Cisco Systems and Lapa Rios Ecolodge are the winners of the U.S. State Department's 2005 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE), which is given to outstanding U.S.-owned firms operating overseas.
 
Cisco Systems was chosen for its “unprecedented contribution to education in Jordan,” said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who presented the awards at a ceremony on November 2, 2005. Cisco Systems has worked with King Abdullah and other public and private partners to develop the Jordan Education Initiative (JEI), which uses online technology and is “revolutionizing how teachers are trained, how subjects are taught, and how students are prepared for the future,” the Secretary said.

The Lapa Rios Ecolodge in Costa Rica won the award in the small-medium enterprise category. The Lodge focuses on eco-tourism and employs about 50 people. Secretary Rice said the Lodge is “a model of environmental stewardship and enlightened corporate leadership.” 

Cisco's Jordan Education Initiative

Cisco works with its JEI partners, including business, government, international organizations and community organizations, to prepare program graduates for a broad range of networking and IT related jobs in the public and private sectors, as well as continuing education in engineering, computer science and related fields. The program also helps ensure students are prepared for the demands of the workplace and motivated to continue their education and learning.

The company is also building an internet network to link together 100 primary and secondary schools, called the Discovery Schools, and to connect them to universities and community centers and research institutions around the country. By next year Cisco hopes to unite 1.5 million students across Jordan.
 
In accepting the award, Cisco CEO John Chambers promised that the program will be replicated. "We're already moving into Palestine, into Egypt, into Israel and to India."
 
Recently, Cisco also announced the "21S"initiative, a long-term education initiative for rebuilding schools in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast region of United States. The first phase of 21S begins in Mississippi with the Mississippi Education Initiative. More information on 21S and the MEI can be found at http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2005/hd_102505.html

The JEI and the MEI were born out of the online education experience gleaned from Cisco's Networking Academy program which was launched in 1997. The Cisco Network Academy Program delivers web-based content, online assessment, student performance tracking, hands-on-labs, instructor training and support, and preparation for industry standard certifications. From the beginning Cisco placed special emphasis on bringing the program to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. For more information on the Networking Academy program visit www.cisco.com/edu/academy.

Finalists Included Five Center Members

The ACE, established by the State Department in 1999, recognizes the important role U.S. businesses play abroad as good corporate citizens.

A selection committee comprising senior Department of State and other governmental officials makes its determination of each year’s winners based on the following criteria:

• Good corporate citizenship
• Exemplary employment practices
• Provision for a safe and healthy workplace
• Responsible environmental protection and practices
• Contribution to overall growth and development of the local economy
• Compatibility/contribution to local science and technology
• Compliance with U.S., international and local laws

In 2005, a record number of 60 companies were nominated by U.S. ambassadors around the world in recognition of the role U.S. businesses play to advance good corporate governance and democratic principles.

The two winners were chosen from a list of 10 finalists, which included Center members Merck in China, United Parcel Service in China, General Electric in Hungary, Ford Motor Company in India, and Intel in Malaysia

Other nominees were American Standard in Bulgaria, Chevron in Indonesia, and Johnson Controls in Mexico. 

Additional information on the ACE is available at the State Department's web site.