European Get Online Week 2016 | Page 9

THE SPONSORS Liberty Global continued its commitment to sponsor Get Online Week 2016. This year, Cisco has stepped in to partner and support the campaign while Microsoft helped a part of national partners in local activities. Liberty Global has committed to supporting GOW and has been doing so each year since 2011. The new partnership with Cisco supported the national partners to tackle digital inclusion by teaching local communities basic IT knowledge using Networking Academy courses (www.netacad. com). As a leading international cable operator, connecting as many people as possible to the digital world is a business opportunity as well as a responsibility. Bridging the ‘digital divide’, one of the core elements of Liberty Global’s Corporate Responsibility strategy, is about giving people the skills and confidence they need to get the most out of digital technologies. Cisco’s Networking Academies are present around the world, in 170 countries with 250,000 students. Cisco’s Networking Academies work with nonprofits and train their staff to deliver the courses. For telecentres, relevant courses include the Get Connected Course (basic), IT essentials (IT technician) and Internet of things (no prior knowledge required). Liberty Global supported GOW 2016 through YouRock.jobs, an employability-networking tool which helps young people to create their online portfolios and get in touch with interested employers. 9