Software developers and information security analysts are two of the fastest-growing industries, not only in the tech world but in the entire job market, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
So, with thousands of opportunities opening for careers earning six-figures, obtaining skills in these growing industries can be the key to making the next step in your career.
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Shifting focus toward in-demand subjects has also been the priority of Cisco’s Networking Academy—an education program that has been around since 1997 and boasts of training millions of students online and in schools around the world.
During the Dot Com bubble, Cisco was among the most valuable companies in the world, known for its dominance in the computer technology and data networking spaces. Now, still among the Fortune 100, the company has expanded its reach into cloud management and cybersecurity.
Helping to train the next generation, or assisting in reskilling the current, with in-demand skills is part of the mission of its academy. Today, it offers online certificate programs and free training as well as some in-person teaching in hot-in-demand topics such as cybersecurity, networking, and Python—for those of all skill levels.
While there are hundreds of other ways to get ahead—from going back to school, attending a coding traditional bootcamp, or enrolling in a different certificate program—Cisco’s long history in the tech and education space is one way it may be set apart from others.
The program is one of the longest standing IT-skills-to-jobs programs in the world, according to Laura Quintana, vice president and general manager of the Cisco Networking Academy.
“We are now at 3.57 million people that have attributed their participation in the networking academy to obtaining a new job,” she tells Fortune. “And that is because we’re focused on preparing individuals with skills for in-demand jobs in the areas of networking, cybersecurity, programming, etc.”
She says the evolving, skills-first hiring approach that employers, including Cisco, are taking, is allowing students to go beyond degree programs in their learning. Instead, they can get ahead through certificate programs, bootcamps, and other online training, for example.
Fortune sat down with Quintana to learn more about the ever-evolving intersection of tech and education.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
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Getting ahead in a changing job market
Fortune: What are the in-demand skills that employers are looking for, and how are you equipping your students with those skills?
Quintana: Cybersecurity is an area where there is significant demand. According to reports, we’ve heard right from the White House itself, Department of Labor, that there are over 700,000 unfilled jobs in the area of cybersecurity.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that areas such as an information security analyst—31% growth in that area alone compared to the average, that they’re looking out over several years. It’s because cyber is an area that is in significant demand, and no surprise given the proliferation of devices and the billions of devices we have connected to networks. While that creates significant opportunities for us to change the world, change lives, it also provides a larger threat landscape.
The other is networking, which has been an area that we had in the program from the very beginning—given if you’re familiar with Cisco’s roots in this space.
Fortune: This past year, we’ve seen many tech companies lay off employees—some in the wake of increased A.I. use. What is the job market like for students, and what sectors are seeing the most growth?
Quintana: It’s so incredibly important that we focus on skills that are in demand, and so that when individuals are taking their valuable time to spend with us that they’re acquiring those skills that lead to jobs.
For individuals that are taking our certification online courses, 95% attribute their participation in the Networking Academy to getting a job or education opportunity. Keeping in mind that some students that we’re reaching are in high school. What we’re looking to do is encourage individuals to appreciate what the opportunities can be for them, relative to acquiring technical skills, and frankly, to build their confidence and build their confidence on what’s possible.
In terms of growth, we’re seeing significant demand in all of the courses that we offer; where we’re seeing the most growth is in cybersecurity.
Future of A.I. in education
Fortune: How are you evolving with the education landscape in face of A.I.?
Quintana: We’re looking at ways to leverage the A.I. so that students embrace it, and they see it as a way of acting as a tutor. So, instead of coming from a place where it wouldn’t be supported, what we actually are saying we want to embrace it, and how can we leverage it in a way where if a student is asking the A.I., give me the answer, the A.I. can come back and say: ‘Well, you know, I don’t want to give you the answer. But let me help you. What are you struggling with?’
So A.I. as a tutor, but also A.I. as an assistant for instructors. Teachers have a really heavy workload and, and it can be really hard. And not every teacher has an assistant, not every not every teacher has a TA, for example. And so it’s an opportunity to leverage AI so that it frees up a teacher’s time. The A.I. can help with lesson plans, the A.I. can help with grading work, and free up the teacher so the teacher can be creative, the teacher can be more supportive to their students.
Differentiating factors
Fortune: Why would you encourage someone to take one of these Cisco certification programs or training, versus going back to school or to a tech bootcamp? What are the added benefits?
Quintana: So first and foremost, you do have the affordability factor. Everything we offer through the Networking Academy is available free of charge free of charge to the academic institutions that we work with, or free of charge to a consumer that will come directly to us through Skills for All. Now schools do charge tuition, so I will state that but considering that this the work that we do is anchored in our social responsibility and in our purpose, to power an inclusive future for all.
Some bootcamps are targeted at individuals that already have IT skills or a basic level of understanding. It might require that you already know Python or that you already have some knowledge of technology. We attract learners that are technology curious, they might not even know yet what they want to do. So this is why we offer exploratory courses, introductory courses.
I believe a couple of critical things differentiate us: we provide a mobile-first experience. When you take our instructor-led courses through one of our academies, or you come directly to our platform, and you take them self paced. Why? Because we want to provide that flexibility so that you can access the curriculum anytime, anywhere.
We’re using technology to attract an individual and retain their interest in a course. So we incorporate gamification, so that you now earn achievement points as you’re going through the curriculum as a way to encourage you. Having something be fun while you’re doing it, and especially in light of, you know, the digital natives that we have around us that, you know, that becomes really important.
Fortune: Why should prospective students get involved or seek a tech certification?
Quintana: The future requires that everyone have technology skills, and the Networking Academy is a place where they can come that’s affordable. And it’s accessible for them to learn—anywhere from introductory skills, whether that be an individual that might need to start with digital literacy, or an individual that already knows some tech but is curious and can go into cybersecurity or networking or programming. We have a proven track record of helping individuals progress through our curriculum so that they can acquire the skills that lead to in demand jobs.
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