LevelUp
What is LevelUp?
LevelUp is GitLab’s internal learning and development platform, running on the Cornerstone Talent Experience Platform. It’s designed to support team member learning, professional development, and career growth, bringing together training content, skills development, and career pathing in one centralized system.
Learning today goes way beyond self-paced content, webinars, and documents. GitLab’s LevelUp is an integrated talent experience platform that shows just how dynamic learning, growth, skills development, and performance can be.
What’s the difference between LevelUp and GitLab University?
With the launch of LevelUp, it’s important to note that LevelUp and GitLab University are now two completely separate platforms, each with a different purpose and audience.
| GitLab University | LevelUp | |
|---|---|---|
| Target Audience | Designed for educating customers and community members | Designed for educating internal team members |
| Platform | Runs on ThoughtIndustries Learning System | Runs on Cornerstone Talent Experience Platform |
| Training Type | Delivers external-facing product training | Delivers internal training for team members - including product, professional development, and compliance training |
Benefits and Features
The Cornerstone Talent Experience Platform (TXP) offers significant improvements over our previous learning management system, specifically designed to support internal employee development and career growth at GitLab. Key features include:
- Internal gigs and side projects to provide hands-on learning opportunities
- Enhanced management tools for training assignment and recommendations
- Advanced user-generated content capabilities - team members can create and share learning content
- Seamless integration with our talent management infrastructure, ensuring skills development is reflected in performance data
- Skills library linked to GitLab job architecture
- Mobile access via the Cornerstone mobile app for learning on-the-go
- Social learning features including channels, groups, and collaborative learning
Getting Started with LevelUp
How to Access LevelUp
Access LevelUp through Okta by searching for the “LevelUp” tile. Once you log in, you’ll see your personalized learning dashboard with recommended content, assigned training, and learning paths relevant to your role.
Mobile Access
You can access LevelUp on your mobile device by downloading the Cornerstone mobile app (search “Cornerstone Galaxy” in the App Store or Google Play). This allows you to complete learning assignments, browse courses, and discover new content from anywhere.
For detailed instructions on setting up mobile access, including Okta Verify prerequisites, see our Mobile Access Guide.
Your Learning Dashboard
When you log into LevelUp, you’ll find:
- Assigned Learning - Training courses and content assigned to you by your manager or required by the company (e.g., compliance training)
- Recommended for You - Content suggestions based on your role, skills, and interests
- In Progress - Learning you’ve started but haven’t completed yet
- Channels - Topic-based collections you can follow to discover new content
- Groups - Communities organized around teams, departments, or shared interests
Content in LevelUp
Content Partners and Integrations
LevelUp integrates with several content partners to provide you with a wide range of learning resources:
- O’Reilly - Technical books, videos, and learning paths
- Hone - Live training and coaching sessions, including our Elevate leadership program
- Masterclass - Expert-taught courses on leadership, creativity, and more
- BizLibrary - Business skills and soft skills training
- Google Cloud Skills Boost - Hands-on Google Cloud training with labs and certifications
To request access to any of these platforms, use Lumos or contact the Talent Development team in #learninganddevelopment.
Finding Content
Use the search bar to find specific courses, or browse by:
- Skills - Find content that develops specific competencies
- Topics - Explore content organized by subject area
- Content Type - Filter by videos, articles, courses, live events, etc.
- Level - Choose Beginner, Foundation, or Advanced content
Creating Content in LevelUp
There are several ways to create and share learning content in LevelUp:
- Third-party integrations - Content from partners like Hone, Masterclass, etc.
- Native content creation - Build content directly in LevelUp using SmartCards, Pathways, and Journeys
- Articulate Rise courses - Professional e-learning built in collaboration with the Talent Development team
When to Use Each Approach
| Method | Best For | Complexity |
|---|---|---|
| SmartCards | Quick, simple content sharing; linking to existing resources | Low |
| Pathways | Curated collections of related content; structured learning programs | Medium |
| Journeys | Complex, multi-phase learning experiences; leadership programs | High |
| Articulate Rise | Formal courses with completion tracking; large group assignments; interactive e-learning | High |
Creating content natively in LevelUp
LevelUp allows you to create content directly within the platform using three main content types: SmartCards, Pathways, and Journeys.
SmartCards
SmartCards are individual pieces of content that form the foundation of learning in LevelUp. They’re ideal for sharing a single resource, article, video, or quick learning activity.
