Role of Turkish Informatics Foundation

TIF Academy: TIF aims to improve the level of ICT expertise in Turkey. In doing so, TIF also supports successful e-learning based methods. Within this project, Cisco Networking Academy Program is supported and coordinated. As an active academy, develop and execute educational projects around NetAcad program in Turkey. Increase the number of instructors and students, and work with Cisco Systems to implement educational projects that targeting several interest groups such as gender oriented programs, economically disadvantaged, or physically disabled students.

Role of UNDP Turkey Branch

UNDP Turkey will join the project as a sponsor. UNDP will also support the project by offering monitoring and evaluation services. With the presence of UNDP Turkey, the visibility of the project will improve both in public view, as well as within the government.

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to worldwide and national development challenges.

UNDP Turkey works for Democratic Governance and Growth without Poverty. For more than 50 years the UNDP in Turkey has worked in close partnership with the Turkish government and numerous national and international institutions, including NGOs, academics and the business community.

UNDP supports Turkey’s ambitious reform agenda where EU accession figures prominently. UNDP Turkey works with the Government, civil society and the private sector to find practical solutions to Turkey’s Development challenges and manages projects to address them.

Role of Youth for Habitat

Youth Association for Habitat works with an aim to increase youth awareness for sustainable development and livable environment; youth participation in decision making; to develop partnerships among youth; to enable youth to establish partnerships with the governments, local authorities and the private sector; to follow up and increase the participation of youth in international youth related events of the European Union, Council of Europe and United Nations; to improve networking among youth groups; to develop training programs and to enable youth to access information.

The organization facilitates the youth work of the Local Agenda 21 (LA21) National Program of Turkey and coordinates different long term projects such as the South Eastern Anatolia Social Development Project for Youth, Empowerment of Youth for E-Transformation of Turkey and Life Plus Youth Fund.

LA 21 is an important local democratization project of Turkey. The overall objective of the program is to strengthen local governance by ensuring that the civil society participates in decision-making in planning and influences local investments to meet priorities. With the scope of LA 21, local youth platforms have been established in 74 provinces through out the country. These platforms raise awareness on youth related issues, encourage youth participation in decision-making and create an inclusive platform for people of different backgrounds to come together and share common values.

Role of Cisco Systems Turkey

Cisco strives to be a good citizen worldwide. Cisco’s culture drives the company to set high standards for corporate integrity and to give back by using their resources for a positive global impact. Cisco pursues a strong "triple bottom line" which is described as profits, people and presence. Profits are one traditional and valuable metric which helps measure our financial performance. People are equally important. Strong, mutually beneficial relationships with partners, customers, shareholders and the people who work for, with and near Cisco are essential to Cisco’s business. The third bottom line – presence – measures Cisco’s standing in, respect for and contribution to global and local communities. Cisco believes companies with strong triple bottom lines are the most sustainable, responsible and successful.

Role of Istanbul Technical University, Center of Information Technologies

ITU’s vision is to become a national and international focal point of pioneering studies in the fields of science, technology, social sciences, and the arts. As a higher education and research institution dedicated to the advancement of basic and applied sciences, ITU’s mission is to educate the technological leaders and entrepreneurs of the future in a rich intellectual environment sensitive to both local and global issues.

ITU/CIT is the main body responsible for the management, improvement, and renovation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) at the ITU. ITU/CIT delivers e-mail, web, database, data warehousing, network and application services to more than 3 000 academic staff and 18 000 students. It has three main departments; network management, system management and application development, along with Help Desk. ITU/CIT is Cisco Regional Academy since the year of 2000 and has more than 4 000 graduates form different levels.

ITU/CIT serves as provider of instructors’ education of CCNA 1 through 4 and ITE 1 modules of Cisco Networking Academy Program. It tries to put all its energy in making volunteer instructors ready for the peer education when they graduate. ITU/CIT also provides web hosting and software development services of Mediterranean Youth Movement in Turkey.