Cisco Networking AcademyBe the Bridge Awards celebrate the incredible things our education partners have made possible and their achievements every Cisco financial quarter.

I'm thrilled to publicly announce the partners who made an impact on our six-person global judging panel for this Cisco financial quarter (Q1) of financial year 2022 (FY22).

Help us celebrate Cisco Networking Academy's Be the Bridge Awardrecipients; twelve partners from around the world who embody the true spirit of our mission: to build an inclusive future for all!

The last 18 months have required heroic efforts by our education partners, Academy Support Centers, and Instructor Training Center partners.

So, it's particularly timely-and an honor-to announce the following Be the Bridge Award winners. Each has demonstrated a commitment to Networking Academy that reflects the true mission of our program. Each has sought out new ways to grow expertise among our instructor base or cast a wider-and more diverse-net toward student enrollment.

Please join me in congratulating these amazing partners!

Let us all be inspired by their contributions.

Institution Awards

TAFE NSW -Lidcombe, Meadowbank, and Glendale

Region: ANZ/ASEAN

Recognized for:Fostering loyalty, incredible volunteerism, and professionalism by instructors; endorsing IT Essentials as a core offering within the Australian Certificate IV in Information Technology; ensuring the right skills transfer to regional instructors remotely (at odd hours); and running strategic instructor training for big regional universities while bringing in new territories.

International Youth Foundation (IYF)

Region: LATAM

Recognized for:Unleashing opportunities for young, low-income students from technical vocational schools in Mexico, IYF identified an opportunity to work with CONALEP, the largest technical vocational system in Mexico. After identifying a gap in vocational orientation towards IT/Networking opportunities, they used Networking Academy, together with their own vocational program, and funds from other foundations, to invest in building skills sustainably while creating better economic opportunities for the community.

NIIT Foundation

Region: India/SAARC

Recognized for:Supporting diverse communities and experiencing significant growth in career courses. Highlights include: establishing a Networking Academy service model pilot offering CCT programs to underserved institutions in rural parts of India; executing their first Skill-a-Thon bringing in students to career and CCT courses; and, starting a unique campaign empowering adults in custody and LGBTQIA+ communities.

American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC)

Region: US and Canada

Recognized for:Providing training opportunities for ITE, CCNA 1, and Cybersecurity to 74 participants in 22 locations and 11 states. Opportunities led to summer camps working with high schools and potentially starting classes with higher education tribal colleges. But their biggest achievement was upskilling their IT staff - and keeping these employees at the college because it can be hard to recruit IT staff due to their remote locations with high IT salaries elsewhere.

Individual Awards

Keith Davis, Camden Dream Center

Region: US and Canada

Recognized for:He applied to be an intermediary with the US Department of Labor, which introduced two approved apprenticeship programs. Programs utilize Networking Academy's curriculum and positions the Camden Dream Center as a conduit between employers and academies who are interested in apprenticeship opportunities. And the opportunity continues to foster collaboration and the building of new relationships.

Yuliya Tanasyuk, Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University

Serhii Martsenko, Ternopil University

Anatolii Chepynoha, Cherkasy State Technological University

Region: Visegr