CyberLearning.org- Press Clippings

Press Clippings

"CEO Interview with Dr. Appu Kuttan," Washington Business Journal, August 13, 1999

Dr. Appu Kuttan is founder and president of CyberLearning Universe, an Alexandria-based nonprofit organization that provides information technology training.

Why is CyberLearning Universe offering 120 scholarships every quarter for computer training?

To address the serious "digital divide" problem of the under-representation of lower income individuals, especially women and minorities, in the IT field. Women, African-Americans and Hispanics constitute only 12 percent, 7.2 percent and 3.6 percent of the IT workforce respectively.

Cyberlearning's 75 percent to 100 percent graduation rate is much higher than the national average.

Our graduates in A+, MCSE, etc., have an opportunity to earn good wages with our IT partners such as BTG, Computer Science Corporation, and Lockheed Martin.

How did tennis star Monica Seles get involved in the programs?

When Monica was 12, I gave her a full scholarship to train at the famous Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy owned by me. When I told Monica about the need to provide IT training scholarships to lower-income individuals, Monica enthusiastically offered to help.

You've set a goal of training 100,000 disadvantaged youths in the next 10 years. Is that realistic?

Yes, it is formidable yet doable. Most adults will be trained through instructor-led on-site and online courses.

We trained over 6,000 students in 15 innercities through a CyberEd program.
White House support, we are starting an after-school mentoring program in the nation's poor inner-city and rural middle schools. We assist in providing mentors and online course materials for a year-long web-based fun IT project. Successful students will participate in a 5K CyberRace simulcast on the internet. Microsoft and other sponsors will give gift certificates.

We are looking for local and national sponsors.

What led you to found CyberLearing Universe?

I was profoundly affected from a young age by Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teressa. In 1992, with my son, Roger, I wrote a paper for the White House advocating urgent measures to address the serious digital divide problem affecting disadvantaged children and lower-income adults. I founded Cyberlearning Universe in 1994.