Curriculum - Next Hop Ireland

Program Structure

Four comprehensive phases designed to build your expertise progressively

Emerald Network Engineer Program (ENEP)

The flagship course of Next Hop Ireland

ENEP is the flagship course of the Next Hop Ireland initiative — the engine that will turn our vision into reality.

This intensive, year-long program is designed to prepare participants for real-world success in network engineering, combining technical mastery with the professional skills employers value most.

Through ENEP, students will progress from foundational networking concepts to advanced topics in routing, switching, automation, security, and large-scale infrastructure design. Each learning path is reinforced with hands-on labs, applied research projects, and collaborative problem-solving sessions.

Our approach goes beyond theory — ENEP mirrors the challenges, decisions, and workflows of professional network engineers. By the end of the program, graduates won't just "know" networking; they will have practiced it, solved real-world scenarios, and developed the confidence to thrive in demanding environments.

This course is driven by community and built for Ireland, with a curriculum shaped to meet the needs of both learners and the organisations that depend on their skills.

Phase 1

Network Fundamentals

Months 1-3

Build a solid foundation in networking concepts, protocols, and technologies that underpin all modern networks.

OSI & TCP/IP Models

Understanding the seven layers and how data flows through networks

IP Addressing & Subnetting

IPv4/IPv6 addressing, CIDR notation, and subnet design

Ethernet & LAN Technologies

Collision domains, broadcast domains, and modern LAN standards

Basic Routing & Switching

How packets are forwarded and how switches learn MAC addresses

Network Protocols

ARP, DHCP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, and other essential protocols

Network Tools & Commands

ping, traceroute, netstat, Wireshark, and troubleshooting basics

Phase 2

Core Technologies

Months 4-6

Dive deep into routing protocols, advanced switching, and network design principles used in enterprise environments.

Dynamic Routing Protocols

OSPF, EIGRP, BGP fundamentals and configuration

VLANs & Inter-VLAN Routing

VLAN design, trunking, STP, and Layer 3 switching

WAN Technologies

MPLS/Segment Routing, VPN fundamentals, and WAN optimization

Network Design Principles

Hierarchical design, Metro and DC topologies, redundancy, and scalability planning

Quality of Service (QoS)

Traffic classification, marking, queuing, policing, and shaping

High Availability

HSRP, VRRP, GLBP, redundancy protocols, and failover mechanisms

Phase 3

Advanced Topics

Months 7-9

Master advanced networking concepts including security, wireless technologies, and modern network automation.

Network Security

Firewalls, ACLs, VPNs, and security best practices

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi standards, controller vs. autonomous APs, and design

Network Automation

Python scripting, APIs, SDN concepts, and automation tools

Cloud Networking

Public cloud networking, hybrid connectivity, and services

IPv6 Implementation

IPv6 addressing, transition mechanisms, and deployment strategies

Network Monitoring

SNMP, NetFlow, syslog, and network monitoring tools

Phase 4

Professional Practice

Months 10-12

Apply your knowledge through real-world projects, advanced troubleshooting scenarios, and career preparation.

Capstone Project

Design and implement a complete network solution

Troubleshooting Methodology

Systematic approaches to network problem solving

Industry Certifications

Preparation for CCNA, CompTIA Network+, and other credentials

Professional Skills

Documentation, change management, and communication

Career Development

Resume building, interview preparation, and job search strategies

Industry Mentorship

Connect with experienced professionals and build your network

How You'll Learn

Active discovery, applied learning, and personal growth

At Next Hop Ireland, we approach teaching as a process of active discovery, applied learning, and personal growth. It's about understanding how to think, solve, apply, and grow.

You won't just sit through lectures. You'll engage, build, analyze, and collaborate through a wide range of thoughtfully designed activities—all grounded in my own years of experience as both a network engineer and educator.

To meet the needs of diverse learners, the program blends multiple learning formats and encourages participation in different ways:

🎯

Live Interactive Lectures

Each week, we meet for 4 hours of real-time learning. These are not passive lectures—they're interactive sessions with discussions, whiteboarding, configuration demos, and real-time Q&A.

🔄

Flipped Classrooms

Sometimes, you'll explore content before the session—videos, readings, or labs—so that our time together is focused on solving problems, deepening understanding, and applying knowledge collaboratively. And you'll co-teach and showcase your ideas and findings to the class!

🛠️

Hands-On Labs

This is where theory becomes skill. You'll work with emulated and virtualized lab environments to configure routing protocols, analyze packet flow, simulate failures, and design topologies using real-world tools.

✍️

Essays and Reflection

You'll occasionally write about what you're learning—whether to explain a technical concept in your own words, reflect on your growth, or describe how a network service supports a business model. Writing helps solidify understanding.

🔬

Applied Research Projects

You'll explore real challenges: How is BGP secured across IXPs? How do enterprises design multi-region cloud connectivity? These projects simulate professional scenarios and develop your ability to think like an engineer.

👥

Peer Learning and Group Activities

We learn better together. You'll collaborate in small groups to solve problems, review each other's designs, and share discoveries.

Progressive Mastery

All of these activities are mapped to the learning outcomes defined in my teaching framework (see image). Each one moves you closer to real, usable skills.

This systematic approach ensures that every lesson, lab, and project builds upon previous knowledge while developing the critical thinking and problem-solving abilities that distinguish exceptional network engineers.

Next Hop Ireland Teaching Framework - 10 Key Learning Efficiencies

Click to expand

Career Outcomes

Where our graduates can go and what they achieve

Network Engineer

Design, implement, and maintain network infrastructure for enterprises and service providers.

€45,000 - €82,000

Network Administrator

Manage day-to-day network operations, monitoring, and troubleshooting for organizations.

€50,000 - €75,000

Systems Engineer

Work with complex network and system integrations in enterprise environments.

€60,000 - €85,000

Network Security Specialist

Focus on network security implementations, monitoring, and incident response.

€65,000 - €95,000

Cloud Network Engineer

Specialize in cloud networking, hybrid connectivity, and modern infrastructure.

€65,000 - €90,000

Network Consultant

Provide expert advice and solutions to multiple clients across various industries.

€70,000 - €120,000

Meet Your Instructor and Program Manager

Hi, I'm Leonardo Furtado, but most people just call me Leo.

I've spent over two decades working in computer networks—designing, engineering, operating, and scaling infrastructure across cloud providers, service providers, data centers, and large enterprises. From troubleshooting outages at 3AM, scaling and enhancing massive hyperscale networks, to teaching BGP to new engineers, I've seen the layers of this field from the inside out.

But this initiative isn't about me. It's about what I believe:

💡

That great engineering comes from curious minds, not credentials.

🔬

That real learning happens when theory meets hands-on challenge.

🌟

And that talent exists everywhere, if we build the right path for it.

Teaching and mentoring have always been at the heart of my career. Beyond my primary role as a Network Engineer, I've served as a technical instructor for Cisco, Cisco Learning Partners, Netacad institutions, and various network academies. I've helped engineers at all levels grow into roles they once thought unattainable, and this remains one of my greatest passions.

Next Hop Ireland is a personal project, my way of giving back to the country I now call home, and using what I've learned to help others grow.

If you join this journey, I won't just be delivering content. I'll be right there with you, explaining, challenging, supporting, and cheering you on every step of the way.

I'm looking forward to building something meaningful with you.

—Leo