By Foilagi Maua - Faamau
Head of Department – Computing
Legal Main Contact/CISCO Instructor
CISCO NETWORKING ACADEMY – National University of Samoa
National University of Samoa CISCO Networking
Academy was originally set up in 2002
I have been with the CISCO Networking
Academy for 10 years now
2 years as a CCNA student
8 years as a CISCO instructor
NUS CISCO Networking Academy started off
with 5 CCNA instructors
2 new instructors for ITE were added to restart
the academy in 2007.
These instructors were trained and certified
from the Box Hill Institute – Melbourne
Australia
Another 2 instructors for ITE were added to
our CISCO teaching staff in 2008
They were trained at the Tongan Institute
under the ITU program for ICT capacity
building in Samoa
CCNA Discovery 1 and 2 instructor training at
the National University of Samoa in 2009
(5 certified)
CCNA Discovery 3 and 4 instructor training at
the University of Technology Sydney (2
certified)
In total, there are only 3 instructors
running the operation now at NUS
Instructor training needed for more
instructors
Originally NUS CISCO Academy could offer
only CCNA in 2002 - 2005
Then the emphasis shifted to IT Essential
in 2007
CCNA Discovery 1 and 2 in 2009
CCNA Discovery 1, 2, 3 and 4 in 2013 - now
Our clientele varies from:
Working people
Current students
School Leavers
(secondary school/certificate/diploma
holders)
Most students are males
Very few females are enrolled in our
CISCO classes (less than 30 overall)
Most students are from the Apia area
BUT there are a few who come from
rural areas of Upolu.
Most if not all students who graduate from
CISCO programs find employment after
especially the IT Essential program.
Most students are hired as IT Technicians
and they will continue to study at CCNA
level.
Students are hired by the private sectors,
government, industry, financial institutions
and others
We have students who have travelled
overseas via the quota system and got
accepted because of their CISCO
qualification
We have students who are now
undertaking scholarship training
overseas to further their studies and
gain formal qualifications in the area of
ICT and IS.
Resources
(Equipment, Financial and Staff)
Time Constraints
(Commitment from staff and
university)
Internet
Seeing students finding employment
after CISCO especially the
school/university leavers
Creating a “sense of belonging” for
those who cannot afford/meet the
requirements to attend higher
education
Making a contribution to the wider community
in the field of ICT
NUS to offer all ICT certifications and
to establish a centre of ICT trainings in
Samoa.
This can be possible through:
Realignment of NUS strategies
Government support
Private sponsorship
Perhaps the Global family of CISCO
Networking Academy
Faafetai lava
Thank you