Cisco today announced a $21 million initiative to train Australian students in tech skills.
Under the new AUSTEM 2020, the networking vendor will partner with schools and higher-education institutions to put 100,000 students through the Cisco Networking Academy program over the next half decade.
One fifth of Cisco's Australian staff will also be providing 20 hours each of mentoring to secondary and tertiary students, and 500 students will participate in the Cisco Live Melbourne 2015 Student Summit, the vendor said.
In addition, the program will have a competent designed to connect students nearing the end of their education to ICT jobs.
Cisco said it would also have programs to specifically encourage young women to take up IT roles.
"The Australian economy is in transition, and there has never been a more important time to invest in the programs that will equip students with the skills they need to secure the jobs of the future," Cisco A/NZ vice-president, Ken Boal, said in a statement.
"Science and innovation are recognised internationally as key for boosting productivity, creating more and better jobs, enhancing competitiveness and growing our economy."