Lifetime Learning, Ball State University’s new non-credit division focused on helping learners prepare for an increasingly dynamic world of work, today announced that it has joined an ambitious initiative designed to help students access the skills and credentials necessary to succeed in high-demand tech industry careers.
Through the new program, powered by tech talent accelerator SkillStorm, Ball State students and the community at large can take courses that lead to industry-recognized credentials from major employers including AWS, Salesforce, and Pega.
“In today’s fast-changing economy, Ball State has a crucial role in preparing our students to step into meaningful careers in the working world. To fulfill that role, it’s essential that we offer certifications and skills training that reflect the needs of employers in the region,” said Amy Barsha, assistant vice provost for Lifetime Learning. “This partnership with SkillStorm will enhance our ability to provide the training and upskilling opportunities needed to help our students and community members succeed in today’s labor market and prepare for the future workplace.”
Recent research indicates a significant gap between the number of high-skilled jobs and trained workers in Indiana, with three-quarters of Hoosier employers leaving jobs unfilled because of the lack of qualified candidates. This partnership seeks to address that statewide talent gap by increasing the availability and accessibility of credentialing programs recognized by tech employers.
Through SkillStorm’s platform, Ball State’s Lifetime Learning students will now be able to access a range of courses to prepare for certifications including AWS Cloud Practitioner and Salesforce Developer, as well as foundational courses in topics such as Java and object-oriented programming.
“Ball State embraces its role in driving the future of work, offering innovative learning opportunities in collaboration with Indiana employers that ensure students are career-ready,” said Joe Mitchell, COO at SkillStorm. “Together, we’re helping students access training in the most in-demand skills, with the aim of launching them into tech careers, propelling early-career providing access to one-on-one training from industry-certified instructors. Initial program offerings include professionals toward career advancement, and boosting economic mobility for the entire East Central Indiana community and beyond.”
The certification courses supplied by SkillStorm are designed for students and professionals at any stage of their educational or career journey and will enable students to attend when convenient. The courses include Certified Senior Systems Architect, Certified Business Architect, Certified System Architect, Certified Robotics System Architect, AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification, AWS Solutions Architect Associate Certification, Salesforce Administrator Certification, and Salesforce Developer. All programs are approved for funding through the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA), a federal grant program which aims to train unemployed or underemployed adults in high demand fields to enter or re-enter the workforce, at no cost to the participant.
“What we are most excited about is the ability to accelerate opportunity for all. Through Upskill Together, Lifetime Learning by Ball State will be offering matching scholarships for Ball State students,” Ms. Barsha said. “Each certification program completed by a community member will provide access for an in-need student, enabling both the current and future workforce to succeed.”
To register, visit the Lifetime Learning by Ball State website. To speak with a Lifetime Learning enrollment specialist, email lifetimelearning@bsu.edu or call 765-285-8565.
###
About Lifetime Learning by Ball State
Now with Lifetime Learning by Ball State, an array of micro-credentials, badges, and skill building programs are delivered in seamless experiences on individual terms—your schedule, your lifestyle, your goals. At Ball State, we offer a learning community to help you chart your flight path to a fulfilling career and a meaningful life. Let us meet you where you are and take you where you want to go. Come FLY with us.
Follow Lifetime Learning:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lifetimelearningbyballstate
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ball-state-university-lifetime-learning
About SkillStorm
SkillStorm is bringing together Fortune 500 employers, universities, and government agencies to build tomorrow’s highly skilled tech workforce. Through partnerships with platforms like Pega, Salesforce, and ServiceNow, we help working learners and aspiring tech experts build in-demand skills and earn industry-recognized certifications to compete in an increasingly dynamic economy. Our work is rooted in the belief that closing skill gaps and boosting economic mobility are two sides of the same coin, and that new approaches to training can help to both expand the pool of skilled tech talent and create new pathways to opportunity.