A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation with 35 Model Software Colleges was signed today between Cisco Systems and China's Ministry of Education.

Under the MOU, Cisco will provide the 35 national Model Software Colleges–those recognized by the ministry–with its widely recognized Cisco Networking Academy(R) Program, including all the electronic courses, supplementary teaching materials, program support, professional certifications and instructor training, which will add up to a total value of US$37.7 million, with each software college hosting an estimated 200 students within the effective period of the MOU.

China's Ministry of Education and State Development Planning Commission initiated the Model Software College project in 2001 with the joint approval of 35 experimental software colleges, aiming to meet the urgent demand for China's developing software industry as well as to cultivate internationally competitive professionals in both networking and software technologies.