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Friday, November 21, 2008
Tech Citizenship
Cisco touts 10 years of science, technology, engineering and math ed
By Mass High Tech Staff
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At Cisco Systems Inc., the company is celebrating the 10th year of one of its major efforts to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education — not only locally but around the globe.
A decade ago, Cisco launched the Cisco Networking Academy, an e-learning program that teaches networking and technology skills and bring underserved communities across the digital divide. The academy operates in more than 160 countries and has served more than 2 million students.
Closer to home, Rich Power, community relations manager for New England, says Cisco has kept that education focus as it helps ready students for STEM careers. “Step one in doing that is to prepare students for the upcoming STEM-focused standardized tests for schools throughout Massachusetts,” Power said.
Not all of Cisco’s efforts are focused on education, however. The company is also a major backer of organizations focused on hunger relief, both around the world and locally. Among the local groups it supports is the New Hampshire Food Bank, and Project Bread, the Bay State-based agency behind the Walk for Hunger.
As a global networking technology giant, Cisco has a well-planned and structured philanthropy system in place under its Corporate Social Responsibility program. But that doesn’t mean smaller companies have to be that organized to give back, Power said.
“I would seek out their peers that already have a long-standing history of giving back to the community,” he said. “There is a tremendous network of corporations that feel strongly about giving back.”
Citizenship Facts
Cisco Systems Inc.
Total cash contributions in New England in 2007: $1,043,215
Number of volunteer hours in New England in 2007: 3,590
In-kind contributions of equipment and services in New England in 2007: $396,549
Principal recipients of charitable activities in 2007: Boston Cares; Museum of Science, Boston; New Hampshire Food Bank; LifeLines India; Partnership for Lebanon
Interesting philanthropic activities: Cisco is helping to create a global model for learning (the 21st Century Schools Initiative); bring low-cost communication to farmers in rural India (the LifeLines India project); help the Lebanese people rrecover from war (Partnership for Lebanon); and provide access to network-based educational resources in 15 African countries (New Partnership for Africa’s Development).
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