U of A and Ziplines Education Offer Core Workforce Skills via Online Training

Arkansans can register now for online workforce training courses, which include core professional skills like artificial intelligence, thanks to a partnership between the University of Arkansas and Ziplines Education.

New short-format programs in applied artificial intelligence, project management, digital marketing and business analytics will help Arkansans build the skills employers need. These career-focused certificate programs are provided by Ziplines Education through a partnership with the university.

The partnership helps advance the university’s land-grant mission and aligns with the state’s mandate to increase workforce development.

“Our partnership with Ziplines Education allows us to provide online training certificates that offer the skills people need to thrive in today’s workplace,” said Cheryl Murphy, vice provost for distance education. “At the same time, we’re supporting economic and industry growth by providing a pool of workers with modern skills.”

Ziplines Education is a national career accelerator partnering with more than 30 universities nationwide. It designs short-format certificate programs built for working professionals, adult learners and career changers. Courses will be taught by practitioners, structured around real workplace projects and designed to be completed alongside full-time work.

“These programs were built around what employers in our region are actively hiring for,” said Eve Canty, director of Professional and Workforce Development at the Global Campus. “They're practical, they're flexible, and they meet learners where they are — whether someone is moving into a new role, leading a team for the first time or trying to bring AI into their day-to-day work.”

Sara Leoni, CEO of Ziplines Education, said, “Few public universities sit at the center of as much industry density as the University of Arkansas. … That changes what workforce relevance has to mean — and it raises the bar for what a certificate program needs to deliver. We're proud to be building this alongside a team that takes that responsibility seriously.”

Courses offered:

• Project Management
• Digital Marketing
• Business Analytics
• AI Prompting
• AI Automation
• AI for Marketing
• AI for HR Professionals

Each program will run five to 10 weeks and will be delivered fully online. Programs will combine live instruction from industry practitioners with project-based assignments. Learners can receive support from program coaches, peer cohorts and expert instructors throughout. The programs are designed for completion alongside full-time work and lead to a U of A certificate plus, where applicable, industry credentials.

About the Global Campus: The University of Arkansas Professional and Workforce Development, inside the Global Campus, delivers career-focused training designed to help working professionals across Arkansas build the skills the regional workforce needs most. The Global Campus supports U of A colleges and schools in the development and delivery of online, distance and workforce education programs and courses. It provides instructional design services, technology services and assistance with registration, marketing, recruiting and strategic academic development.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy  through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.