CISCO training program introduced to USQ

USQ students will be given access to a leading industry based training program with the introduction of courses from the CISCO Networking Academies.

CISCO, which is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, will integrate course materials into Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) majors at USQ from Semester one this year.

'The key course that we will be introducing CISCO course materials into is Computer Communication and Internetworking,' USQ Senior Lecturer and CISCO Development Co-ordinator Dr Yan Li said.

'Students who complete the CISCO course will enhance their job prospects in a leading industry immediately after graduation, thus we are looking to attract more students to study BIT programs, especially the Networking major.'

With the introduction of the CISCO course, a special lab has been set up at the University, with Dr Li and USQ Associate Lecturer David Lai spearheading the effort to make the courses available.

'USQ has been very supportive of this program and as such we have been able to set up a lab where the courses will be run,' she said.

'To make this happen I successfully obtained $80,000 from the Vice-Chancellor's Discretionary Fund via a USQ Strategic Development Fund application and with assistance from staff in Sciences and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) we are ready for students in Semester one.'

Course co-ordinators are also looking at the possibility of presenting Short Course Professional Development workshops for industry professionals in the future.

'This would be delivered via this USQ CISCO Academies to the Toowoomba and South East Queensland IT community,' Dr Li said.

Mathematics and Computing Head of Department Associate Professor Ron Addie was also keen to see the courses up and running and said that students would reap the benefits.

'This is a great opportunity to work with industry more closely and with the most important networking company in the world,' he said.

'It will also make those who take part in it job ready and will help them fit into the workplace upon graduation.'

A seminar is planned to introduce the new features of the USQ Networking major on Wednesday February 28 from 2 to 3pm in D303, with those interested in the course encouraged to visit www.sci.usq.edu.au/courses/csc3407/

Media Contact: Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1628, 0403 643 192