addition, it also offers free web-based courses and materials.

To date, Cisco has introduced its networking academy programme to 17 academic institutes here including Assumption University and Kasetsart University, which are the first two regional networking academies.

The course will also be introduced to high schools students in St Cabriel College and the International School Bangkok.

Under the programme, students will learn how to design, build, and maintain computer networks as well as to prepare themselves for industry standard certification.

``Content of the course is the same for every level of student, the difference is the length of teaching,'' Supoet said, adding that for high school students, the course will be taught for two years while undergraduate students will need two semesters and graduate students only one semester.

In total, it is expected that around 1,000 students will be educated in networking each semester through the 17 institutes.

According to KMITL Dean of the IT Faculty, Dr Wichian Premchaiswadi, the university will aim to achieve a higher level as a Cisco partner in order to become a Cisco Academy Training Center for the region in the longer term.