Examples of ICT use at the tertiary level
APDIP Cisco Networking Academies
The Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP) established an innovative partnership with Cisco Systems through the Networking Academy Programme, an institutionalised education project which provides students in Asia-Pacific countries with an up-to-date, two-year IT curricula and international certification to meet the training demands and the opportunities created by the global information economy. The programme runs in countries where access to specialised training does not exist, or in states within larger countries that are marginalised or underdeveloped. To date, 17 academies have been set up within tertiary learning institutions in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, India (x2), Nepal, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka.
A complete, four-semester programme on the principles and practice of designing, building, and maintaining computer and Internet networks is offered. After completion of the course, students can acquire an internationally recognised certification through a globally administered exam. While students that obtain final certification are expected to find high-paid employment, students in many Academies are employed even before they obtain certification, given the shortage of technical expertise in this sector in many countries. It is expected that the increase in national skill levels will contribute to other sectors as well, including e-commerce, trade and communication-related activities.