Types of SmartCards: Web URL, Uploaded Content, Text Card, Poll, Quiz, Live Event, Project, and SCORM File (for full completion tracking).
How to Create a SmartCard
- Click More > Tools > Manage Content > SmartCard
- Choose the type of SmartCard you want to create
- Fill in the required information:
- Title - Clear, descriptive name (tip: use AI “Rewrite it for me” feature)
- Description - Explain what learners will gain
- Upload/Link - Add your file or URL
- Skills, Tags, Level, Duration, Content Type - Help others find your content
- Set Privacy Settings (Public or Private)
- Click Create Card to publish, or Save as Draft
Best Practices: Keep titles specific, write descriptions that answer “What will I learn?” and “Why does this matter?”, tag skills accurately, and estimate duration realistically.
Pathways
A Pathway is a curated collection of SmartCards organized around a specific topic or learning goal - like an onboarding program, certification course, or skill development track. Use Pathways to combine multiple pieces of content in a logical sequence, mix different content types, and award badges upon completion.
Note: You’ll need permissions from the Learning and Development team to create Pathways. Request access in #learninganddevelopment.
How to Create a Pathway
- Click More > Tools > Manage Content > Pathway
- Enter your Pathway details (title, description, thumbnail, skills, tags, level, provider, optional badge)
- Click Continue
- Add content:
- Search for existing SmartCards or create new ones (note: SmartCards created within a Pathway can’t be reused elsewhere)
- Use Dynamic Pathway to auto-generate up to 10 relevant SmartCards
- Drag and drop to reorder, mark cards as optional (at least one must be required)
- Save as Draft or Publish
Best Practices: Start with foundational content and build to advanced topics, mix content types (videos, articles, quizzes), and include knowledge checks at key points.
Journeys
Journeys combine multiple Pathways and SmartCards into comprehensive, multi-phase learning experiences organized into sections. Use Journeys for complex, long-term programs like leadership development or certification tracks.
Note: You’ll need permissions from the Learning and Development team to create Journeys. Request access in #learninganddevelopment.
Types of Journeys:
- Self-Paced - All sections accessible immediately
- Progressive Unlocking - Complete one section to unlock the next
- Time-Based - Content released on a schedule over 1-12 weeks
How to Create a Journey
- Click More > Tools > Manage Content > Journey
- Fill in the Journey details (title, description, thumbnail, skills, tags, level, Journey type, optional badge)
- Click Continue
- Organize content into sections:
- Enter a Section Title for each phase (e.g., “Week 1: Foundations”)
- Search for SmartCards, create new ones, or add existing Pathways
- Use Dynamic Pathway to auto-generate content
- Choose display: Tile View or List View
- Mark content as optional (at least one must be required per section)
- Save as Draft or Publish
Best Practices: Design sections to build progressively, group similar content types together, use clear section titles that indicate what learners will accomplish, and add milestone markers at key points.
Creating content with Articulate Rise
For more sophisticated e-learning courses, the Talent Development team can work with you using Articulate Rise, a professional authoring tool for creating interactive, mobile-responsive courses.
When to use Articulate Rise:
- You need robust completion tracking and reporting
- The course will be assigned to a large group of users
- You want interactive elements like branching scenarios, knowledge checks, and assessments
- The content is complex and requires professional instructional design
- You need SCORM compliance for compliance or certification training
How it works:
- Request collaboration - Contact the Talent Development team in #learninganddevelopment
- Initial consultation - A team member will meet with you to:
- Learn about your content and learning objectives
- Demo the Rise authoring tool
- Understand your full requirements and timeline
- Determine the best approach (you build it, we build it, or collaborative)
- Development - Depending on license availability and project complexity:
- You may receive a temporary Rise license to build the content yourself with support
- Or a Talent Development team member will build the content with your input through iterative feedback cycles
- Finalization - Once complete, the course is exported as a SCORM file and uploaded to LevelUp as a SCORM SmartCard
- Publishing - The course is published in LevelUp with full completion tracking and reporting
What you’ll need to provide:
- Clear learning objectives
- Subject matter expertise and/or source materials
- Feedback at review milestones
- Availability for collaboration meetings
Courses built in Rise offer enhanced interactivity, professional design, and reliable completion tracking that’s essential for compliance and certification programs.
