Global Learning Mobility and Credential Transparency: In the September 2024 "Beyond Transfer" blog feature in Inside Higher Education, Credential Engine and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) discuss the value of credential transparency for global learning mobility. The AACRAO Electronic Database for Global Education (EDGE), the premier U.S. resource for the evaluation of foreign educational credentials, supporting institutions in international recruitment, admissions, academic placement, and international transfer credit evaluation, combined with the CTDL will help illustrate the value and worldwide connections of credentials by making the EDGE data available in CTDL, allowing for cross-system interoperability. Thanks to AACRAO's Melanie Gottlieb and Julia Funaki and Credential Engine's Deb Everhart and Jeanne Kitchens for advancing this important work. There is so much more that structured, linked, open, and interoperable data can do to improve transparency, equity, mobility, empowerment, and advancement. Learn more about this project here. 

If you are interested in getting involved, join the Credential Engine’s Qualifications Frameworks task group aimed at representing qualifications frameworks as linked, open data.
 

Credential Engine’s Counting Credentials Report, Sponsorship Invitation: The credentials marketplace is large and complex and will continue to grow as the economy requires both new skills and credentials. It is also undergoing a dramatic reshaping in the form of massive digitization, both in the form of the representation of the skills and credentials earned, as well as how such credentials are captured, managed, shared, and valued in the economy. Credential Engine’s Counting Credentials report aims to provide information on how many credentials are available in the U.S. and identifies where those credentials come from (see our 2022 version here), providing the crucial data to start understanding the breadth of credential data available. For our next Counting Credentials report, we are inviting sponsorships. This sponsorship opportunity will place your organization at the center of understanding digital credentialing and showcase your dedication to creating transparent, efficient, and effective ecosystems. By supporting our upcoming report, your organization will gain visibility among pivotal influencers in education, workforce, business, and policy on both a domestic and global scale. 

If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, click here. Please reach out to [email protected] if you are interested or have any questions.
 

Issuer Registries in Practice - Collaborate with Credential Engine and the Digital Credentials Consortium: The Digital Credentials Consortium (DCC) and Credential Engine are collaborating on a joint 2024-2025 project to explore the governance and technology needs for implementing issuer registries within Learning and Employment Record (LER) ecosystems. With support from Walmart, this joint initiative aims to build trust in LERs by developing guidance and a prototype for issuer registries. The project will address challenges with issuer identity verification, registry implementation, governance, hosting, and sustainability. All of this work is use-case driven and is being developed through the use of open standards and community input, including an advisory group and pilot. Part of the work will investigate utilizing CTIDs, Credential Registry accounts, Credential Registry CTDL data, and the Credential Registry’s publishing system to support and strengthen issuer registries. Learn more about this project here. 

If you are interested in getting involved:

• Join the Issuer Registry Advisory Group: Participate in discussions and deliverables to build shared understanding and contribute to project success. You can learn more about this opportunity here and sign up here. 

• Participate in the pilot: Participants will engage in testing a functional issuer registry and provide feedback and insights to refine the model for broader implementation. Invitations will be sent out later.

• Stay informed: We will continue to provide updates on this project! Subscribe to Credential Engine’s newsletter and DCC’s newsletter to stay current. 
   

Credential Engine on Credentials Unscripted: Check out Episode 19 of Credentials Unscripted on the power of credential transparency. This episode discusses Credential Engine’s efforts to improve pathways by investing in credential transparency, as well as how the Credential Registry and CTDL are powering what learners, states, and employers know about the credentialing ecosystem. Listen here!
 

New Job Opportunity at Credential Engine!: Credential Engine is hiring for a Technical Project Manager who will be responsible for the management, coordination, execution, and success of Credential Engine’s responsibilities for U.S. Navy projects, and other related projects as they develop. This position works directly with Credential Engine’s technical team designing, developing, and implementing technical requirements and solutions as well as with an external project team composed of multiple vendors with their own project responsibilities and government personnel.  This is a contract-funded position through September 2025.  Continued employment is contingent upon renewed funding. Learn more about this opportunity and how to apply here. 
 

Credential Registry Guidance Resources on Quality Assurance Credentials and Actions Now Available: Check out our newest resources on the Credential Registry Guidance site focused on understanding quality assurance (QA) credentials and actions, and entering QA credentials and actions via manual entry and bulk upload. 

• Get Started: Understanding Quality Assurance Credentials and Actions

• Entering Quality Assurance Credentials and Actions via Manual Entry

• Entering Quality Assurance Credentials and Actions via Bulk Upload

The Power of Collections in the Registry: States and partners are encouraged to create Collections in the Credential Registry. A Collection is a grouping of resources, and as the name indicates, it is a resource that “collects” other published resources, such as credentials and learning programs. Collections are a great way to give context to resources in the Registry, spotlight an approved list of credentials or learning opportunities, or provide a filtered list of credentials that are meaningful to learners.

Here are a few recent collections that have been published to the Registry:

• Texas Early Childhood Credentials - This collection is designed to assist those seeking careers in early childhood development, education, and administration professions. These pathway credentials include certifications, post-secondary degrees, and certificates of completion designed to grow and support current and future childcare workers and educators.

• Arkansas Eligible Training Providers List - This collection shows the approved training programs identified by local Workforce Investment Boards that qualify for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funded training in Arkansas.

• Texas Education Agency’s 2022-2025 Industry-Based Certification (IBC) List - Industry-based certifications are a valuable component of strong student pathways. The purpose of the IBC list for public school accountability is to identify certifications that prepare students for success in the workforce, military, or postsecondary education. 

For assistance on how to create a collection in the Registry, please visit Instructions for Creating a Collection in the Registry or reach out to [email protected] for assistance.
 

Credential Engine Community of Practice: Credential Engine held its first State Partner Community of Practice meeting on September 11th. This was an opportunity for our partners to connect and exchange ideas with others working on credential transparency across the country. We want to thank Jordan Gusich from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and Natalie Cartwright with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education for being our first state partners to lead the discussion on topics ranging from credential publishing to data governance. We plan to host another community of practice in the coming months so keep a lookout for more information. If you missed the meeting you can check out the recording here. (password: MP8@k9D4).