See what's new with Credential Engine in "Transparency" our monthly newsletter.

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Transparency
Credential Engine develops its data standards through open, inclusive, and transparent processes
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September 19th, 2023
Welcome to Transparency, Credential Engine’s monthly newsletter. At Credential Engine, our goal is to provide Transparency readers with up-to-date information on what we are doing each month, what our partners are doing, what is upcoming, and what is going on in this landscape. This month, we are asking our readers to fill out a brief survey to gauge if we are providing content that is useful and beneficial to our readers. Please follow this link ([link removed]) and provide us with your feedback! All responses are anonymous.
Jump ahead:

> Spotlight (#Spotlight)
> U (#Policy) pdates (#Updates)
> State Connections (#State)
> Technology & Support (#Technology)
> Events (#Events)


** Spotlight.
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At Credential Engine, we want to empower everyone to contribute to an open, transparent credentialing ecosystem. One way we do that is through our openly available resources and technologies. Our technologies include the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL), credential and competency publishing tools, an open-source Credential Registry, and methods for using CTDL-linked open data in the Registry and in an organization’s own systems and web tools.

There are multiple ways users can utilize the CTDL and our tools to work toward credential transparency. For example, the b ([link removed]) adge publisher ([link removed]) is part of our publishing system toolkit and is an example of how Credential Engine is advancing the use of the CTDL to contribute to an open and accessible ecosystem of credential information. The badge publisher tool empowers organizations issuing Open Badges ([link removed]) to seamlessly import public information about their badges into the Credential Registry from a badging platform. With the Credential Registry badge publisher, users can effortlessly import essential details about their badges, including badge name, description, earning criteria, and more. The tool automatically maps these fields to the CTDL, enabling users to easily describe their badges.

Another example is the p ([link removed]) athway builder ([link removed]) . The pathway builder is also part of our publishing system toolkit and is an example of how Credential Engine integrated a new tool to allow users to easily construct, visualize, and/or publish new or existing pathways. The pathway builder tool builds off the data in the Credential Registry to communicate learning and career pathways through the use of the CTDL-linked open data structure. The Credential Registry provides a rich collection of pathway components that users can leverage by searching for relevant components and adding them to the pathway builder board. The use of this tool allows users to consume these data and provide individuals with structured routes to gain knowledge, skills, and experiences that guide them toward meaningful and fulfilling careers while enabling lifelong learning.
All resources and tools from Credential Engine are freely and openly available. The CTDL is always evolving and growing to accommodate the growth of this landscape. We are here to provide initial guidance toward using our open tools and resources, and we also provide tailored services that are designed to meet your goals of working toward credential transparency. You can view those services here ([link removed]) . We encourage you to reach out to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to learn more about credential transparency and how you can utilize the tools and resources that are powered by the CTDL.


** Updates.
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New Learning and Employment Record Initiative Launched: SkillsFWD ([link removed]) is a new initiative seeking to build a more equitable skills-based hiring ecosystem leveraging learning and employment records (LERs), organized by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors with support from a collaborative of funders. LERs are digital records of people's skills, educational experiences, and work histories. This initiative will award a maximum of eight grants, up to $1.5 million each, “to teams working to solve challenges to adoption and engage key stakeholder groups in developing systems that enable more learners and workers to access quality education and career opportunities. Applicants are expected to build upon existing tools or systems to demonstrate how to make LERs more interoperable, increase awareness and capacity to scale adoption and use, or work to expand access to a new user group.” If you are interested in this opportunity, you can learn more here
([link removed]) . Credential Engine has created an LER Action Guide ([link removed]) to enable more efficient career navigation and provide more equitable access to actionable information through LERs. This Action Guide describes the phases and steps that stakeholders can follow to develop and sustain trusted LER ecosystems. If you are interested in learning more about how Credential Engine, the CTDL, and the Credential Registry can play a role in your SkillsFWD proposal or LER work in general, contact us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

[link removed] Engine Invites You to Join our CTDL Certificates Task Group: Credential Engine follows a clearly defined, open process to make significant updates ([link removed]) to develop the CTDL. The CTDL already supports rich descriptions of numerous types of credentials, including some types of certificates. A number of United States-based partners have asked Credential Engine to consider expanding the types of certificates that are described and included in the CTDL. Consequently, additional types of industry, vocational, career, technical, secondary, and postsecondary certificates that are embedded in programs and/or require assessments need to be explored to determine if/how they should be defined within the CTDL. The CTDL Certificates Task Group (CTG) will revisit the definition and framing of the term “certificate” and sub-classes to represent
ecosystems’ needs accurately. The CTG will generate use cases and determine a CTDL model and terms proposal for additional types of certificates and terms for describing them and their relationships to competencies, assessments, jobs, other types of credentials, and other relevant entities in CTDL. If you are interested in joining the CTG, sign up here ([link removed]) . To learn more about the CTG, click here ([link removed]) . This task group will kick off on October 4th.

