What is PLAN-IT?
The PLAN-IT resource was created for Academies in Least Developed Countries (LDC) to promote the sustainability of the Cisco Networking Academy Program. The PLAN-IT model consists of three toolkits: Gender Initiative, Workforce Development, and Financial Sustainability. These components represent topics of concern for Academies within the LDC Initiative. These toolkits provide materials to help Academies design action plans for success, including program templates, suggested guidelines and models, sample letters and surveys, best practices, research materials, and handouts. The PLAN-IT toolkits are not intended to represent a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, they can be adapted as necessary. We encourage Academies to create tailored programs that reflect the conditions under which they operate. In collaboration with our partners, we will provide quarterly updates to the toolkits based on input and lessons from the field. The LDC Initiative and PLAN-ITCisco and the Cisco Learning Institute developed the PLAN-IT program with help from partners and Academies within the LDC Initiative. The LDC Initiative was introduced in July 2000 to provide opportunities for IT training in LDCs. Following the G8 Summit in 2000, Cisco joined the United Nations Development Program, the US Agency for International Development Leland Initiative, and the United Nations Volunteers in announcing the formation of this strategic partnership to help train students in LDCs for jobs in networking. The addition of the International Telecommunication Union in 2002 and the U.S. Peace Corps in 2003 signaled more support for the initiative. The goal of these partnerships has been to help participating countries accelerate progress, attain sustainable development, and fully integrate into the global economy. Since its inception, the LDC Initiative has helped extend the Networking Academy program to 40 of the 50 least developed countries plus 11 developing countries. Through the initiative, more than 7300 students have graduated from the four-semester CCNA curriculum and more than 12,000 students are currently enrolled - with female students constituting approximately 27 percent of enrollment. As a result of this progress, PLAN-IT was developed as a tool for growth and sustainability within newly emerging IT industry markets. AcknowledgementsAn extensive team of experts participated in the creation of the PLAN-IT toolkits. Cisco and the Cisco Learning Institute sponsored the toolkits, which were built and promoted through the support of the Academies and partners participating in the LDC Initiative:
Learn more about the LDC Initiative and partnerships that support Academies in developing countries. We appreciate your comments and suggestions for improving the PLAN-IT toolkits. Please share your successes and best practices as you integrate PLAN-IT at your Academies. For additional questions regarding the PLAN-IT Toolkits, contact your Area Academy Manager (AAM). |
 |
Guest