Press Release
Cisco and USAID-SENADA Launch Internship Program to Encourage Small Business to Adopt Information Technology
Jakarta |
Thursday, November 20, 2008
JAKARTA, 24 November , 2008 – Cisco, the information technology giant, and SENADA, a USAID-funded project that focuses on developing light manufacturing industries in Indonesia, launched a unique internship program today that encourages the adoption of Information Communication Technology (ICT) among small and medium enterprise (SMEs) in Indonesia to increase their competitiveness. SMEs are key engines of growth for Indonesia’s economy.
This effort will allow 100 students from four universities that participate in the Cisco Networking Academy Program to complete a six-month industrial attachment program in 100 SMEs representing Indonesia’s footwear, home furnishings, auto parts and garment industries. Cisco and SENADA staff will provide additional training mentorship for the students throughout the internship period. At the end of the attachment, each student is expected to submit an ICT roadmap for his/her host company on how to drive growth by utilizing ICT. Awards are planned for the best three ICT roadmaps.
USAID is investing US$25,000 in each of the four participating universities to ensure the Industrial Attachment Program is institutionalized locally and available to students annually in the future.
“ICT can help SMEs compete globally, even with large and sophisticated companies, but most SME owners are still not aware of its potential benefits. This industrial attachment program is an effective way to harness the enthusiasm and talent of university students in the Cisco Networking Academy Program for the benefit of SMEs,” said SENADA’s Project Director Steve Smith.
Sandy Walsh, Regional Manager, Education Program and Corporate Social Responsibility, Asia Pacific Cisco Systems, added: This collaboration with SENADA and USAID will enable our program to be more relevant to the industry, especially in the SME segment which represents a very important component of the Indonesian economy.”
Before starting their assignments, the 100 students will attend a 4-day “boot camp” where Cisco and SENADA staff will deliver technology and business skills training. Two months and four months into the training, respectively, the students together with representatives from their host companies, will attend additional 3-day workshops to ensure that the internships are progressing in the right direction. A final workshop will be held at the conclusion of the six-month period.
“Many SMEs are afraid of technology because they think it is too difficult. It actually isn’t, and we think the students will do a good job of helping them to bridge the gap,” said Irfan Setiaputra, managing director, Cisco Indonesia.
About SENADA
SENADA is a four-year project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Started in September 2005, the objective of SENADA is to generate growth, jobs and income by increasing the competitiveness of Indonesia’s major labor intensive light manufacturing industries. SENADA focuses on five industries: footwear, home furnishing, auto parts, garments and information and communications technology (ICT). For more information, go to: http://www.senada.or.id.
About USAID
The U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent U.S. agency that supports long-term and equitable economic growth and advances U.S. foreign policy objectives around the world by supporting economic growth, agriculture and trade, global health, democracy, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance. For more information, go to: http://www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/.
About Cisco
Cisco, (NASDAQ: CSCO), is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com. Cisco products are supplied in Indonesia by Cisco Systems International, BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc.