In today’s world, safety of people and things will be rooted in digital trust, with cybersecurity and data privacy at the core. Currently, the demand for cybersecurity talent is outpacing supply, and this is a problem in multiple new areas of technology where the landscape is changing swiftly. According to NASSCOM, demand for cybersecurity talent is expected to increase fivefold over the next four years in India. We will need 1 million people to join the cybersecurity domain; with the changing spectrum of industries, we need nothing less than a skilling revolution to fulfill India’s digital talent need.
In an effort to make skilling a national priority and transform India into a digital talent hub, Cisco, AICTE, and NASSCOM FutureSkills PRIME launched the Virtual Internship Program (VIP) to provide 20,000 online internships opportunities in cybersecurity through Cisco Networking Academy.
Each year, approximately 1.2 million students look for a meaningful internship opportunity with one of India’s 3,000 engineering institutions. But there aren’t enough internships for everyone. Furthermore, with our world under pressure from the global pandemic and social unrest, this gap has widened.
Bridging the gap
Cisco Networking Academy offers the Virtual Internship Program to second- and third-year engineering students to bridge the gap between industry and academia. This is the first time in India where the virtual internship model is being piloted at scale in a collaboration between industry and government for 20,000 students. Virtual internships make it possible to offer experiential learning opportunities to more students.
This program redefines experiential learning gained during an internship. In a conventional internship model, students gain knowledge and skills and then work on a problem statement to gain hands-on experience with the guidance of an industry professional.
The VIP is an attempt to virtualize the traditional internship model and allow scalability during this challenging climate. In the current pilot:
- Students gained cybersecurity knowledge and skills by completing Cisco Networking Academy courses like Introduction of Cybersecurity and Cybersecurity Essentials.
- Next, students learned to use the powerful network simulation tool – Packet Tracer.
- After completing the courses, industry experts and Cisco leaders covered topics from enabling a global skillset to careers in cybersecurity.
- Accredited Networking Academy instructors trained faculty members from participating institutions to act as local mentors.
- With the guidance of the local mentor at the institution, shortlisted students worked on a project to design a secure network for their institution.
Helping students learn the significance of security
Kohila, an instructor at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham who helped to coordinate more than 35 academies with more than 3,800 students for the VIP shared, “This internship paved the way for understanding the significance of security to the students. They not only completed the theoretical exam, they completed some lab activities, Packet Tracer activities, then finally a project in Packet Tracer along with a presentation explaining their thoughts regarding securing their campus network.”
The government and the higher education community of India enthusiastically supported this program. We received 26,051 applications from 31 states and union territories, out of which 19,830 students were shortlisted for the program, and 12,835 students successfully completed the program. During the live broadcast industry session, 22,000 students and instructors participated, with approximately 7,500+ engaging in our live polls and Q&A sessions.
The Cisco India team was delighted with the results of this collaborative effort. The Cisco Networking Academy team wishes to thank Cisco Secure, India Sales, Architecture Sales, Government Affairs, Marketing and Communications, CX, and University Recruiting. Working alongside our Networking Academy partners – Amrita, Amity, EduSkills, NIIT Foundation, ICT Academy, TASK and NTTF – the Cisco teams delivered an outstanding program for our India interns.
This Virtual Internship Programs improves the situation at a specific bottleneck in digital skills education – the shortage of internship positions. The combination of self paced online learning courses and presentations from experts offer a deep inside perspective to cybersecurity topics. Well done, NetAcad team India!
Thanks Carsten!
Great way to improve the skills, and develop hands on practical experience and get job-ready. Was wondering if Cisco has something similar in west Africa sub region
Thanks Patrick, this initiative was piloted in India in partnership with Government of India. You may reach out to Alfie (alhamid@cisco.com) to explore possibilities in Africa.
I would like to join virtual internship programme from Pakistan. Any option?
From Pakistan, no any such option is there
Thanks Bilal, this initiative was piloted in India only as of now in partnership with Government of India.
I want to attend from Bangladesh. Is there any chance here for me?
How to apply..?
Thanks Md. Ashraf, this initiative was piloted in India only as of now in partnership with Government of India. You may reach out to local academies in Bangladesh to explore current program for you countries. Academies can be located by using this link – https://www.netacad.com/portal/netacad_academy_search?academy_type=ca
how can i join this virtual intership?
Thanks Jyoti, applications for 2021 program is now closed and for next year announcement will come in early 2022. Please keep a watch on our Cisco India and Cisco Networking Academy social handles.
Can a 1st year btech student apply for this internship?
Hi, applications for 2021 program were only for 2nd and 3rd year engineering students. For next year, program announcement will come in early 2022. Please keep a watch at our Cisco India and Cisco Networking Academy social handles.
We’d love to hear from you
Ok
How can I join INTERNSHIP
But How to join internship ?
What’s the procedure after conforming subscription mail ?
how to join
It’s great opportunity for learn new skills and gain experience for improving my future path.
How i shall get link or course details?
Cisco is a great platform and offers great opportunities for Indian students. Thanks, Cisco
How can I join this internship?
Any links, for applying
How can I join in internship program
How i get apply link for this virtual internship program…
How to apply…?
LINK?
It’s great opportunity for learn new skills and gain experience for improving my future path.
Good Morning Sir/Mam
First of all thank you for giving me this opportunity to introduce myself . My name is Md Danish . I am basically from Bihar . I did My BSc IT from A N college Patna (Bihar ) and after that I have completed my MCA From VKSU Ara( Bihar) and I belong to a nuclear family and my strength is I am self motivated, hard working and a disciplined person . My short term goal is to get a job in a reputed company and my long term goal is to achieve a good position where I can build my career and help the organization too, My hobbies are listening to music , cooking and reading books . That’s all about me . Here I am attaching my resume with this email, so kindly find it and provide me an opportunity to work in your company.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
MD DANISH
I want the join this Internship .
I WANT TO JOIN INTERNSHIP
I did love to join the internship as it will help me to gain knowledge and skills in order to move forward in my career
After subscribing to the Cisco CSR, what would be the next step to apply for this virtual internship?
I would like to join the internship! And I’m from Hyderabad.
i am from India , Odisha and i want to attain this
I would like to join this program from INDIA .
ANY OPPORTUNITIES ? Please let me know.
I Would like to join VIP from Bangladesh
Great way to improve the skills, and develop hands on practical experience and get job-ready. Was wondering if Cisco has something similar in west Africa sub region
How to apply I am unable to find the apply link please anyone can share It would be great help
Thankyou
Hi, applications for 2021 program is now closed and for next year announcement will come in early 2022. Please keep a watch at our Cisco India and Cisco Networking Academy social handles.
Can you , please provide the link for registration, ?
I would like to do internship from India
Want to join
I also want to join
Cisco is the best platform of learning , skilling, and network service provider as Global Leader. May advance it in India using it core platform to achieve the state of art .
How to enroll-in and when will it start ? kindly reply.
What to do when institute’s name is not there in the list?