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Representatives from Barrick, Cisco, and Great Basin College sign a collaborative learning agreement to officially bring the Networking Academy at the High Tech Career Center at Great Basin College in Elko on Thursday, April 20, 2017.
ELKO, Nevada — To revolutionize mining through digital integration and prepare the workforce of the future, Barrick, Cisco, and Great Basin College announced a partnership that will bring digital and information technology skills development courses, free of charge, to groups in the community.
The IT education program from Cisco Networking Academy at GBC will feature both online and instructor-led courses. This unique partnership will benefit Barrick employees and their families, veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, members of the Western Shoshone tribe, and thousands of others in Barrick’s rural host communities in Northern Nevada including Elko, Eureka, Carlin, Battle Mountain, Winnemucca, and Owyhee.
Speaking from Great Basin College High Tech Center on Thursday morning, speakers shared their thoughts on the importance of this partnership.
Great Basin College president Dr. Mark Curtis, from left, Cisco corporate social responsibility manager John Bjerke and Barrick USA executive director Nigel Bain pose with the signed collaborative learning agreement of the Networking Academy at the High Tech Career Center at Great Basin College in Elko on Thursday, April 20, 2017.
“Collaboration has always been at the heart of the partnership between Barrick and Cisco, and working together with Great Basin College to bring this program to our employees and the wider community underscores the importance we put on training our workforce and helping promote further education in the local community,” said Michael Brown, President of Barrick USA. “This is a critical step in our digital transformation and innovation strategy, to ensure we are building a sustainable, skilled workforce to support our business in the future. In doing so we will also support the continued expansion and diversification of the economy of rural Nevada and the state as a whole.”
“Offering Cisco courses for GBC networking students will not only significantly enhance their coursework, but they will also be better prepared to meet the region’s workforce demands,” said Dr. Mark Curtis, President Great Basin College.
“Cisco is pleased to partner with Barrick and Great Basin College to bring our digital learning program to this part of Nevada, to strengthen the workforce with digital skills and improve economic options for individuals and communities,” said Greg Prynn, Senior Director, Cisco Corporate Affairs.
Barrick’s investment of nearly $400,000 over three years of the program covers hardware, software, instructor training, instructor salary and course fees.
Barrick plans to expand the U.S. program to every community where the Company operates including in Argentina, Canada, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Peru, and Zambia.
Great Basin College student Kyle Bell, son of a Barrick employee, speaks about his interest in the Networking Academy and the opportunities it presents for Great Basin College students at the High Tech Career Center at Great Basin College in Elko on Thursday, April 20, 2017.
Information on the Courses
The Networking Academy covers all ranges of training, from exploratory courses aimed at those who are curious about technology fields, to foundational courses for those ready to acquire skills and certification, to advanced networking and programming courses for those ready for advancement in a technology career.
The courses initially being offered are non-credit courses for those interested in exploring career opportunities in technology or creating a technology-related business. Students may register for these GBC Continuing Education courses at www.campusce.net/gbcnv/category/category.aspx. The additional courses to be offered beginning in Sept. 2017 can lead to industry-recognized certification and can be taken for 3-4 credits at GBC. Students who are interested in taking for-credit courses at GBC, can register at www.gbcnv.edu/admissions.
| Self-paced / online courses | Instructor-led / online course | |||||||
| Overview | More than 10 introductory / exploratory courses for people considering a career in technology or starting a technology-related business. | More than 20 advanced courses to prepare for certification and/or meet the requirements for a 2- or 4-yr technology degree to begin or advance in a technology career. | ||||||
| Requirements | No prerequisites; courses take between 2-20 hours to complete. | IT / network literate; time in virtual classroom; courses take between 70-200 hours. | ||||||
| Availability | April 20, 2017 and runs indefinitely. | Begins in September 2017. | ||||||
| Recognition | Participants receive a certificate of completion from GBC in basic knowledge in digital technology subjects. | Participants gain credits toward Cisco and industry-recognized certifications in IT / networking and advanced knowledge in digital technology. College credit for 2 and 4 year degree programs is also available. |
About Barrick Gold Corporation
Barrick is the world’s leading gold producer, with operations on four continents. The company operates three gold mines in Nevada, providing more than 4,000 of the state’s highest-paying jobs. Barrick is the state’s largest foreign investor and is also Nevada’s largest exporter. Barrick and its employees are active supporters of causes in education, conservation, the arts and other local community organizations in both Northern and Southern Nevada. In partnership with other Nevada businesses, Barrick has taken a leadership role in working to establish best practices and promote corporate giving in Nevada through the Nevada Corporate Giving Council.
About Great Basin College
Great Basin College is a regionally accredited comprehensive residential college, offering certificate, associate and baccalaureate level education. Meeting and sustaining workforce needs is at the forefront of its strategies as it continues to fulfill its mission to serve rural Nevada. The main campus is located in Elko, Nevada. Branch locations are located in Battle Mountain, Ely, Pahrump and Winnemucca, as well as over a dozen satellite facilities across the state. A pioneer in distance education, as well as online delivery, GBC is now offering 30 certificate and degree programs that are available completely online.
