ABERDEEN, S.D. — Northern State University has partnered with Eide Bailly, a leading accounting and business advisory firm, to develop its first education and industry co-designed micro-credential, providing students with practical skills to build professional relationships and prepare for careers in business and finance.
The new micro-credential, Building Trust-Based Client Relationships, focuses on developing communication, relationship-management and professional advisory skills that employers value. Designed for upper-level students pursuing careers in accounting, finance, banking and sales, the course emphasizes building long-term client relationships through trust, credibility and ethical professional interactions.
The partnership began following a conversation at a Northern career fair, when representatives from Eide Bailly expressed interest in the university's micro-credential and digital badging initiative. Jennifer Deutsch, director of Empowering Innovators at Northern State University, helped advance the collaboration, which grew from discussions about the skills employers seek in new hires and opportunities to connect academic learning with industry expectations.
Dr. Sal Villegas, associate professor of banking and financial services and management at Northern, collaborated with Eide Bailly professionals to develop the micro-credential. Eide Bailly provided industry perspective, helped validate workforce-relevant skills and developed practical case studies and scenarios that allow students to apply the course concepts.
“Working with Eide Bailly in Aberdeen to develop this co-designed micro-credential has been an exciting opportunity to connect classroom learning with the expectations of today's workforce,” Villegas said. “This partnership helps Northern students build the communication, relationship-management and trusted-advisor skills that can strengthen their confidence and readiness as they enter into professional careers. It also demonstrates to employers that our students are prepared to contribute from day one!”
The noncredit micro-credential takes approximately five hours to complete and uses real-world scenarios and guided exercises informed by trusted-advisor principles. Students learn strategies for earning client confidence, strengthening professional relationships and approaching client interactions with a long-term perspective.
Students who complete the course will also have the opportunity to participate in an optional one-on-one session with an Eide Bailly professional Dec. 4 at Northern's Business and Health Innovation Center.
Participants will receive case study materials and discussion topics in advance, allowing them to apply their newly developed skills in a professional setting. During the session, students will receive direct feedback from a practicing adviser and have an opportunity to build connections with professionals working in the region.
“Northern State University students are the future of our region's workforce, and Eide Bailly is committed to helping them succeed right here in South Dakota,” said Samuel Young, senior associate at Eide Bailly Advisory LLC. “Being the first industry partner in NSU's co-designed micro-credential initiative has been a privilege. Jennifer's vision and the dedication of the NSU faculty made it easy to turn our real-world experience into meaningful learning for students.”
The micro-credential is available during the fall 2026 semester to students in select accounting classes. It is not yet open for general enrollment.
As Northern's first education and industry co-designed micro-credential, the initiative represents an opportunity to expand collaboration with employers and develop additional industry-informed learning experiences.
Future partnerships could extend into fields such as health care and education, providing students and working professionals with opportunities to develop specialized skills while strengthening connections between Northern and regional employers.
“Launching Northern's first education and industry co-designed micro-credential marks an exciting milestone for our institution,” Deutsch said. “It demonstrates how we can partner with employers to develop targeted, workforce-informed learning opportunities that benefit students, industry and the communities we serve. We look forward to expanding this collaborative approach into additional fields in the future.”
Micro-credentials are part of Northern's broader effort to provide flexible, targeted learning opportunities that complement traditional academic programs and help students demonstrate specific skills to prospective employers.
For more information about Northern's micro-credential and digital badging initiative, visit https://northern.edu/micro-credential-digital-badging-nsu.
For more information, contact Jennifer Deutsch, director of Empowering Innovators, at jennifer.deutsch@northern.edu or 605-626-2108.