The University of Nebraska and Google are teaming up to offer noncredit programs in fields such as cybersecurity, data analytics and business intelligence for students, alumni and Nebraskans at large.
Under the new partnership, announced by interim NU President Chris Kabourek on Tuesday, Nebraskans will be able to earn Google Career Certificates in fields vital to the state’s future workforce.
“This is an incredible opportunity not only for our students to supplement their degrees with additional credentials, but for all Nebraskans to gain new skills and move up in their careers without having to uproot their families or jobs,” Kabourek said.
NU students, alumni and others can now pre-register for the Google Career Certificates programs slated to begin this year. To date, more than 250,000 Americans have completed a Google certificate.
Each of the courses available through NU — one cycle begins in August, another in December, the third in April 2025 — is open to 2,500 people on a first-come, first-served basis.
The programs, developed and administered by Google experts in conjunction with employers, prepare learners for entry-level roles over the course of three to six months.
NU is offering Google Career Certificates in IT support, digital marketing and e-commerce, project management and user experience design, while advanced certificates will be available in IT automation with Python, advanced data analytics and business intelligence.
The courses will be available through the university’s existing platform for noncredit and professional development courses, NU Advance.
The cost of the courses in the first year is $20 per enrollment. Other universities that also have partnered with Google Career Certificates, including Purdue University, offer courses for $39 per month.
The certificates, also known as microcredentials or badges, signal the acquisition of certain skills to employers and have grown in popularity in recent years as institutions of higher learning have sought to meet the demands of a changing workforce.
A 2022 report by the nonprofit Credential Engine found that nearly 1.1 million unique educational credentials exist in the U.S., which was a nearly threefold increase from a 2018 count.
Microcredential programs allow younger students to dip their toes into the water of certain fields, developing some skills as they consider whether or not to pursue a full degree.
They also allow individuals currently in the workforce to “upskill” themselves by taking courses at their own pace, signaling to their employers they are serious about their professional development.
Or they allow those with a high school diploma or an equivalency award the opportunity to demonstrate their talents to potential employers without enrolling in college.
According to a survey conducted by the American Association of Colleges of Universities last year, 68% of employers indicated they would prefer to hire a college graduate who also had a microcredential, while 13% said they preferred to hire college graduates without a microcredential.
Lisa Gevelber, founder of Grow with Google, said the microcredentials available through Google Career Certificates’ partnership with NU would benefit the state as a whole.
“We’re committed to investing in Nebraskans to ensure that they have the tech and other job ready skills to enter the workforce and reach their full economic potential,” Gevelber said.
Kabourek said the new educational opportunities will further a goal shared by the NU Board of Regents and Nebraska Legislature that 70% of Nebraskans earn some kind of postsecondary credential.
Kabourek, a native of David City, said he believes the Google Career Certificate program will help open the door for other Nebraskans to find “quality, affordable educational opportunities no matter where they live or what their personal circumstances are.”
“Anytime we can find a way to bring more education directly to our students and Nebraskans, it’s a win,” he said. “This is one more way the University of Nebraska is working to meet the needs of our citizens and address the urgent workforce challenges facing our state.”
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