The Value of CTDL for AI: As uses of AI and machine learning are very quickly evolving for applications like skills mapping, learning opportunity recommendations, and career exploration, CTDL provides huge advantages for improved accuracy and relevance in these applications. The CTDL schema and CTDL data in the Credential Registry are highly useful for training and refining AI models because they are structured data that is organized, predefined, and formatted consistently. And the more data that is available in CTDL, the more thoroughly AI tools can analyze patterns in the linked open data and make valuable connections. Credential Engine is working with partners on innovations that combine CTDL as a rich data schema, the huge body of CTDL data that is already in the Credential Registry, and new AI-assisted tools that publish to and consume from the Credential Registry. Let us know if you’re also working on AI innovations that use CTDL, and let’s collaborate!


** State Connections.
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Pennsylvania is Driving Workforce Development with Credential Transparency: Leaders in Pennsylvania are building a public credential registry of all educational and industry credentials available in the Commonwealth. Led by the Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), this initiative seeks to address workforce needs in the state by bringing transparency to the education landscape and highlighting in-demand credentials that lead to in-demand jobs. The public registry will play a key role in bridging the gap between supply and demand for skilled workers in critical areas. This public registry consumes data from the open Credential Registry. Learners can discover key information about credentials, their outcomes, and their connections within pathways that lead to these important and wage-sustaining careers. PASSHE has completed the first phase of this work, leveraging state workforce funding and federal pandemic relief funds. To learn more about Credential Engine and PASSHE’s
work together, click here ([link removed]) .


** Technology & Support.
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[link removed] Rubric Terms Proposal Comment Period: On September 6th, the Rubrics Task Group (RTG) hosted a Rubric Proposal webinar ([link removed]) that provided an overview of the proposed Rubric CTDL terms that came out of the RTG. These proposed Rubric terms are part of an efficient process designed to facilitate organized changes and enhance the enduring value of CTDL Linked Open Data. Following the webinar, there is a two-week comment period encouraging the public to provide feedback on the CTDL Rubric Proposal by September 22. If you are interested in providing feedback, you can:
1. Use comments to provide feedback directly in the CTDL Rubric Terms Proposal ([link removed]) . To add your feedback, select and right-click on the applicable text, then select “+Comment,” fill it in, and select the blue Comment button to save it.
2. Add comments to GitHub Issue #892: Rubric Domain Model and Terms Proposal ([link removed]) .
3. Email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) with any comments or questions.

To learn more, click here ([link removed]) .


** Events.
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Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) Career Readiness Collaborative Event

San Antonio, TX. September 19-20th. Credential Engine will be presenting at the CCSSO Career Readiness Event on how the CTDL and the Credential Registry can help school districts and students know more about the value of industry-recognized credentials. To learn more, click here ([link removed]) .

CBExchange 2023

Amelia Island, FL. October 3rd-6th. This conference convenes Competency-Based Education (CBE) leaders who recognize that learning should be measured by what you can do: the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that lay the foundation for your success. Credential Engine will be in attendance and speaking at the CBE Model Showcase where attendees will learn and discuss outstanding models and strategies. To learn more about the event, click here ([link removed]) .

Groningen Declaration Network Annual Meeting

Amman, Jordan. October 16-19th. This annual convening has stakeholders from over 100 organizations participating in the Groningen Declaration Network. The participants will share, learn, and lead discussions on developing capabilities, policies, and technical platforms to improve data exchange as a support to citizen and learner mobility. Credential Engine will present at the “Empowering People through Semantic Credential Transparency” session with Simone Ravaioli, Director of Global Ecosystem and Innovation at Parchment. This presentation will explore real-world examples and best practices, emphasizing the importance of policy and cooperation in sharing data to enable comprehensive understanding and application of credentials. To learn more about the event, click here ([link removed]) .

Workforce Technology Conference: Exploring the Power of One
Monterey, CA. October 16-19th. This conference from Geographic Solutions will bring together thought leaders, educators, frontline staff, and more to discuss the power of seamlessly managing all labor exchange, case management, unemployment, human services, partner programs, and corrections. Credential Engine will present at the breakout session “Credential Engine and ETPL: Giving Meaning to Credentials, Degrees, Skill Competencies, and Learning Backgrounds.” To learn more about this event, click here ([link removed]) .

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