Through Strategic Partnership; Cisco and Prince Sultan University launch the First of its Kind in the World “Cisco NetVersity” Riyadh

• Demand for networking skills in Saudi Arabia will exceed supply by 33 per cent in 2009 and there will be a shortage of more than 33,900 skilled people

• First of its kind in the world, Cisco NetVersity reinforces e-learning projects in the Kingdom through enabling the trainees to complete their training courses online

Riyadh, November xx, 2007- Cisco Systems, the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate, and Prince Sultan University (PSU) today has announced the formal launch of Cisco NetVersity initiative in Riyadh. The partnership aims at transferring the global networking expertise and knowledge to the Kingdom and qualifying the Saudi youth to address the growing demand for the networking experts in the local market. The new Netversity will be the first of its kind launched by Cisco in the World.

Signing the new partnership comes within executing Cisco’s SR 1-billion investment initiative announced in April 2006.

Commenting on the new agreement, Dr. Badr bin Hamoud Al-Badr, General Director, Cisco Saudi Arabia, said, "The launch of Cisco NetVersity in Riyadh deepens Cisco's commitment to developing the local CIT sector through bringing the global networking expertise and knowledge into the

Kingdom and supporting educational and training institutions in the delivery of high-caliber graduates required for such strategic industry".

"The new agreement comes parallel to the economical boom the Kingdom is currently witnessing and the strategic initiatives of the Saudi government to establish an advanced knowledge society", Al_Badr added.

Under the agreement, Cisco will provide educational and training courses and curriculums to qualify high-ranked university graduates to acquire the business and technical skills necessary for competing in the networking market. Cisco plans to hire the trainees after completing their training courses.

Dr. Ahmed Yamani, Rector of PSU, said, "We are very pleased to sign this strategic partnership with Cisco. We will work together to provide our country with highly qualified graduates who can take the responsibilities of developing the local CIT sector and putting the Kingdom among the major global players in this indispensable industry. This partnership with Cisco comes as a result of blessing and support from HRH Prince Salman bin AbdulAziz the Governer of Riyadh Region, and the Chairman of the Board of Riyadh Philanthrophic Society, and also under the patronage of HH Prince Dr. AbdulAziz bin Mohammed bin Ayaf AlMuqren the Mayor of Riyadh Region and the chairman of PSU Board of Trustees".

“PSU”, Dr. Yamani added, “will provide all facilities and logistics required for Cisco NetVersity including fully furnished classrooms and labs that CISCO will provide the necessary networking equipment for. Additionally, PSU will dedicate highly qualified instructors for the NetVersity Program”.

Among the strategic objectives of Cisco NetVersity in Saudi Arabia is addressing the shortages in skilled networking professionals in the Kingdom. According to a report on the demand for Networking Skills in the Middle East, part of a series from International Data Corporation IDC that was announced in June 2006, demand for networking skills in Saudi Arabia will exceed supply by 33 per cent in 2009 and there will be a shortage of more than 33,900 skilled people required to drive the economic growth.

Omar Shaban, Director of Operations, Cisco NetVersity, said, "The NetVersity will use the most advanced methods in education and training and provide high-caliber instructors from PSU along with experts and consultants from Cisco and its partners in Saudi Arabia".

Cisco NetVersity will, Shaban explained, reinforce e-learning projects in the Kingdom through enabling the trainees to complete part of their training courses online, in addition to classroom and on-the-job training.

Cisco NetVersity is the most advanced educational and training initiatives Cisco is carrying out in the Kingdom. In addition, Cisco is establishing over 100 Networking Academies to provide enhanced technical programs in concert with leading local universities. There are currently 95 networking academies across Saudi Arabia, with over 3200 enrolled students.

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Cisco, (NASDAQ: CSCO), is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate.

Cisco, Cisco Systems, and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. This document is Cisco Public Information.


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