International Girls in ICT Day
The 2020 Global Gender Gap Report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) revealed it will take 135.6 years to close the gap worldwide.
Cisco is celebrating International Girls in ICT Day on 24 April 2025 with a global Learn-A-Thon, to motivate girls and women to consider science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) education and careers.
You can speed up gender parity by taking part in the Learn-A-Thon. But be quick, the Learn-A-Thon is capped at 500 instructors.
To participate in the Learn-a-Thon, please read the terms and conditions and then register your course here.
Note: if you are creating multiple classes for this competition, each individual class must be registered separately.
To help educators get started, additional details are available in this overview video and these resources.
The Girls in ICT Learn-A-Thon
Length of Learn-A-Thon
Participate in the Learn-A-Thon from April 24th until May 15th, 2025
6-hour self-paced intro courses
Explore AI, data analysis, cyber trends, threats and staying safe in cyberspace. Multiple activities and quizzes engage students and reinforce learning.
Introduction to Cybersecurity
Introduction to Data Science
Introduction to Modern AI
Benefits
Teaches entry-level AI, data science, cybersecurity concepts and topics, including security principles, network security and endpoint security concepts, threat intelligence, vulnerability assessment and risk management, and incident handling
Free to join & the benefits are many!
The cost to join the Learn-A-Thon is free but by taking part, you will be equipping women (and men) with new-age skills to bridge the skills gap and grow a global workforce with in-demand skills.
Boost Careers with In-demand Skills
Some of the top in-demand skills of 2025 are AI, Data Science and Cybersecurity! Take part in the Learn-A-Thon and be seen as a leader in education and graduate employability!
Participant Level
Beginner.
Incentives for students to join the Learn-A-Thon
Incentives for students to join the Learn-A-Thon
Students who participate in the Learn-A-Thon and pass the Introduction to Data Science or Introduction to Cybersecurity course exams with a 70% or above on any attempt will be awarded a Cisco Introduction to Data Science or a Cisco Introduction to Cybersecurity digital badge. Students that participate in the Learn-A-Thon will receive a Cisco Learn-A-Thon experience digital badge.
A Cisco digital badge is an emblem distinguishing an achievement that can be shared and validated digitally on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Xing, resumes, college applications, email signatures, via Email, shared link; embed code into web page or blog.
Timeline
6th March 2025
Registration Opens
23rd April 2025
Registration Closes
24th April 2025
Learn-A-Thon Begins
15th May 2025
Learn-A-Thon Concludes
30th May 2025
Winners announced
30th June 2025
Learn-A-Thon Experience badges issued to students who participated in the Learn-A-Thon
Incentives for students to join the Learn-A-Thon
Prizes will be awarded to the following categories as stated below:
Instructors
1st, 2nd, 3rd Place
Top 10 Cisco Academy Instructors with the most student participants will win prizes and a certificate of recognition.
Academies
1st, 2nd, 3rd Place
Top 3 Cisco Academies (awarded to the NetAcad contact) with the most student participants will receive a certificate of recognition.
ASC
1st Place
Top 3 Academy Support Centers (ASC) (awarded to the NetAcad contact) with the most student participants will receive a certificate of recognition.
How to join the Girls in ICT Day Learn-A-Thon
1
Host a 3-week class for your Cisco Academy.
2
Create the eligible course page on the netacad.com platform, using the following naming convention when setting up the course: #GICT2025
3
Register your class on the Learn-A-Thon website to participate; At registration, you must provide the correct course name and class ID.
4
The class ID is the self-enroll link or course URL link from the Invite Learners tab once the course has been created. We will use the course name and class ID to track your student participants.
5
Qualifying student participants are students that launch, interact, and complete course activities.
6
Enroll students and/or share the link to the eligible courses on netacad.com. Please encourage students to complete the course and earn the digital badge. All students who complete and pass the course with a 70% or higher will earn a digital badge to share on social media platforms.
7
All students who complete and pass the qualifying courses with a 70% or higher will earn a digital badge to share on social media platforms.
8
Have the most unique students participate in your registered courses and you’ll be in the running to win some great prizes.
Registration
Register here to join this friendly competition and compete for Cisco prizes by hosting a three-week Learn-A-Thon from 24 April until 15 May 2025.
Promotion
Download these files to promote Learn-A-Thon in your academy.
Infographic
Pull up banner
eDM Banner
Microsite Banner
Poster
Social media