Lecturer and erstwhile Cisco Networking Academy student Dr Kapilan Radhakrishnan on how the programme helps him train tomorrow’s technology experts.
About University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD)
University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) was formed in 2010, following the merger of the University of Wales Lampeter and Trinity University College Carmarthen, with Swansea Metropolitan University joining the fold in 2013.
UWTSD’s main campuses are in Carmarthen Lampeter and Swansea, with satellite bases in Birmingham and London. A dual sector university, the UWTSD prospectus caters for both vocational and academic students.
Like all education providers, UWTSD is committed to changing lives through education. And for the university’s School of Applied Computing, Cisco’s Networking Academy plays a significant role in both training students and equipping them with the best possible employment chances post-graduation.
About Cisco Networking Academy – effective digital skills training for the workplace
Cisco’s Networking Academy is a global not-for-profit education programme. Launched in 1997 to address digital skills gaps, to date Cisco academies have trained more than 9,000,000 students in digital skills across 180 countries. In the UK, Networking Academy collaborates with schools, colleges, universities, libraries and apprenticeship training providers. It also operates in less traditional training environments such as prisons and homeless shelters, all with the aim of skills enhancement and improved digital literacy.
Past, present… and future
Dr Kapilan Radhakrishnan Principle Lecturer and Programme Director (Computer Networks and Cyber Security), knows Networking Academy well, being a former student himself.
And not only is he living proof of how Networking Academy enhances career success, but he also now uses Networking Academy to teach his own Computing students. Having experienced Networking Academy from both perspectives, Kapilan explains what he thinks makes it so effective.
“Networking Academy delivers industry-standard technology courses at the perfect level for university course study. Around 150-200 of our students are currently registered with Networking Academy, with different pathways for each individual student. The programmes we use are:
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
- Cyber Security
- Python and C Programming.”
Enhancing education and employment prospects
“Not only does Networking Academy offer a fantastic choice of high-quality courses,” he continues, “but it also combines traditional learning with practical experience, giving students direct access to relevant hardware and applications including routers, switches and Packet Tracer.”
Packet Tracer is a network simulation and visualisation tool, where students can explore network environments and build their own simulation networks.
“This hands-on element is a vital component of the Networking Academy offering and our students’ training. Importantly, it means that by the time our students leave university, they are ‘job ready’ and able to be a fully functioning member of an IT team,” explains Kapilan. “This gives them a great advantage, making them highly employable. And this is partly why so many of our students have already secured jobs prior to graduating.
“It also helps boost their confidence and self-belief.”
Competitive streak
Self-belief was certainly in abundance when USWDT students George Searle and Paul Lawrence - together with recent USWDT graduate Lawrence Edwards - put themselves through their paces by entering the 2018 WorldSkills UK LIVE competition. Having successfully made it through the Welsh rounds, George, Paul and Lawrence found themselves competing in the finals at the NEC in Birmingham against learners from all over the UK – in front of a daunting 70,000 strong audience.
For USWDT it was an equally important occasion, marking the first time the university had been represented in this prestigious event. In addition, George, Paul and Lawrence were the only participants representing Welsh universities.
BSc Computing students (in Computer Networks and Cyber Security) George and Paul have studied the CCNA programme as part of their degree studies, under Kapilan’s tuition. Both reached the Network Infrastructure Technician category final. Meanwhile Lawrence, who gained a first-class degree in Sport and Exercise Science (Personal Training) in 2018, reached the finals in the Fitness Trainer: Personal Trainer category.
“All three students worked incredibly hard and were rewarded by reaching the UK finals,” says Kapilan, “and to see two School of Applied Computing students taking part in this event was an especially proud moment for our faculty.
“The competition was an extremely difficult and challenging – and all three had to work under exceptionally nerve-racking conditions, which made George’s gold medal win an incredible achievement.
“Keeping to a strict training programme with very tight deadlines helped George and Paul prepare for the finals, where they had just two hours to carry out some extremely complex challenges. I have no doubt that Networking Academy’s extensive training and hands-on experience played a key role in their success, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and hand-on experience needed, while also helping them cope in a high-pressure environment.”
A successful future ahead
Gold medal winner George will soon begin a graduate training scheme with BT. With his working life about to start, how does he think Networking Academy has helped him succeed, both competitively and in terms of his career aspirations?
“To make the final and win a gold medal was amazing. It meant all my hard work paid off. The final was nerve-wracking – but I just got on with it and applied the skills and knowledge I had learnt through my degree course.
“UWTSD has given me a fantastic start and the close link with Cisco was an important factor for me. The support I’ve had from Kapilan has been incredible. He was there to guide and help me all the way. Now, I’m looking forward to starting my career with BT.”
The full UWTSD press release is available here.
For university students like George, the offer of employment from BT prior to graduating, demonstrates that traditional teaching combined with the online materials, courses and support offered by Networking Academy helps transform students into highly employable members of the workforce.
Finding tomorrow’s computing experts
While Kapilan will now be looking forward to next year’s intake of new students to his faculty, he is also keen to support much younger students; along with other UWSTD staff, he works with local with schools, inspiring tomorrow’s digital under-graduates and helping address the digital skills gap.
His final words?
“As a former student who benefited from Networking Academy myself, it is important for me help pass on what I have learnt, and to offer our students access to the highest standards of education. Networking Academy’s combination of relevant courses and hands-on training is helping us achieve these aims.”
Find out more about the competition and successes by reading the UWTSD press release, and learn more about Networking Academy.