University News Last updated 24 February
Birmingham City University (BCU) has once again been recognised as a global leader in digital skills education, securing the Cisco Networking Academy Premier+ Partner Award for the seventh consecutive year.
Presented by Cisco Networking Academy, the award places BCU among the top 5% of partners worldwide - a standout achievement from a network of more than 12,200 academies and 31,300 instructors across 195 countries.
As one of just 10 Cisco Instructor Training Centres in the UK, BCU plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of tech talent.
The University supports more than 80 schools, colleges, universities and not-for-profit organisations in the UK and internationally, training instructors, strengthening academies, and delivering industry-aligned education directly to its students.
Through its strong industry partnerships with the likes of Cisco, BCU embeds cutting-edge networking, cybersecurity and programming expertise into its curriculum.
Students gain unlimited access to professional-grade software tools, technical training, and more than 2,000 hours of specialist learning content.
With Cisco now having a base at STEAMhouse, students also benefit from direct access to industry experts right on campus, bridging the gap between education and enterprise.
Associate Professor Ron Austin said: “This achievement reflects the sustained commitment, expertise and professionalism of our entire team, particularly senior lecturers Richard Smith and Phill Harris.
“Their dedication to delivering high-quality education and consistently raising standards is the foundation of this continued success.”
Pictured (from left): Par Merat (Vice President of Learning and Certifications, Cisco), Chris Reeves (Vice President – Digital Impact Office, Cisco), Richard Smith (Senior Lecturer, BCU), Ron Austin (Associate Professor, BCU), Armand Leblois (Senior Regional Manager Europe, Cisco), and Agostino Santoni (Senior Vice President South Europe, Cisco).