Cisco announces first team of GTAP graduates

BANGALORE, INDIA: Cisco, a provider in networking solutions, today announced that it has marked the graduation of its first batch of students from its Indian Global Talent Acceleration Program (GTAP) held in Bangalore last week.

The GTAP launched in October 2008, is part of an ongoing investment in the region aimed at developing next-generation local network consulting engineers for the company.

The 13 graduates hail from the inaugural class of associate network consulting engineers, said a press release.

John Livingston, program director, GTAP, said, “The graduation of the first cohort of GTAP students in India is a milestone for Cisco in our efforts to create skilled local staff and provide our customers and partners with improved direct support.”

He added that by increasing the pool of skilled and certified associate and professional engineers, the program would enable the company to offer better services to its customers in India as well as in wider Asia Pacific region.

The GTAP program is accelerating rapidly across the globe and now boasts three facilities: the Jordan initiative (launched in November 2007); the Johannesburg facility, the ‘hub’ for programs in emerging Africa; and the newest facility in Bangalore, the release said.