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Transparency
Credential Engine develops its data standards through open, inclusive, and transparent processes
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May 21st, 2025
Welcome to Transparency, Credential Engine’s monthly Newsletter. At Credential Engine, we believe that transparency is the foundation of a more connected and informed credentialing ecosystem. Each month in Transparency, we bring you the latest updates, insights, and innovations from across the world of credentials. Whether it's new tools, data standards, policy developments, or success stories from our partners, this newsletter is your go-to source for staying informed.

Credential Finder Numbers ([link removed]) : 103,683 Credentials, 9,638 Organizations, 46,971 Learning/Training Opportunities, 12,392 Competency Frameworks, 218,584 Competencies, 19,961 Transfer Values, and more! We encourage readers to explore the Credential Finder and learn more about the data in the Credential Registry.
Jump ahead:

> Spotlight (#Spotlight)
> U (#Policy) pdates (#Updates)
> Policy Corner (#Policy)
> Partnerships (#State)
> CTDL Solutions (#Technology)
> Events (#Events)


** Spotlight.
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Driving Global Credential Transparency: As global education and workforce systems become increasingly interconnected, the need for transparent, connected, and comparable credential data has never been greater. Credential Engine is excited to announce several new initiatives aimed at advancing our mission of global transparency.

Join the Global Qualifications Frameworks Publishing Pilot: We're launching a new pilot to support countries and organizations in publishing their qualifications frameworks (QFs) as linked open data in the Credential Registry. In partnership with the Groningen Declaration Network (The GDN Network) ([link removed]) , South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) ([link removed]) , American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) ([link removed]) , and other key stakeholders, this pilot will help participants map and connect their frameworks to a wider ecosystem of credential data using the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL).

Whether you represent a national qualifications authority, a regional education body, or a quality assurance organization, we invite you to be part of this global initiative. The pilot offers hands-on support, shared learning, and the chance to shape best practices for structuring and sharing QF data in ways that enhance trust and usability. Learn more here ([link removed]) and join ([link removed] ) the pilot ([link removed]) [link removed] ([link removed] ) !

New Task Group to make Prior Learning Recognition Transparent and Connected: We are also convening a Global Task Group to explore how credit for prior learning (CPL) can be made more transparent, trusted, and connected across borders. This group will bring together subject matter experts to identify how CPL processes and outcomes can be better described and linked using CTDL.

The Task Group will work toward a shared understanding of the data needed to make CPL more visible and interoperable, helping learners carry their knowledge and skills across systems and borders. Find out more and join the Task Group ([link removed]) here. ([link removed])

Expanding Our Global Reach - Partnering with SAQA: We're thrilled to announce the start of a new partnership with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). This collaboration will focus on enhancing the transparency and comparability of South Africa’s qualifications and strengthening the global conversation on data-enabled credential recognition.

These initiatives represent a cohesive vision for how transparent, structured, and linked open credential data can empower learners, employers, educators, and policymakers worldwide. Together, we can bridge gaps, align efforts, and advance a global marketplace of skills and learning.


** Updates.
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Unlocking the Power of Public Data - The OPEN Initiative: OPEN ([link removed]) is working to transform how public education and workforce data are shared and connected. By helping national and regional organizations structure and link their data using the CTDL, OPEN ensures that this information becomes more discoverable, comparable, and useful across systems. A major milestone in this effort is the recent publication of IPEDS postsecondary institutional data ([link removed]) to the Credential Registry. This marks an important step in demonstrating how public data can be integrated into a larger, connected credentialing ecosystem, supporting better navigation for learners and more informed decision-making for policymakers and institutions.

To learn more, explore our OPEN initiative page ([link removed]) and check out our recentblog post ([link removed]) outlining how OPEN is building a foundation for transparent, connected data.

New Resource: Open Data Principles & Framework for the Education-to-Employment Ecosystem Guide: Credential Engine, in collaboration with the Postsecondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) Coalition and Strada, has released a new guide: Open Data Principles & Framework for the Education-to-Employment Ecosystem ([link removed]) . This resource offers actionable strategies for transforming public education and workforce data into transparent, linked, and usable information. Drawing from the U.S. Open Data Policy and Credential Engine's standards, the guide aims to help learners, educators, employers, and policymakers make informed decisions by improving data accessibility and interoperability. Explore the guide here ([link removed]) .

Explore the New CTDL xTRA Tool: Credential Engine’s CTDL xTRA Tool is an open-source, AI-powered web application that transforms unstructured credential information from public websites into structured, linked open data using the CTDL. By extracting and transforming data from public web pages and converting it into bulk upload-ready CSV files, the tool significantly reduces the time and effort required to publish credential data to the Credential Registry. This process combines automated AI-driven extraction and formatting with human review to ensure data accuracy and quality before publication. As a result, users can save months of manual work, improve data consistency, and simplify ongoing updates. Beyond operational efficiency, the CTDL xTRA Tool enhances student services by making skills and credential pathways more transparent, supporting prior learning assessments, and helping veterans translate military experience into academic credit.

