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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March 20th, 2024

Welcome to Transparency, Credential Engine's monthly newsletter. This month we are excited to share new resources, opportunities to interact with Credential Engine’s work, highlights of the work of some of our state partners, a hiring opportunity, and more. We hope everyone has a warm welcome into spring and Punxsutawney Phil’s official claim of an early spring is accurate! Keep reading to learn what Credential Engine has been up to.
Jump ahead:

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


** Spotlight.
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New Credential Registry Guidance Site Released
We are excited to announce the Credential Registry Guidance ([link removed]) site, the new go-to source for knowledge, guidance, support, and instructions for using our tools and resources, including the Accounts system, the Publishing system’s various tools such as the Badge Publisher, Pathway Builder, and the Credential Finder and its customizable widgets.
[link removed]

We understand that using our systems happens on your timeline, not ours, and that having resources readily available to help guide you through your publishing and consuming needs is of top priority.

The resources on the site will continually expand and evolve based on user needs and updates to the Credential Registry. You can filter the resources available on this site by the different tools we have available or by the different types of data you can publish to the Credential Registry.

We will be offering a webinar on April 2nd, at 1PM Eastern, where Credential Engine staff will take a deep dive into the guidance resources offered, go over the variety of information available on the site, and demonstrate how to use this site. Register here ([link removed]) today!

When credential data is made available in a linked open data format, it can empower learner-facing tools for the best pathways, help employers and workers understand the skills needed for a career path, and inform policymakers on how best to help their communities. It all starts with making that data available and open, and the Credential Registry Guidance site is here to help you every step of the way.

Read the full announcement here ([link removed]) .

Visit and Explore the Credential Registry Guidance site ([link removed]) today!


** Updates.
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Global Skills X-Change and Credential Engine Announce Partnership: Global Skills X-Change ([link removed]) (GSX) and Credential Engine announce a strategic partnership to support transparency, accessibility, and verifiability in the realm of professional credentials. With GSX having the ability to publish detailed information to the Credential Registry and enhancing the quality of data published using the CTDL, this collaboration will benefit job seekers, educators, employers, credential providers, certification bodies, and students. By expanding data in the Credential Registry, the collaboration empowers tools that enable more informed decisions regarding career pathways and workforce development. Learn more about this partnership here ([link removed]) .

Navigating the Micro-Credential Landscape: In a new blog from Credential Engine ([link removed]) , we highlight our Global Micro-Credential Schema Mapping project. Micro-credentials are innovative, stackable credentials that incrementally document what a person knows and can do. Flexibility and shorter time commitments are typical advantages of micro-credentials. But there are many different definitions of micro-credentials, making it hard to understand their meaning and value, and consequently, people lose out on opportunities. The Global Micro-Credential Schema Mapping project helps to address this issue by taking different schemas and frameworks for defining micro-credentials and lining them up against each other so that they can be compared. The project offers valuable opportunities to streamline the understanding and comparison of micro-credentials on a global scale by fostering
collaboration, enhancing the portability and recognition of micro-credentials, and ultimately benefiting individuals and organizations worldwide.

Credential Engine Hiring for Director of Finance and Administration: The Director of Finance and Administration will manage all aspects of Credential Engine’s finances, including but not limited to overseeing budgeting, audits, investments, AR and AP, payroll, contracts and grants financial reporting, and supporting the Board Finance Committee. You can view the full job posting here ([link removed]) to learn more about the qualifications and the primary responsibilities of this role. To be considered for this position, please submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected] with “Finance Director” in the subject line. Priority will be given to applications submitted by March 22, 2024.

Discover and Unlock the Power of Certificates with CTDL: The CTDL has recently been updated to encompass the broad diversity of certificates available for people to earn. CTDL now defines 22 types of certificates, with numerous terms available to give them meaning, differentiate among different types of certificates, and make their value transparent. With such a diverse range of certificates, from acknowledging participation to demonstrating skills in academic or career fields, CTDL provides essential information for illuminating paths to a better future. We are hosting a webinar on April 11th at 11 AM ET to cover our recent updates to encompass the broad diversity of certificates available for people to earn and how the CTDL can benefit everyone. Register today ([link removed]) !


** Policy Corner.
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Credential Transparency Included in New U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship FOA: A new Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Apprenticeship Building America, Round 2 ([link removed]) , continues the Department’s inclusion of credential transparency requirements for all credentials and competencies developed or delivered as part of the grant. Specifically, the FOA states:

"The Department wishes to ensure that individuals, employers, educators and training providers have access to the most complete, current and beneficial information about providers, programs credentials, and competencies supported with these public, federal funds. To this end, the Department requires that information about all credentials (including but not limited to diplomas, badges, certificates, certifications, apprenticeships, licenses, and degrees of all levels and types) and competencies (knowledge, skills and abilities) developed or delivered through the use of these public federal funds be made publicly accessible through the use of linked open data formats that support full transparency and interoperability, such as through the use of credential transparency description language specifications. ETA will provide specific guidance and technical assistance on data elements to include in the published open data, such as information about the credential provider, the credential and its
associated competencies, delivery mode, geographic coverage, the industry sector(s) and occupation(s) for which the credential was developed, related assessments, related accreditations or other quality assurances where appropriate, costs, and available outcomes.”

