Key points:
- Professionals are hungry for opportunities to stay competitive in a rapidly changing economy
- How higher ed responds to the changing needs of labor markets
- Bridging education and employment to boost workforce preparedness
- For more news on upskilling and workforce demands, visit eCN’s Teaching & Learning hub
Not only is technology transforming every aspect of our lives and redefining the workforce, but as industries evolve, professionals everywhere are grappling with the urgent need to keep their skills relevant. Recent data from ETS’ Human Progress Report shows that 75 percent of workers worldwide worry their skills will become obsolete in the face of these changes.
Most recently, with Texas reportedly continuing to grow as a tech hub with a 1$ billion data center project, It’s clear that higher education institutions are key players uniquely situated to offer adult learners career-focused, non-degree programs to meet local labor demands and drive innovation and growth across many industries. To strengthen the talent pipeline this year and beyond, bridging education with industry will define the workforce landscape.
Flexibility: Designed to engage adult learners
A 2024 Gallup-Lumina Survey revealed that over half of unenrolled adults are actively considering a post-secondary credential in the next five years, driven by the desire for career advancement and personal growth. Yet, for many, the path to upskilling is fraught with obstacles–from time constraints to financial barriers.
Texas Executive Education is partnering with Ziplines Education, a career accelerator, to design flexible, industry-aligned programs that fit seamlessly into the lives of busy professionals, making career transformation accessible and achievable.
The reality is not all higher education institutions have the resources to keep up with the pace of the industry. Universities and colleges and their faculty need partners that can work together quickly to build capacity, deploy, and continuously iterate on content and approve curriculum to deliver knowledge, skills, and industry-recognized technology certifications in a mode that caters to adult learners’ unique needs and preferences. Ziplines works alongside vetted industry experts to provide institutions with relevant, digital-first career training to bolster the talent pipeline for employers and support the learner experience.
At the heart of Ziplines courses, learners are connected with subject matter experts, mentors, career coaches, and peers who are proven to encourage accountability and positive outcomes. Ziplines’ fully online model combines on-demand learning with live, facilitated sessions, allowing professionals to learn when it’s convenient for them.
Ultimately, these shorter, lower-cost programs equip adult learners with in-demand skills and community to instill the confidence to take charge of their career trajectories.
Marketability: Alignment to in-demand skills
With the rapid pace of a tech-driven workforce, universities and colleges also have an opportunity to prepare adult learners with industry-recognized training necessary for career mobility. Last March, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) reported that the highest-rated in-demand skill for professionals is a solid understanding of how technology can be leveraged to improve business outcomes.
Professionals seeking non-degree certifications from universities and technology platforms like Jira, Google Analytics, and ChatGPT can stay relevant, advance their careers, and demonstrate a natural curiosity for lifelong learning, which is vital in today’s job market. A recent Gallup and Workhuman survey found that 60 percent of workers who recently learned a new skill did so because it helped them do their jobs more effectively. Over half (52 percent) also saw upskilling as an opportunity to learn and grow.
At Texas Executive Education at the McCombs School of Business, we offer courses in high-growth areas, including Digital Marketing, Product Management, Project Management, and soon AI Prompting to meet the needs of professionals. Forward-thinking universities and colleges that recognize the importance of these skill sets are primed to innovate their program offerings to reach more working adults and meet evolving workforce demands.
Necessity: Education that meets the future of work
In today’s economy, Salesforce Global Digital Skills Index reports that 95 percent of U.S. companies use technology platforms, yet 76 percent of global workers feel unprepared to use these digital tools effectively. The future of work is already here, and the need for upskilling has never been more critical.
Whether in bustling tech hubs or underserved regions, professionals nationwide are hungry for opportunities to stay competitive in a rapidly changing economy. Institutions that can offer high-impact, industry-relevant training to empower working adults with career growth and advancement opportunities will lead the way to today’s future of work.
Dr. Gaylen Paulson is associate dean and executive director of Texas Executive Education at The University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business.
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