There isn’t a denying that the digital capabilities of any nation, enterprise, or entity considerably impression its competitiveness on the world stage or within the international market. Leveraging safe digital applied sciences permits organizations to enhance effectivity and productiveness, reply to market calls for sooner, and innovate successfully. Nevertheless, with no expert workforce—whether or not it’s primary IT expertise or extra superior competence in AI, cybersecurity, or networking—the total potential of these digital capabilities won’t ever be totally realized.
The Cisco 2024 AI Readiness Index highlights the extent of the problem: solely 9% of EU companies are assured of their workforce’s expertise, in comparison with 21% in the US. This hole alerts an pressing want for strategic funding in digital expertise growth—a driving motive for my go to to Brussels this week to interact policymakers, thought leaders, and different stakeholders.
AI and cybersecurity will not be merely technological buzzwords; they’re transformative forces reshaping societies and economies. And the digital expertise that energy AI and cybersecurity options would be the basis for the EU to thrive on this new digital age.
In March 2023, Cisco pledged to help the EU Cybersecurity Expertise Academy and practice 250,000 individuals throughout Europe in cybersecurity over three years. I’m proud to share that we’ve already surpassed this goal—coaching over 280,000 people with greater than six months remaining.
At Cisco, our dedication to up-skilling and reskilling has been long-standing. We now have been actively engaged in shaping the way forward for digital training by way of our Networking Academy—one of many longest-running skills-to-jobs applications globally. Within the EU alone, the Cisco Networking Academy has reached over 3.2 million learners—with greater than 620,000 reaching industry-recognized certifications, positioning them as aggressive gamers within the international expertise community.
By providing tech training by way of strong public-private partnerships, high-quality curriculum, and inclusive workforce growth applications, we will create a sturdy pipeline of AI and cybersecurity expertise within the workforce whereas additionally addressing the abilities hole.
Seeking to the longer term, we’re excited to launch our new Digital Consciousness programs, that are aligned with the EU’s Digital Competence Framework for Residents (DigComp). These programs, accessible to all European residents no matter their digital literacy, cowl important subjects like primary cyber hygiene and resilient practices with related gadgets. The preliminary programs can be found now, with extra launching in February 2025.
We’ve additionally not too long ago launched an introduction course to Trendy AI. Within the new 12 months, we’ll current two free AI programs to construct foundational data in AI in addition to discover subjects like generative AI and its utility throughout varied IT roles. And, as Europe transitions in the direction of reindustrialization and strengthens its strategic autonomy, our Industrial Networking and Cybersecurity programs are making ready the workforce to deal with the challenges and seize the alternatives of Trade 4.0.
In a world the place AI and cybersecurity are integral to day by day life, closing the digital expertise hole is extra crucial than ever. As Europe seeks to steer within the AI period, these expertise will allow people to entry new alternatives and permit companies to thrive in a constantly evolving market.
At Cisco, we’re steadfast in our dedication to making sure everybody can contribute to and profit from the digital economic system—no matter their start line. By means of initiatives just like the AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium and our Networking Academy—in addition to our work with governments world wide to advance digital expertise insurance policies—we’re paving the best way for a Twenty first-century workforce that may deal with the challenges of the longer term with confidence and competence.
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