Page Updated: 12-Nov-2007
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SILK Network Academies Alliance

Networking Infrastructure Grant - NIG 982517

Period 2006-2008 Co-Directors Dr. Jacek Gajewski Warsaw, Poland gajewski@ceenet.org Dr. Samir Aliverdibekov Baku, Azerbaijan saliverdibekov@noc. aznet.org Key links Establishment of Networking Academies Virtual Silk Highway

This Networking Infrastructure Grant (NIG), which is part of the educational layer that is being integrated into the Virtual Silk Highway network, establishes a computer networking academy in each of the SILK countries (including Afghanistan) where it does not exist yet, and upgrades the laboratory equipment of the existing academies. The computer networking academy offers a comprehensive e-learning programme to teach ICT skills to students and future network engineers.

Most of the SILK countries’ NREN (National Research and Education Network), i.e. the principal organisation for delivering global and local networking services to the academic community, run their own Network Training Centres offering the so-called Networking Academy Programme (developed by Cisco Systems), which is a comprehensive e-learning programme providing students with the Internet technology skills essential in a global economy. However, there is need to provide further training in applications for network security, given the risk of attacks to which computers and data networks are exposed.

Responding to these trends, the Networking Academy Programme has developed courses which are offered free of charge. Additionally, Cisco offers the laboratory equipment needed for this training at a special educational price, or if it is refurbished equipment it is offered at a symbolic price of transportation. All the courses combine hands-on experience, instructor-led lectures and a web-based curriculum for students. The main courses are:

Not all the SILK countries have a Network Training Centre, and even those who do don’t have all the equipment and properly trained instructors needed to run all those courses. They are thus presently not able to train experts in those fields.

This NIG upgrades the laboratory equipment of the long-established, well-performing academies, and creates academies in the SILK countries where they do not exist yet. In addition, the project provides necessary instructors training.

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