Starting out with experience - the Cisco way

Business Connection, leading IT specialists and consultants, is actively addressing the skills shortage in the IT sector by promoting Cisco certification. In January, the company employed the top three Cisco students to come out of the ISSA (Institute of Satellite and Software Applications), formerly called Houwteq, post-graduate course. The students have since added to their CCNA (Cisco Certified Networking Associate) qualification with a CCNP (Cisco Certified Networking Professional).

Walter Matemane, Johannes Phago and Daniel Sedibeng are the first in the ISSA graduating class to achieve the CCNP. Phago has since passed the CCIE (Cisco Certified Internet-Networking Expert) qualification with flying colours, with Matemane and Sedibeng due to complete the course by early 2001.

Says Bill Weber of Cisco Systems South Africa, "The determination with which Business Connection tackles a vision is why we value them as a partner. It didn`t take much for them to grasp the importance of the ISSA program as one method of addressing the skills shortage in SA, as well as positioning them as an important part of the ever growing presence of Cisco globally".

"This will make these 3 young South Africans Cisco Certified Consultants, adding to the already impressive range of skills offered by Business Connection," enthuses Isaac Mophatlane, COO and co-founder of Business Connection. The company selected Cisco as one of its strategic strengths and has undertaken to enhance the local skills levels in this field, especially in relation to previously disadvantaged communities. Statistics project that by 2003 there will be a 63% shortfall in skilled and specialised IT professionals.

Matemane, Phago and Sedibeng are currently employed on key customer sites for Business Connection and are showing their skill with the hands-on training received through the Cisco Networking Academies. "We aim to school our students in both the technology/academic arenas, but most importantly by giving them hands-on exposure with the latest equipment and software," comments Carl Hendricks, the man charged with establishing Cisco Networking Academies throughout South Africa. There are currently 15 such academies in South Africa, with some 800 local students undergoing both introductory and advanced training in Cisco.

Cisco South Africa has provided the 'laboratory kits` for each regional training centre, ensuring that students are exposed to the very latest trends and equipment. "There are more than 140 000 Cisco students world-wide and we aim to ensure that our South African students are provided with training that is on a par with the best in the world," adds Hendricks.

According to Business Connection`s Johannes Phago, the high levels of practical tuition received have enabled himself and fellow students to be up to speed from day one. "It is like starting out with year`s of experience!" comments Phago confidently. It has also reaffirmed that specialist skills ensure students of employment. Many students leaving University with a BSc degree remain unemployed in their field.

"This type of training is part of our ongoing business philosophy and commitment to remaining at the forefront of our industry. By schooling and investing in further training of our employees, especially those previously denied access to advanced IT skills, we have put our money where our mouth is - for the benefit of our customers and our business in the long term," reiterates Mophatlane.