Third-Party Content in LevelUp
If you’re working with a content partner or vendor that offers integration capabilities with learning management systems, we may be able to integrate their content directly into LevelUp.
Current content partners include:
- O’Reilly
- Hone
- Masterclass
- BizLibrary
- CyberU
- MadeCraft
- Google Cloud Skills Boost
How to request an integration:
Cornerstone is one of the largest LMS platforms in the world and has partnerships with many content providers. If you’re working with a vendor who offers training content and you’d like to explore integration:
- Contact the Talent Development team in #learninganddevelopment
- Provide information about the vendor and their integration capabilities
- The team will evaluate the opportunity and work with the vendor if integration is feasible
Direct integrations provide seamless access for team members and better tracking of learning activities.
Understanding Your Learning
System Transcript
Your System Transcript is your complete learning record in LevelUp. It shows:
- All courses and content you’ve completed
- Completion dates and status
- Earned badges and certifications
- Hours of learning completed
To access your transcript:
- From any page in LevelUp, click More in the top navigation
- Select System Transcript
- Use filters to view specific types of content or date ranges
This is especially useful when you receive compliance training notifications and want to verify what you’ve already completed.
Progress Tracking
LevelUp tracks your progress through learning content. However, note that:
- Some courses only report completion, not ongoing progress
- Your progress bar may show 0% until you complete the entire course
- This is normal behavior for certain content types - your progress isn’t lost
- Once you finish the course, your transcript will reflect completion
For Managers
Manager Dashboard
Managers have access to additional tools in LevelUp for supporting their team’s development:
Access the Manager Dashboard:
- Click More > Manager Dashboard
- View your team’s learning activity, assigned content, and progress
What you can do:
- Assign content - Recommend or require specific learning for your team members
- Track progress - See who has completed assigned learning and who might need a nudge
- View team skills - Understand the skills your team has developed through their learning
- Discover content - Find learning resources relevant to your team’s goals
Best practices for managers:
- Have career development conversations and recommend relevant Pathways or Journeys
- Assign learning with context - explain why you’re recommending specific content
- Follow up on assigned learning and discuss applications on the job
- Celebrate completion of major learning programs or certifications
Compliance Training
Understanding Compliance Requirements
Compliance training is mandatory training that all team members (or specific groups) must complete to meet legal, regulatory, or company policy requirements.
Common compliance topics include:
- Code of Conduct
- Security awareness
- Anti-harassment and discrimination
- Data privacy
- Export controls and trade compliance
Compliance Notifications
When compliance training is assigned to you, you’ll receive:
- Email notification with the course name and due date
- In-app notifications when you log into LevelUp
- Reminder emails as the due date approaches
- Overdue notices if training is not completed by the deadline
Standard notification cadence:
- Initial assignment notification
- Reminders at 7 days before due date
- Reminder at 3 days before due date
- Due date reminder
- Overdue reminders at 2, 5, and 10 days after due date
- Manager notification at 14 days overdue
These notifications may be customized for individual training courses and assignments, depending on the nature of the course, and reasons for the assignment.
Completing Compliance Training
- Log into LevelUp via Okta
- Navigate to Assigned Learning on your dashboard
- Click on the compliance course to begin
- Complete all required modules
- Check your System Transcript to verify completion
Important notes:
- Compliance training is mandatory and must be completed by the due date
- Your completion is tracked and reported
- Failure to complete may result in follow-up from your manager or People team
- If you have questions or need an extension due to extenuating circumstances, contact your manager or the Talent Development team
Channels and Groups
Channels
Channels are topic-based collections of content that help you discover learning materials on specific subjects. Think of them like YouTube channels - curated collections focused on particular themes.
How to use Channels:
- Browse available channels to find topics that interest you
- Follow channels to get notifications when new content is added
- Channels might include topics like “Leadership Development”, “Technical Skills”, “Product Knowledge”, etc.
- Content in channels is curated by experts or the Talent Development team
Groups
Groups are communities of learners organized around teams, departments, or shared interests. Groups allow content to be shared with specific audiences and enable collaborative learning.
Benefits of Groups:
- Connect with colleagues learning similar topics
- Share resources and recommendations
- Access content specifically created for your team or department
- Participate in group discussions and learning activities
Joining Groups:
- You may be automatically added to groups based on your role or department
- You can search for and request to join other groups that align with your interests
- Some groups are private and require approval to join
If you’d like to create a specific group to share learning with, reach out to the #learninganddevelopment team.
