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The Ziplines partnership has been a game-changer for us in terms of offering relevant, industry-aligned courses. It’s opened up new conversations with faculty and different colleges about how these programs can enhance what we already do and fill gaps we couldn’t address before. This partnership has helped us rethink how we approach continuing education and workforce development at a fundamental level.
Kevin Shriner, Ed.D.
Assistance Vice Chancellor, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
For the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the challenge of preparing learners for an evolving workforce became increasingly urgent. As industries continued to transform rapidly, the university needed a way to deliver high-impact education quickly and efficiently. Traditional curriculum development, while thorough, struggled to keep pace with emerging career demands. Recognizing this gap, Nebraska sought solutions to deliver a world-class learning experience where learners could access programs designed to meet industry needs in real time.
Challenges Nebraska faced
Aligning partnerships and institutional goals
Kevin Shriner, Ed.D. joined Nebraska in February 2023 as the inaugural assistant vice chancellor for digital and online learning. As leader of the development, integration, and implementation of Nebraska’s strategy for online and digital education, Shriner wanted to make sure his department’s activities aligned with the university’s overall goal of innovating student experiences and preparing graduates to be life-long learners and contributors to the workforce in Nebraska and the world.
"The Ziplines partnership has been a game-changer for us in terms of offering relevant, industry-aligned courses. It’s opened up new conversations with faculty and different colleges about how these programs can enhance what we already do and fill gaps we couldn’t address before. This partnership has helped us rethink how we approach continuing education and workforce development at a fundamental level."
Shriner ultimately decided to partner with Ziplines Education to introduce flexible, workforce-focused programs that could be scaled efficiently. With this collaboration, Nebraska was able to expand its offerings quickly and provide learners across disciplines with access to short courses in Project Management, Salesforce administration, Business Analytics, and Digital Marketing.
Through this initiative, the university quickly saw a shift in how learners engaged with its programs. Professionals at various stages in their careers began enrolling, many seeking to upskill or pivot into new roles. One participant, already holding an MBA and a Masters in Business Analytics, sought out a Tableau certification to meet their employer’s requirements—an experience that underscored the growing importance of stackable, skills-based learning.
"For anyone trying to figure out, 'What’s next in my career?' or 'How can I boost my skill set?' Ziplines provides a fantastic opportunity to explore those next steps. It’s not about replacing degrees but adding the specific, practical skills that are increasingly essential in today’s workplace."
With these early successes, Nebraska’s commitment to workforce development has only grown stronger. The university is focused on expanding its professional education portfolio while remaining agile in responding to industry shifts.
"Ziplines has allowed us to think differently about the pathways for students, not just from a single department or program, but from a larger university perspective,” said Shriner. “Instead of operating in a bubble, we’re now having conversations across the university about how to integrate these industry-aligned courses. This kind of flexibility and innovation is changing how we think about education and workforce readiness."
After the initial launch, Nebraska grew its course offerings to include Product Management, AI Prompting, and AI-Powered Automated Workflows. Through its partnership with Ziplines Education, Nebraska is helping professionals navigate a rapidly changing job market, ensuring they have the skills, certifications, and confidence needed to compete in today’s digital economy.
For the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the challenge of preparing learners for an evolving workforce became increasingly urgent. As industries continued to transform rapidly, the university needed a way to deliver high-impact education quickly and efficiently. Traditional curriculum development, while thorough, struggled to keep pace with emerging career demands. Recognizing this gap, Nebraska sought solutions to deliver a world-class learning experience where learners could access programs designed to meet industry needs in real time.
Challenges Nebraska faced
Aligning partnerships and institutional goals
Kevin Shriner, Ed.D. joined Nebraska in February 2023 as the inaugural assistant vice chancellor for digital and online learning. As leader of the development, integration, and implementation of Nebraska’s strategy for online and digital education, Shriner wanted to make sure his department’s activities aligned with the university’s overall goal of innovating student experiences and preparing graduates to be life-long learners and contributors to the workforce in Nebraska and the world.
"The Ziplines partnership has been a game-changer for us in terms of offering relevant, industry-aligned courses. It’s opened up new conversations with faculty and different colleges about how these programs can enhance what we already do and fill gaps we couldn’t address before. This partnership has helped us rethink how we approach continuing education and workforce development at a fundamental level."
Shriner ultimately decided to partner with Ziplines Education to introduce flexible, workforce-focused programs that could be scaled efficiently. With this collaboration, Nebraska was able to expand its offerings quickly and provide learners across disciplines with access to short courses in Project Management, Salesforce administration, Business Analytics, and Digital Marketing.
Through this initiative, the university quickly saw a shift in how learners engaged with its programs. Professionals at various stages in their careers began enrolling, many seeking to upskill or pivot into new roles. One participant, already holding an MBA and a Masters in Business Analytics, sought out a Tableau certification to meet their employer’s requirements—an experience that underscored the growing importance of stackable, skills-based learning.
"For anyone trying to figure out, 'What’s next in my career?' or 'How can I boost my skill set?' Ziplines provides a fantastic opportunity to explore those next steps. It’s not about replacing degrees but adding the specific, practical skills that are increasingly essential in today’s workplace."
With these early successes, Nebraska’s commitment to workforce development has only grown stronger. The university is focused on expanding its professional education portfolio while remaining agile in responding to industry shifts.
"Ziplines has allowed us to think differently about the pathways for students, not just from a single department or program, but from a larger university perspective,” said Shriner. “Instead of operating in a bubble, we’re now having conversations across the university about how to integrate these industry-aligned courses. This kind of flexibility and innovation is changing how we think about education and workforce readiness."
After the initial launch, Nebraska grew its course offerings to include Product Management, AI Prompting, and AI-Powered Automated Workflows. Through its partnership with Ziplines Education, Nebraska is helping professionals navigate a rapidly changing job market, ensuring they have the skills, certifications, and confidence needed to compete in today’s digital economy.
