Unmuddling the Future for Working Learners:

A Skills-to-Jobs® Approach

Unmudl connects working learners with employers through Unmudl’s Skills-to Jobs® Marketplace. The platform facilitates skill acquisition and job placement across various industries by offering affordable courses that provide job-ready skills that include hands-on experience, certifications, and college credits.

a woman wearing gloves and glasses is working on a mechatronics machine
Unmudl Futures Thought Paper #2

Unmuddling The Future for Working Learners: A Skills-to-Jobs® Approach

UNMUDL FUTURES COUNCIL
Headshot of Dr. Holly Zanville
President
GateWay Community College
Chair, Unmudl Futures Council
Headshot of Dr. Holly Zanville
Chancellor
Foothill-De Anza Community College District
Inaugural Chair, Unmudl Futures Council
Headshot of Dr. Holly Zanville
President
Central New Mexico Community College
Past Chair, Unmudl Futures Council
Headshot of Dr. Holly Zanville
Executive Director
NISOD
Unmudl Founding Member
Headshot of Dr. Holly Zanville
President Emeritus
SUNY Broome Community College
Unmudl Founding Member
Headshot of Dr. Holly Zanville
President
Arapahoe Community College
Member, Unmudl Futures Council
AUTHORS
Headshot of Dr. Holly Zanville
CEO
Unmudl Skills-to-Jobs® Marketplace
Headshot of Dr. Holly Zanville
Managing Director
‍Unmudl Skills-to-Jobs® Marketplace
Headshot of Dr. Holly Zanville
Learning Consultant
‍Unmudl Skills-to-Jobs® Marketplace
Get the Paper

Unmudl is at the forefront of a transformative shift in education, leading the transition from traditional models to shorter, skills-
driven courses that not only facilitate career advancement but also open up future educational opportunities for working
learners by offering flexible formats for learning valuable skills and by giving credit for all learning. This vision is driven by
a future-focused, Skills-to-Jobs® (S2J) approach intended to reshape the education and workforce development ecosystem. Through the future-focused approach to education, Unmudl leverages a futures mindset that involves reverse engineering
from envisioned future states to enhance current decisions and choices.

Building on course completion, Unmudl enables working
learners to upskill and advance in their careers without the
extensive time commitment and financial burden typically associated with traditional education pathways. The Skills-to-Jobs® (S2J) approach supports lifelong learning, adaptingto life’s changes and the dynamic job market, and breaks away from the one-size-fits-all educational model to offer more tailored and rewarding job opportunities. By removing common barriers such as entrance exams and application fees, Unmudl makes career advancement accessible to all, reflecting its commitment to creating equitable futures and enhancing the lives of working learners through responsive, clear, and agile pathways between skills and jobs.

Highlights from the Paper

In this paper, you will learn how the Unmudl Skills-to-Jobs® approach applied to working learners, with further exploration of:

  • The unique challenges and opportunities that working learners face
  • The Unmudl Skills-to-Jobs® journey for working learners: Get Skills – Get Creds – Get Jobs®
  • Success stories showcasing the real-world impact of this approach on working learners.

Unmudl Thought Papers Series

This paper is the second of a series of four Unmudl Thought Papers being shared by the Unmudl Futures Council over the course of 2024 consisting of:

1. Unmuddling the Future: From Skills-to-Jobs®

2. Unmuddling the Future: Working Learners
3. Unmuddling the Future: Employers
4. Unmuddling the Future: Community and Technical Colleges

Highlights from the Paper

Bridging Skills-to-Jobs®: Unmudl's Revolutionary Approach

Unmudl’s Skills-to-Jobs® Marketplace is a visionary platform, transforming the traditional landscape of education and workforce development into a dynamic, aligned and interconnected ecosystem. This pioneering innovation, brought to life through the collaboration of forward-thinking community colleges, along with the National Institute for Organizational and Staff Development (NISOD), is redefining the trajectory from skill acquisition to meaningful employment in the learning economy. Unmudl’s Skills-to-Jobs® approach not only addresses the immediate challenges of today’s working learners and employers, but also anticipates the future needs of a rapidly evolving global job market.

Empowering Working Learners with Agile Education Pathways

This paper details the diverse needs and challenges of working learners, and underscores the rising demand for non-traditional learning paths that offer clear returns on investment in terms of job readiness and career advancement. At its core, Unmudl aims to empower working learners by providing accessible, flexible, and practical education pathways that directly lead to available job opportunities. Unmudl offers a range of short-term, skills-focused courses tailored to meet the demands of employers across various industries such as advanced manufacturing and healthcare. The Skills-to-Jobs® model supports learners in acquiring the specific skills needed to advance in their careers, while also facilitating lifelong learning and adaptability in a changing economic landscape.
DOWNLOAD PAPER "UNMUDDLING ThE FUTURE for working learners: a SKILLS-TO-JOBS® approach