Ready for a career change ? Kick start it with the library and Cisco NetAcad qualifications. Manchester Libraries now offer access to the free Cisco Networking Academy courses for library customers.
Following on from an introduction to Neil MacInnes, MCC Head of Service at a EU Public Libraries 2020 meeting in Brussels, Manchester Libraries and Cisco began an exciting pilot partnership. The Cisco Networking Academy courses are IT industry standard qualifications that are designed to help students develop technical mastery and build critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
The courses are provided by Cisco and others at no cost, to address the shortage of skilled and qualified staff in the IT sector. Libraries bring two key offers to the pilot; a large, diverse and loyal customer base, and a trusted position as a venue for informal learning. The goal of the pilot project is for the partnership could be rolled out to libraries across UK.
There are two types of course on the Cisco Networking Academy website; instructor-led and self-paced. There are also courses set at three levels of capability; beginning, intermediate and advanced.
Given libraries’ excellence in providing informal learning opportunities we decided to offer six self-paced courses at beginner level
Get Connected
Introduction to the Internet of Things
Introduction to Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Essentials
Entrepreneurship
Introduction to Packet Tracer
Although the courses offered are beginner level in terms of IT industry qualifications, they do require a certain level of ability and confidence in the learner, so from a library point of view (where a beginner may be looking to take the very first steps in using a computer) we consider them to be some of the most advanced IT learning opportunities we provide access to. In this way these courses broaden the range of IT learning courses that Manchester offers.
For beginners
One-to-one support, learnmyway.com, job clubs, silver surfer sessions, code clubs
Intermediate
Drop-in sessions/courses provided by education provider partners
Advanced
Cisco Networking Academy courses, BIPC business skills sessions, music/arts development sessions
Access to the courses is through the Manchester Libraries website. Simply search Google for ‘Manchester Libraries’ and ‘Cisco’ to easily find the page.
We promoted the pilot through late December and early January with an email update to library members, and a social media campaign which comprised of daily tweets highlighting the courses to anyone looking to gain some IT industry standard qualifications, or who was simply thinking about changing career. During February we have switched focus, to concentrate on promoting the opportunity to customers in our libraries using traditional printed media, which also helps to maintain awareness and buy-in for library staff.
Uptake has been really encouraging in the two months of the pilot so far – the month to mid-January saw 54 enrolments to courses, and the following month to mid-February saw 90. The most popular course is Introduction to Cybersecurity, which has attracted almost half the number of enrolments.
A number of other library services, including Norfolk and Liverpool have now joined as Cisco Net Acads.