(Image credit: Getty Images) Cisco has unveiled plans to provide free training to 1.5 million people across the EU as part of a major digital skills drive. The courses, to be provided through the Cisco Networking Academy, will focus on essential skills such as digital awareness, cybersecurity , data science, IoT , and AI. The plan also includes training for 5,000 teachers to help them provide both vocational education and training, with modules focusing specifically on platform usability, curriculum alignment, and teaching strategy development. "Cisco is committed to supporting the EU and our education partners in developing the talent essential for thriving in an AI-driven future,” said Cisco chair and CEO Chuck Robbins . "This new initiative strengthens our partnership to build a resilient and skilled workforce ready to meet Europe’s digital transformation and AI objectives." The training for educators will include courses on AI, from basic to intermediate levels, as well as AI’s impact on cybersecurity , networking, and other IT jobs. Some of this will involve existing courses offered by Cisco, which will run alongside newly-customized courses focused on AI. Meanwhile, another set of modules is designed to equip workers with skills related to the digital transformation, […]