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Competencies, Skills, and Workforce Development Hub

Bridging Education and Workforce Readiness

An older man in glasses and a plaid shirt discusses a document with a younger woman in a beige sweater. They sit at a table with a laptop and papers in an office setting.

Ivan Gerard, a faculty member in UNO’s College of Business Administration, was among the first to implement competency-based learning strategies in his management courses. He collaborates with Stephanie Larsen, Associate Director of the CSW Hub and Weitz Innovation and Excellence PI, to advance skills-based learning and workforce readiness initiatives.

🎯 Project Focus: UNO is committed to preparing students for the rapidly evolving job market. The Competencies, Skills, and Workforce Development (CSW) Hub at UNO will serve as a hub for competency-based education (CBE), the UNO Skills Lab, and industry collaboration, supporting academic programs as they align with real-world workforce needs. Through partnerships with employers and community organizations, the CSW Hub will help students gain marketable skills, career-ready competencies, and flexible learning opportunities​.

💡 Why It Matters

  • Employers need job-ready graduates: Many industries report a gap between academic training and workforce skills; the CSW Hub at UNO supports programs and students so graduates enter the workforce equipped with industry-aligned competencies, verified skills, and practical experience that meet employer needs.
  • Traditional degree programs don’t fit all learners: Competency-based education is known for its flexible pacing, mastery-based learning, and direct alignment with workforce needs. Developing these programs at UNO helps expand access to education, accelerate degree completion, and equip students within demand workforce skills.
  • Workforce development drives economic growth: A strong pipeline of skilled graduates supports Omaha and Nebraska economic development and job market expansion.

🚀 Key Initiatives

  • Competency-Based Education (CBE)
    • Supports UNO colleges, programs, and faculty to develop CBE degree programs.
    • Establishes learning maps to document essential competencies in various fields.
  • Skills Lab & Industry Partnerships
    • Develops the UNO Skills-Based Learning Framework to demonstrate how UNO will stay at the forefront of today’s most in-demand skills. This includes developing the infrastructure so that skills can be assessed and verified with digital badges that are earned by students and valued by employers.
  • Future of Work Symposium Series
    • Hosts annual symposiums that bring together faculty, students, and industry leaders to explore emerging workforce trends and innovations.
    • Provides networking opportunities, panel discussions, and hands-on workshops to bridge the gap between education and industry needs.
  • Workforce Partnerships
    • Expands and strengthens UNO-employer collaborations to align academic programs with regional and national workforce demands while providing employers a clear pathway for their employees’ degree attainment and opportunities to upskill and reskill.

📈 Impact Goals

  • Increase student employability by aligning UNO programs with real-world job skills.
  • Expand access to CBE, helping non-traditional and working students earn credentials of value through flexible pacing and master-based assessment.
  • Strengthen UNO’s role as a workforce development leader, building strong employer partnerships.
  • Enhance economic growth by producing a highly skilled workforce ready to meet Nebraska’s labor market demands.