Dakota State joins Cisco Networking Academy

January 23, 2025

Dakota State University is now a Cisco Network Academy certified campus.

When fully operational later this year, this partnership will benefit everyone involved in the technology industry by offering free skills-to-jobs curriculum and experiences that support learners at any stage of their career, said Dr. Pat Engebretson, an associate professor in The Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Sciences. This will help meet the skilled workforce needs in this high-demand field.

Because Cisco is an industry giant with a well-known product that is utilized globally, this collaboration will provide a huge benefit for faculty and students to draw from Cisco's resources, he explained.

"The Cisco Networking Academy will provide faculty with a free resource for students who want to delve deeper into a topic, or explore a concept not covered in a specific class," Engebretson said.

The Cisco content aligns closely with DSU's cutting-edge curriculum, so it is a good opportunity for students looking to learn something extra, he said. Cisco also monitors the latest trends in the industry, so as new or emerging topics become more prominent, the academy includes modules or content relevant to those changes.

"The academy provides all these additional opportunities for our students at no cost, so it will be a huge benefit for those who are looking for something more specific to industry," he said.

The academy also offers industry certification options, which is a huge opportunity for interested students, Engebretson said.

These certifications can demonstrate foundational networking knowledge and are recognized by employers in the IT industry. In addition to their Dakota State degree, "our graduates can significantly enhance their job prospects with these, especially if they are looking to enter the networking field or advancing their career within it," he stated.

The courses combine technical concepts with interactive media and hands-on activities to prepare students for several certification exams including the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA®) Routing and Switching exam.

The Cisco Networking Academy certificate of specialization (CS) covers key networking concepts, from Cisco applications to supporting protocols and services. Students gain networking, security, and IT skills, preparing them for Cisco certifications and boosting their tech career prospects. DSU students will receive a discount on the cost of certification testing if they complete specific requirements of a certification.

The academy partnership is a result of a university leadership's talks with Cisco about collaboration opportunities.

"I give credit to the administration for making the initial contact with Cisco, and helping to develop a relationship that will ultimately benefit our students and the larger workforce," Engebretson said.