Credential Engine thanks DOL for its continued support of credential transparency. If you are applying for this FOA and are seeking support around the credential transparency requirement, please check-out our Federal webpage ([link removed]) or contact us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

New Letter Responds to U.S. Department of Labor Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: In a recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), they are seeking to make revisions to registered apprentice programs. In a letter ([link removed]) from the Data Quality Campaign, Credential Engine signed on to support recommendations calling for more credential data transparency, encourage the leveraging of State Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) for apprenticeship reporting purposes, clarify the use of wage record data for outcomes purposes, encourage some expansion of wage records, improve data transparency, align reporting timelines, and consider leveraging the apprenticeship system to meet the field’s need for more data professionals. We hope that the DOL will consider these recommendations in the upcoming rule-making.


** State Connections.
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[link removed] Case Study Highlights Credential Engine State Partner, Texas: In a recent study ([link removed]) from the Bush Center, Texas is highlighted for its commitment to creating a better and stronger workforce. Texas, through the work of the Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative - which includes the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board - is working towards “building a strong workforce by investing in cross-agency collaboration, modernizing data systems, and making essential information about credentials public, easily accessible, and actionable.” They are doing this by creating a publicly accessible library of essential information about credentials (diplomas, certificates, certifications, digital badges, apprenticeships, licenses, and degrees). Through the use of the open-source CTDL-linked
open data schema and Credential Engine’s open technologies, the Tri-Agencies are publishing rich data to the Texas Credential Library. This library will allow the base for a more accessible and actionable workforce. Read more about this work here ([link removed]) .

[link removed] Showcases, Indiana and Colorado: The CTDL makes essential information about credentials, skills, jobs, and pathways consistent and easy to understand. CTDL is human- and machine-readable, enabling solutions that empower learners to find the best pathways, employers to confidently hire skilled workers, credential providers to clearly describe credentials of value, and policymakers to understand better how to support their communities’ needs. Making those solutions known to the public is the purpose of our Solution Showcase page ([link removed]) , where we highlight the solutions our partners, like Indiana and Colorado, have developed to benefit learners, workers, employers, credential providers, policymakers, and more. View the webpage here ([link removed]) and contact us at [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]) to talk about highlighting your solution.

Update to State Partner Meeting Cadence: For our valued state and regional partners, we're transitioning from monthly to quarterly meetings. We hope this change will allow you time to participate and share your expertise with us in other ways, like providing feedback and joining task groups to inform CTDL development and learning new ways to expand credential transparency.


** Technology & Support.
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Unlock Skill Assessment Potential with CTDL Rubrics: CTDL rubrics offer versatility, applicable not only for assessing individuals’ skills but also for evaluating organizational capabilities and assessing the quality or suitability of products, services, and more. On February 29th, we offered a webinar ([link removed]) that delved into the CTDL update process, highlighted the latest enhancements supporting detailed Rubric descriptions, and introduced options for publishing and consuming rubric data. If you are interested in learning more about our publishing options and how to get started publishing Rubric data, click here ([link removed]) .


** Events.
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2024 Digital Credentials Summit ([link removed])

(March 4-6, New Orleans, LA) - Credential Engine presented at this year's 1EdTech Digital Credentials Summit. This conference brought together education leaders, employers, and edtech innovators who are working towards creating a better future for all learners. Credential Engine spoke at the “Data Collab for a Skills-Based Economy: Impact of Non-Degree Credentials” session that showcased efforts between the Education Design Lab, Credential Engine, the National Student Clearinghouse, Brighthive, Rutgers Education & Employment Research Center (EERC), and Georgetown University researchers. We also presented with our partners on our Global Micro-Credential Mapping Project and harmonization across different frameworks, including the new 1EdTech TrustEd Microcredential Framework.

Spring 2024 Conference: Innovations in Credentialing ([link removed])

(March 8th, Denver, CO) - The Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) invited those in the credentialing space to a statewide faculty conference to celebrate the many innovations in credentialing that have emerged over the last year. Credential Engine presented at the “State-level Innovations and National Trends” session alongside members from the Higher Learning Commission's Credential Lab, Colorado Workforce Development Council, and the University of Colorado Boulder/AACRAO.


4th Annual Coleridge Initiative National Convening ([link removed])

(March 18th-20th, Arlington, VA) - At this year’s Coleridge Initiative National Convening, attendees will gain insights into how data collaboration can lead to better outcomes in public policy and administration, as well as learn about innovative projects, products, and practices that are driving change in the field. Credential Engine will be in attendance alongside others in the field to discuss the importance of credential transparency.


The Forum: Forging Tomorrow's Workforce Today ([link removed])
(March 23rd-26th, Washington, DC) - The National Association of Workforce Boards is hosting its 2024 Forum where they bring together thought leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss all things workforce development. Credential Engine will be presenting at the ‘LER Design Lab’ session alongside the National Association of Workforce Boards, National Governors Association, and Motlow State Community College. This session is aimed at uniting diverse stakeholders from the Learning and Employment Record (LER) ecosystem to refine and finalize a readiness assessment for local and state workforce development boards.

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