The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) has partnered with SkillStorm, a tech talent accelerator, with the aim of closing technology industry talent gaps across the Midwest.
In a press release, the school said the partnership will provide state and regional employers with access to untapped talent pools. It will also offer the existing workforce access to training programs that lead to industry-recognized credentials.
“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.”
Through SkillStorm’s training platform, the UNL will offer a range of courses that lead to tech skills credentials in in-demand areas, including AWS, Comp-TIA, Salesforce, Appian, and Pega.
According to UNL, this new initiative is part of a larger tech push within the state. In 2022, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry formed TechNebraska, a statewide initiative designed to position the state as a tech innovation leader, grow and diversify the state’s tech workforce, and “seize Nebraska’s spot in the Silicon Prairie.”
“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.”
