Globally recognised academic qualifications are required to meet the demand for qualified professionals in the multi-media industry, the Minister for Education and Science, Mr al Martin, said yesterday.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony for 13 students who recently completed a 38-week course in the design, construction and maintenance of Internet-based networks, Mr Martin said growth in the development of multi-media systems had outpaced the supply of suitable workers.

The students graduated from the Cisco Networking Academy Programme at the Computer Network Institute in Dublin.

Cisco Systems, the US Internet networking specialist, established a similar programme at the Cork Institute of Technology last January.