Cisco has announced that its Networking Academy has won the prestigious eINDIA 2011 jury choice award for the “Best ICT Enabled Skills Development Initiative”. The award was conferred on Cisco Networking Academy in recognition of its efforts toward enabling students to develop valuable information, communications & technology skills for increased access to opportunities in the global economy.

Speaking on the occasion, Bina Raj-Debur, Regional Head, Social Innovation Group, India & South Asia, said, “We are proud to receive this prestigious award. It is testimony to the continued efforts of the Networking Academy program to make a positive difference to the skills-building efforts of the nation and the communities we live and operate in.”

The jury that selected Networking Academy comprised 14 highly distinguished academicians and bureaucrats. Cisco was adjudged the winner from amongst hundreds of nominations in the government & private sectors, educational institutions and NGOs.

Cisco Networking Academy is one of the largest technical development initiatives by an IT MNC in India showing Cisco’s commitment to developing the IT workforce. It was launched in 1997 in the US Currently; there are 204 Active Cisco Networking Academies in India, across 24 states & union territories with 22,929 Active Students, 30% of which are women students. Overall these academies have impacted 63,503 students since the program inception in India.