By HEIDI KNAKE
UNK Online
KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney is bringing affordable, flexible professional development opportunities to communities across the state through its new noncredit initiative, UNK Advance.
With more than 50 online, self-paced microcredential courses currently available, UNK Advance allows working professionals and career changers to upskill in high-demand areas, without the time or cost commitment of a traditional degree or certificate. UNK Advance courses start at $15 and are designed for quick, flexible completion, often in just a few weeks.
Microcredentials are shorter, highly focused certifications that demonstrate a person has gained specific skills, competencies or knowledge through a structured learning platform. These credentials can stand alone as career-boosting tools, serve as a first step for those considering returning to college or add value to an existing degree.
UNK Advance courses are taught by UNK faculty and other local professional experts, with topics ranging from human relations and health care to artificial intelligence. New partnerships with the Online Learning Consortium and Human Resource Certification Preparation have expanded offerings in leadership development and human resources.
“We’re constantly examining workforce requirements and market demand to ensure that UNK Advance is providing the appropriate microcredentials in a timely manner,” said Dustin Favinger, a member of the UNK Advance advisory committee.
Most courses offer a digital microcredential badge upon completion. These badges can be shared on resumes, LinkedIn or other professional platforms and are becoming a popular way to validate and showcase new skills to employers.
According to Coursera, a popular microcredential platform, 96% of employers believe that microcredentials strengthen a candidate’s job application. With more than half of the world’s higher education institutions now offering microcredentials, UNK is taking a meaningful step to help Nebraskans become more career ready.
To serve even more learners, UNK Advance is also seeking professionals and faculty interested in developing or teaching courses through the platform.
“Ultimately, we want to provide access to more disciplines and topics to reach additional learners,” Favinger said. “With the ever-changing landscape of workforce development and market trends, this will be a platform for us to ensure that learners can get what they want and need, when and where they need it.”
For information about available courses or creating a course, contact the UNK Advance team at nuadvance@unk.edu or visit go.unk.edu/unkadvance.