CISCO NETWORKING ACADEMY @ NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SAMOA

CISCO NETWORKING ACADEMY @ NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SAMOA By Foilagi Maua - Faamau Head of Department – Computing Legal Main Contact/CISCO Instructor CISCO NETWORKING ACADEMY – National University of Samoa

THE EARLY DAYS • National University of Samoa CISCO Networking Academy was originally set up in 2002 • I have been with the CISCO Networking Academy for 10 years now • 2 years as a CCNA student • 8 years as a CISCO instructor

Instructors: • NUS CISCO Networking Academy started off with 5 CCNA instructors • 2 new instructors for ITE were added to restart the academy in 2007. • These instructors were trained and certified from the Box Hill Institute – Melbourne Australia

Another 2 instructors for ITE were added to our CISCO teaching staff in 2008 • They were trained at the Tongan Institute under the ITU program for ICT capacity building in Samoa • CCNA Discovery 1 and 2 instructor training at the National University of Samoa in 2009 (5 certified) • CCNA Discovery 3 and 4 instructor training at the University of Technology Sydney (2 certified)

Current Staff • In total, there are only 3 instructors running the operation now at NUS • Instructor training needed for more instructors

Programs • Originally NUS CISCO Academy could offer only CCNA in 2002 - 2005 • Then the emphasis shifted to IT Essential in 2007 • CCNA Discovery 1 and 2 in 2009 • CCNA Discovery 1, 2, 3 and 4 in 2013 - now

Students • Our clientele varies from: • Working people • Current students • School Leavers (secondary school/certificate/diploma holders)

Student Gender • Most students are males • Very few females are enrolled in our CISCO classes (less than 30 overall) • Most students are from the Apia area BUT there are a few who come from rural areas of Upolu.

NUS CISCO GRADUATES: • Most if not all students who graduate from CISCO programs find employment after especially the IT Essential program. • Most students are hired as IT Technicians and they will continue to study at CCNA level. • Students are hired by the private sectors, government, industry, financial institutions and others

CISCO Graduates cont’d • We have students who have travelled overseas via the quota system and got accepted because of their CISCO qualification • We have students who are now undertaking scholarship training overseas to further their studies and gain formal qualifications in the area of ICT and IS.

Challenges: • Resources (Equipment, Financial and Staff) • Time Constraints (Commitment from staff and university) • Internet

The most rewarding part for me: • Seeing students finding employment after CISCO especially the school/university leavers • Creating a “sense of belonging” for those who cannot afford/meet the requirements to attend higher education

Rewarding part cont’d • Making a contribution to the wider community in the field of ICT

Future: • NUS to offer all ICT certifications and to establish a centre of ICT trainings in Samoa. • This can be possible through:

Realignment of NUS strategies • Government support • Private sponsorship • Perhaps the Global family of CISCO Networking Academy

Faafetai lava • Thank you

CISCO NETWORKING ACADEMY @ NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SAMOA