DIFC Academy, the education platform of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial hub in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region, recently announced a collaboration with Cisco to facilitate access for DIFC employees and the wider community to the Cisco Networking Academy (NA) – one of the longest running skills-to-jobs programs worldwide.
Industry sources added that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between DIFC Academy and Cisco, a global leader in IT and networking, paves the way for a comprehensive talent development program (TDP) focused on building a digitally skilled workforce in the UAE.
For the initial time in the entire Middle Eastern region, the DIFC community will have access to unmatched opportunities for professional development and upskilling in areas that are fundamental in the digital economy, including cybersecurity, programming, data science, networking, and AI. Cisco Networking Academy’s blended teaching approach allows for tailored learning experiences that are inclusive, accessible, and meet the specific needs of the DIFC community.
Alya Al Zarouni, Chief Operating Officer at DIFC Authority, stated: “Mastering networking, cybersecurity, IoT, cloud tech, programming, and automation is crucial in finance. Our collaboration with Cisco’s Networking Academy provides professionals with a diverse skill set, enhancing their ability to navigate the ever-evolving tech landscape in financial services. By incorporating Cisco Networking Academy courses, DIFC reinforces its position as a global financial hub, fostering career advancement and bolstering Dubai’s reputation as a premier business destination.”
Abdelilah Nejjari, Managing Director for the Gulf region at Cisco, stated: “Cisco Networking Academy is a powerful force for change. We are pleased to collaborate with DIFC Academy to offer high-quality training across multiple technology domains that will place learners at the forefront of innovation while equipping them with in-demand skills. By combining our expertise with DIFC Academy’s commitment to talent development, we can effectively drive digital transformation and help meet the UAE’s vision for a digitized future.”
Industry sources further added that DIFC Academy has fulfilled the learning requirements of the financial services industry by providing an accessible platform for top-ranked educational institutes, to deliver professional development certifications and higher education courses for a total number of 32,000 graduates since inception.
Industry sources further affirmed that for the last 26 years, Cisco Networking Academy has been empowering individuals globally with the knowledge and skills that are necessary to participate in the digital economy. Since the inception of the Cisco Networking Academy in the UAE, Cisco has trained more than 105,000 learners, with a strong female participation rate of 49 percent. In the 2022–2023 academic year alone, more than 12,000 students were trained across 38 academies in the country.
