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

View this email in your browser ([link removed])


**
Transparency
Credential Engine develops its data standards through open, inclusive, and transparent processes
------------------------------------------------------------
December 19th, 2024

Welcome to Transparency, Credential Engine's monthly newsletter! As we close out another highly productive year, we’d like to express our gratitude to everyone who has contributed to advancing credential transparency. A special thank you to our funders, partners, collaborators, staff, and advocates. Achieving success in credential transparency requires a collective vision, and we’re grateful for your continued support. Wishing you all a joyful conclusion to 2024 and a productive 2025!
Latest Credential Registry Numbers ([link removed]) : 4,302 Organizations, 92,038 Credentials, 5,514 Competency Frameworks, 116,756 Competencies, 29,951 Learning/Training Opportunities, and 19,723 Transfer Values.
Jump ahead:

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


** Spotlight.
------------------------------------------------------------

Potential WIOA Reauthorization Includes Critical Steps Towards Credential Transparency and Better Information for Workers, Job-Seekers, and Employers: The “A Stronger Workforce for America Act” (ASWA) – a reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the nation’s cornerstone workforce development legislation is in play to be included as part of the Continuing Resolution awaiting passage to fund the government through March 2025. Credential Engine thanks the leaders of the House Education and Workforce Committee, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and the House and Senate Leadership for their commitment to the passage of ASWA.

ASWA includes several groundbreaking provisions related to credential transparency– demonstrating an important commitment to using linked, open, and interoperable data standards to increase the public’s understanding and use of essential information about the value of education programs, related credentials, and the skills needed for success in today’s economy. The result will be greater insights into WIOA providers’ and programs’ quality and outcomes. The improvements made by ASWA will lead to stronger employment opportunities, enhance students’ ability to develop and navigate career pathways, deepen understanding across the country of the impact of certain credentials for different populations and in different regions, and provide a strong foundation for a new generation of tools and services for students, workers, job-seekers, employers, educators, and policymakers.

Credential Engine worked closely on a letter ([link removed]) sent to Congress leadership, supported by over 40 organizations, advocating for several improvements in data access and usage, adoption of open data around credentials and skills, and improved interoperability. Additionally, Credential Engine, along with leaders in the field, released a memo ([link removed]) aimed at strengthening the workforce data ecosystem. The memo urges the administration to take action on the recommendations outlined, prioritizing the workforce development data ecosystem, including data related to programs under WIOA.

We eagerly await final passage and emphasize the value ASWA can have on states and other partners to meet the vision of the goals of credential transparency.

If you are interested in collaborating with Credential Engine or have questions about how the reauthorization of WIOA might impact your state, please email us at [email protected].


** Updates.
------------------------------------------------------------

Credential Engine Welcomes New Team Members: Ashley Bland Manlove, Sarah Wyatt, and Sherika Rich have joined us as Partnerships Managers. In this role, they will foster partnerships and manage projects that advance credential transparency, creating an environment for informed decision-making about credential opportunities and pathways.
Additionally, we welcome Kamran Hasan as our new Technical Project Manager. Kamran will oversee Credential Engine’s involvement in U.S. Navy projects, along with other related initiatives as they arise. He will work closely with our technical team to implement project requirements and solutions, while also collaborating with an external project team that includes multiple vendors and government personnel. Learn more about the Credential Engine team here ([link removed]) .


New Report Uses Credential Registry Data: In its report, Understanding the Full Cost of Short-Term Credentials ([link removed]) , EdTrust explores the actual costs students face when participating in short-term credential programs. The report examines approximately 19,000 short-term credentials across the country, including certificates, digital badges, micro-credentials, and more. The data used to calculate the cost of attendance for programs of varying durations (e.g., hours, days, months) was sourced from the publicly available information in the Credential Registry. This enabled EdTrust to compare the total costs across different program types and timelines. This report is a prime example of how
linked open data can not only inform resources but also serve as the foundation for credential transparency.

Updates to the CTDL-VAT: Credential Engine’sCTDL-VAT ([link removed]) simplifies procurement and product development by allowing buyers to clearly define their needs while enabling vendors to highlight their CTDL capabilities. It fosters informed discussions that reduce buyer risk and help vendors differentiate themselves. The CTDL-VAT provides a shared framework for buyers, vendors, and other stakeholders to document specific requirements for using, publishing, and consuming CTDL data in the Credential Registry. This tool is continuously evolving, and shaped by the feedback and usage of our partners.
This month, we've enhanced the CTDL-VAT by introducing support for 'Career Exploration' products. This new product type provides customized guidance and access to CTDL data tables, designed to facilitate the alignment of educational programs with employment objectives. The update includes key functional questions and insights, streamlining your decision-making process in developing and evaluating career-focused educational products.


Kicking off 2025 Counting Credentials Report: The Credential Engine “Counting Credentials” report offers valuable insights into the growing landscape of credentials by tracking and quantifying credential data across various U.S. sectors. The data highlighted in the report is crucial for employers, educators, policymakers, and learners, as it highlights trends, gaps, and opportunities in workforce development. It also supports efforts to enhance credential transparency and interoperability, contributing to a more efficient labor market and ensuring credentials align with industry needs.

To make the 2025 version of the Counting Credential report the most accurate and reflective of this ecosystem, we have set up the Counting Credentials Research Advisory Group comprised of subject matter experts to help refine categories, improve accuracy, ensure all audiences understand the content and more. Each advisory group meeting is open to the public, so keep an eye out for the February invite!

