Workforce Readiness

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Partners with SkillStorm to Train Tech Talent Across the Midwest

• By Kate Lucariello
• 10/31/23

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and tech talent training company SkillStorm have partnered to offer tech skills credential programs in order to upskill the workforce across the state and in the Midwest and thus provide a talent pool to meet increasing demand to fill tech jobs.

With the university's research showing that only 5% of the state's workforce is employed in the tech industry, the partnership follows TechNebraska, a statewide initiative launched in 2023 by the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, education, and business leaders to promote tech careers and train the workforce to fill them.

UNL's partnership with SkillStorm will provide several courses leading to tech skills credentials in high demand, including AWS, Comp-TIA, Salesforce, Appian, and Pega, the university said.

SkillStorm's website shows its partnership model training platform can be convened in 30 days and includes:

• A custom-branded portal;
• Authorized instructors;
• Authorized content and labs;
• Custom-branded marketing material; and
• Enrollment management.

Courses include project-based learning, live lectures, a certification exam fee voucher, and office hours twice a week, the company said.

"Our partnership is an opportunity for UNL to make a direct and positive impact on a sector of the Nebraska economy that is poised for growth," said Kevin Shriner, UNL's assistant vice chancellor for digital and online learning. "It is a unique approach and one that will benefit both our students in their career paths and current workers who are seeking new skills."

"Too often, fast-growing businesses in search of talent are forced to look outside their region because the local workforce infrastructure isn't prepared to support accelerating skill demand in fields like tech," said Joe Mitchell, COO at SkillStorm. "UNL is taking steps to change that narrative in Nebraska — by building new tech talent pipelines in ways that will support economic growth across the entire region."

Learn more about SkillStorm's academic partnerships and specific course descriptions on the partnerships page.