CATC Highlight - Addressing the Needs Of Students Throughout the Academy Experience

At the French CATC or AFPA, work is never complete. AFPA, the National Association for the Vocational Training of Adults, became a CATC for Networking Academies in France in April, 2004. Since that time, Paul Perez and the AFPA community have worked to forge partnerships with Cisco France and Randstad, one of the largest staffing agencies in France, for job placement of their graduates. Paul Perez and the other staff of AFPA work to address the needs of their students throughout the cycle of the Academy experience.

Currently AFPA leads the project for the translation of the new CCNA Discovery and Exploration curricula into French. It has been shown that students understand a significantly higher percentage of information when they learn in their native language. Therefore, AFPA has made translation their highest priority and are committed to excellence in the project. The translation project also serves to strengthen their relationship with Cisco. At this time, translations are complete for CCNA Discovery: Networking for Home and Small Businesses, CCNA Discovery: Working at a Small-to-Medium Business or ISP, CCNA Exploration: Network Fundamentals, and CCNA Exploration: Routing Protocols and Concepts. Translations for the remaining CCNA Discovery and Exploration courses will be available in June, 2008.

AFPA continues to enjoy a long established relationship with Cisco and Academy staff as well as their local Cisco France office. Together, Cisco France staff and the CATC staff of AFPA create unique programs for the recruitment and retention of females in the program. Female participation in IT has traditionally been very low in European countries. Through a targeted effort by Cisco France and AFPA, the classroom experience becomes enriched for both the male and female students. Diversity of all kinds has been embraced and Paul Perez values the contribution to the classroom experience made by students from different backgrounds and perspectives.

Additionally AFPA’s partnership with Randstad addresses the needs of students once they have completed their classroom experience. Maintaining strong relationships with companies like Randstad not only allows AFPA’s students to pursue clear paths upon graduation, but also helps to communicate the value of the Networking Academy curricula and hands-on experience as it applies to the job market.

AFPA’s work in these areas extends to all the classrooms of the French Academies. The partnerships for gender inclusion, job placement, and work with translation are shared during annual meetings that AFPA hosts. This year, in January, AFPA hosted a conference in Paris to revitalize relationships and brainstorm plans for what is sure to be a successful year ahead for both the instructors and students of the French speaking community of the Academy.

Learn more about the work of AFPA through their website: http://www.tertiaire.afpa.fr/Cisco/

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