Advancing Qualifications Frameworks as Linked Open Data: On December 17th, Credential Engine hosted a webinar following the work of the Qualifications Frameworks as Data Global Task Group, introducing the CTDL Terms Proposal for Representing Qualifications Frameworks as Linked Open Data.

The webinar explored the global significance of qualifications frameworks, their role in supporting learner mobility, and how the proposed CTDL terms can represent progression levels, alignments, and relationships as linked open data. These capabilities aim to improve transparency, interoperability, and usability across global education and workforce systems.

We’re inviting your input on this proposal! Feedback can be provided via Google Docs, GitHub, or email by January 10, 2025.

Access the webinar recording, presentation deck, and feedback details here ([link removed]) .


** Partnerships.
------------------------------------------------------------

Credential Engine's Efforts to Bridge Education and Workforce Gaps: As the education and workforce landscape rapidly evolves, Credential Engine is focusing on expanding education and employment information available as linked open data through the CTDL and in the Credential Registry to empower all stakeholders with clear, consistent information and to fuel the development of tools and services that use this information to help people make better decisions.

Credential Engine, with the support of a two-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is collaborating with a select group of state agencies, institutions, and regional organizations to make opportunities for success, job skills, and pathways data available as CTDL-linked open data and publish to the Credential Registry. These efforts aim to create clearer pathways for learners and workers, improving workforce readiness and fostering greater transparency across the education system.

Each of these subgrantees is addressing unique needs in workforce development, opportunities for success, and pathways:
* Bristol Community College (Massachusetts): The college is aligning its academic programs with employer demand to address workforce skill gaps by publishing 17 career-based academic credentials, including competency maps and job skills. The project includes partnering with employers to create a trust registry for digital credentials, hosting outreach events, and supporting skill-based hiring strategies to strengthen the talent pipeline.
* Houston Community College Foundation (Texas): This project is strengthening pathways into healthcare careers by publishing detailed data on for-credit and non-credit programs in the health sciences field. The project also aims to connect other local institutions’ transfer agreements to build regional pathways into healthcare careers and collaborate with colleges like Delmar College and Texas Southmost College to address Texas' healthcare workforce shortages.
* Indiana Commission for Higher Education: The Commission is expanding cybersecurity educational pathways by publishing Cybersecurity Transfer Single Articulation Pathways (TSAPs) between Ivy Tech Community College and Vincennes University to the Credential Registry. The initiative also includes developing a pathways visualization tool in the My College Core planning tool to help students navigate their educational journey and career goals in cybersecurity.
* Land of Sky P20 Council (North Carolina): The Land of Sky P20 Council is enhancing access to workforce credentials across western North Carolina by publishing NC Workforce Credentials data from six regional institutions to the Credential Registry. The project aims to increase transparency, prioritize equity, and help students make informed decisions by providing detailed program data and creating a data integration tool to visualize credential opportunities.
* Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE): PASSHE is leading the Pennsylvania Credential Registry Project. The initiative involves publishing key data on credentials, including program duration, costs, and financial aid, to help students make informed decisions about their education and career paths.

These projects are shaping the future of education and workforce development by making critical data more accessible and helping individuals and employers navigate the changing landscape. Read more about this work here ([link removed])


** Technology & Support.
------------------------------------------------------------

Opportunity to Enhance Transparency in Education and Employment Outcomes: The Credential Registry publishing system has been enhanced to support more types of education and employment outcomes metrics. These updates enable transparent, aggregate data to demonstrate the value of outcomes such as graduation rates, employment rates, and earnings. This transparency helps learners, educators, policymakers, and employers make informed decisions and understand the impact of education and training programs.
Join our upcoming webinar on January 28th at 2 PM ET to learn how to publish and share education and employment outcomes metrics using the CTDL. Discover practical guidance for creating and sharing metrics data that supports better decision-making and strengthens credentialing ecosystems. Register today ([link removed]) ! Learn more about this opportunity here ([link removed]) .


2024 CTDL Recap and Vision for 2025 and Beyond: As 2024 comes to a close, we’re excited to share the remarkable progress made in advancing global credential and skill transparency. This year’s achievements—guided by the CTDL Advisory Group and Credential Engine’s CTDL team—include significant innovations in rubrics, micro-credentials, qualifications frameworks, and global partnerships with organizations like UNESCO, APEC, and the Groningen Declaration Network.
These accomplishments set the stage for even greater progress in 2025 and beyond as we continue building pathways that connect learning and workforce needs worldwide. Read the full blog here ([link removed]) .


Scaling Up Publishing with CTDL xTRA in 2025: Throughout 2024, Credential Engine has been working with our long-time partner, Learning Tapestry, to develop the CTDL xTRA (Extract and Transformation) web application. In January 2025, we will begin piloting this AI-powered tool to extract and transform course catalog data from public web pages into CTDL in a ready-to-publish format for the Credential Registry. The pilot will run through May 2025.

While the pilot is underway, we will gather feedback and assess its impact. Throughout 2025, we will continue to expand CTDL xTRA’s capabilities to include other CTDL classes, such as learning programs, competencies, and credentials.

We are always interested in collaborating and partnering to enhance the capabilities of this open-source tool. If your organization is interested in partnering with us, we’d be glad to hear from you!

============================================================
Follow us on:
** Twitter ([link removed])
** LinkedIn ([link removed])
** YouTube ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
Copyright © 2024 Credential Engine, All rights reserved.

Questions? Email ** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
.

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
.

Was this email forwarded to you? ** Sign up here ([link removed])
to receive your own copy.