Cisco networking academy set up

The agreement will benefit AUD students through the integration of the latest advances in enterprise system technologies in the networking concentration courses or through the eventual creation of professional electives. It will also allow AUD to set up an entire state-of-the-art computer networking lab.

Dr Khalid Khawaja, Chair of IT Department, AUD, said: "AUD allows its undergraduate students the unique opportunity of specialising in one of the key enterprise computing areas, which includes networking, database and applications development for business and eCommerce. We are happy to be associated with a renowned company as Cisco, one of the world leaders in computer networking technology."

The academy programme will require training and certification of AUD's networking faculty members, while providing them access to the Cisco training material, guides and simulation tools.

Commenting on the vital role of UAE University, the regional Cisco Networking Academy, in implementing this agreement with Cisco, Dr. Khawaja added: "We are pleased and excited to have the opportunity to establish this work relationship with UAE University in Al Ain. AUD always welcomes these academic collaborations which can only enhance the total educational programme."

"As a Cisco regional academy, hosted under the College of Information Technology of the UAE University, we are dedicated to serve the academic community in the UAE at large by providing best in class training programmes for our Cisco local academies in the GCC. The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) programme, through extensive hands-on exercises, helps bridge the gap between what is being taught in the class room and what is being implemented in today's era of computer networks," said Dr Khaled Shuaib, Director of the UAE University-Cisco Regional Networking Academy.