Mobile Learning
Cornerstone Mobile App
LevelUp runs on the Cornerstone platform, and you can access it on your mobile device using the Cornerstone mobile app (Cornerstone Galaxy). This allows you to learn anytime, anywhere.
Features available on mobile:
- Complete assigned learning
- Browse and search the content catalog
- Save content to your favorites
- View your learning transcript
- Receive notifications about new assignments
- Continue learning from where you left off
How to download and set up:
-
Download the app:
- iOS: Search “Cornerstone Galaxy” in the App Store
- Android: Search “Cornerstone Galaxy” in Google Play
-
Prerequisites: You must have Okta Verify set up on your mobile device
-
Follow the setup guide: LevelUp Mobile Access Guide
Mobile learning tips:
- Enable Touch ID or Face ID for quick access
- Download content for offline viewing when possible
- Use commute time or downtime for bite-sized learning
- Set up notifications to stay on top of assigned training
FAQs
Getting Started
Q: How do I log into LevelUp?
A: Access LevelUp through Okta by searching for the “LevelUp” tile. If you can’t find it, contact IT Support.
Q: Can I access LevelUp on my phone?
A: Yes! Download the Cornerstone mobile app (search “Cornerstone Galaxy” in your app store) and log in with your Okta credentials. You can check out the full access guide here.
Q: I’m new to GitLab. Where should I start in LevelUp?
A: Start with any assigned learning that appears on your dashboard. You can also browse the onboarding Pathways or ask your manager for recommendations.
Learning History and Progress
Q: I completed courses in the legacy system. What happened to my learning data?
A: Your learning history is preserved and will be migrated to the new LevelUp system over the coming weeks and months. You don’t need to take any action or retake courses you’ve already completed. The migration happens automatically in the background.
Q: I started a course, but my progress bar shows 0% completion. Is my progress lost?
A: No, your progress isn’t lost. Some courses only report completion status, not incremental progress. Your progress bar will update to show completion once you finish the entire course. This is normal for certain content types.
Q: How do I check what compliance training I’ve completed?
A: The best place to check is your System Transcript. Access it from the top navigation bar by choosing More > System Transcript. You can filter by content type or date range to find specific completions.
Content and Access
Q: Can I still access GitLab University content?
A: Yes, all product education content on GitLab University will remain available for GitLab Team members to complete - including all GitLab certifications. Contact the Digital Success team if you have any questions about content on GitLab University.
Q: How do I request access to Google Cloud Skills Boost or other content partners?
A: Request access through Lumos
Technical Issues
Q: I found a bug or something isn’t working properly in LevelUp. Who should I tell?
A: Please share any technical issues or feature feedback in the #learninganddevelopment Slack channel. The team monitors this regularly and will address reported issues.
Q: I have a question about how something works in LevelUp. Where can I get help?
A: Ask in the #learninganddevelopment Slack channel.
Q: I received a notification about compliance training, but I can’t find the course. What should I do?
A: First, check your Assigned Learning section on your LevelUp dashboard. If you still can’t find it, check your System Transcript to confirm whether you’ve already completed it. If neither of those helps, contact the Talent Development team in #learninganddevelopment with details about the training you’re looking for.
Content Creation
Q: I want to create a learning course for my team. Where do I start?
A: It depends on what you’re trying to create:
- Simple resource sharing - Create a SmartCard
- Structured learning program - Create a Pathway or Journey
- Formal course with tracking - Contact #learninganddevelopment to discuss using Articulate Rise
Q: Can I create content that’s only visible to my team?
A: Yes. When creating SmartCards, Pathways, or Journeys, you can set privacy settings to make content private and specify which users or groups can access it.
Q: I want to share a great course I found online. How do I do that?
A: Create a Web URL SmartCard that links to the external resource. Add a good description and tag it with relevant skills so others can find it.
Q: Do I need special permissions to create content in LevelUp?
A: All team members can create SmartCards in LevelUp. To create Pathways or Journeys, you’ll need additional permissions - contact a member of the Learning and Development team in #learninganddevelopment to have this added to your profile.
Getting Help
For questions, feedback, or support with LevelUp, reach out in the #learninganddevelopment Slack channel. The Talent Development team is here to support your learning journey and help you make the most of LevelUp’s capabilities.
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