Learn more about the tool and how Houston Community College and Bristol Community College are leveraging CTDL xTRA here ([link removed]) . Watch our CTDL xTRA webinar here ([link removed]) , and explore our resources here ([link removed]) .


** Policy Corner.
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New Grant Opportunity to Boost Credential Transparency and Workforce Data Quality: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Workforce Data Quality Initiative (WDQI) Round 10 grant is now open ([link removed]) , offering state workforce agencies a chance to improve the quality and transparency of workforce data. This grant emphasizes credential transparency, encouraging states to make credential outcomes clear and accessible to learners, employers, and policymakers.

Credential Engine’s open-source tools, the CTDL and Credential Registry, can help states meet these goals by organizing and connecting credential data for better public use. The grant application deadline is May 27th, 2025. States interested in leveraging Credential Engine’s expertise for their proposals can contact us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) . Learn more about this opportunity here ([link removed]) .


** Partnerships.
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Solution Spotlight Webinar - Advancing [link removed] with the Tennessee Board of Regents: Join us on June 18th at 2 PM ET for the next Solution Spotlight webinar featuring the Tennessee Board of Regents' Comprehensive Learner Record ([link removed]) (TBR CRED). This innovative tool highlights learners’ achievements, including program outcomes and co-curricular activities, and uses the CTDL to integrate standardized credential data directly into the CLR.

This CTDL integration improves transparency for learners, employers, and educators by clearly showing the value and competencies behind credentials, helping bridge education and workforce needs.

Register here. ([link removed])

The Solution Spotlight series highlights tools leveraging the CTDL ([link removed]) to create more transparent, connected credential ecosystems, empowering learners, employers, providers, and policymakers. Keep up to date on this webinar series here ([link removed]) .

Connecticut Integrates with Credential Registry via New API: The Connecticut Office of Higher Education partnered with Credential Engine to develop an Application Programming Interface (API) for publishing Connecticut institutions and programs to the Credential Registry. This builds upon work started by Connecticut legislation to provide residents with a database of credentials offered in the state, which helps job seekers, students, workers, and employers to search for and compare credential training opportunities. View this information in the Credential Finder ([link removed]) .

Atlanta Chamber Leads Statewide Credential Transparency Effort in Georgia: The Atlanta Chamber of Commerce has been leading the partnership between Georgia and Credential Engine, resulting in the publication of all credentials from the University System of Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, and the Georgia Department of Education's Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) healthcare pathways. The state and Chamber see publishing to the Registry as a way to highlight credentials tied to in-demand industry sectors, ultimately supporting students and learners. This information can be viewed through the Georgia Finder Widget ([link removed]) .

Chaffey College Publishes Credentials, Courses, and Competencies: Chaffey College in California has partnered with Credential Engine to publish all Credentials, Courses, and Competencies to the Credential Registry. Chaffey College plans to use the Registry to identify data gaps and strengths, while standardizing credential information to ensure consistency, interoperability, and accessibility for all stakeholders. View this information in the Credential Finder ([link removed]) .

Meeting the Skills-First Moment: Check out the recent webinar from our partners at C-BEN on "Meeting the Skills-First Moment: Competency Publication with C-BEN,” where experts discussed how transparent, connected credential data can create skills-based pathways that help learners and workers navigate new opportunities. Leaders from across the field shared practical insights on how data and design come together to build a more equitable, skills-first ecosystem. Watch the webinar here ([link removed]) .


** CTDL Solutions.
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Help Shape CTDL’s Credential Types Expansion: On May 6th, Credential Engine hosted a public webinar ([link removed]) introducing a proposed expansion to the CTDL to add new terms for credential and qualification types defined by government authorities within national and regional qualification systems, such as Bachelor’s Degree, Honors Degree, or National Certificate. This enhancement seeks to ensure consistent descriptions across jurisdictions, supporting transparency, comparability, alignment, and learner mobility.

We invite all to review the proposal ([link removed]) and share feedback directly in the document or by emailing [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) by May 23rd, 2025. Your input will help ensure the CTDL Credential Type terms are useful, accurate, and relevant. Learn more here ([link removed]) .


** Events.
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C2ER + LMI Institute Annual Conference ([link removed])

Sacramento, CA. May 28th-30th: This year's 65th conference will feature practical workshops, expert keynotes, collaborative roundtables, networking, plus a celebration of top economic development researchers. Credential Engine will present at the “Essential Workers, Essential Data: Labor Market Trends in Agriculture & Healthcare ([link removed]) ” session alongside other subject matter experts to explore the labor market realities of two critical sectors: agriculture and healthcare. Presenters will paint a quantitative picture of each sector and discuss how larger external contexts have influenced changes in each industry. We hope to see you there!

GDN & PCCAT Connected Learning: Creating Recognition Pathways for Global Impact ([link removed])
Toronto, CA. May 28th-30th: This year’s gathering will focus on exploring how connected learning approaches can establish recognition pathways that have a global impact. Credential Engine will present at the “Describing the World's Credentials: Advancing Global Portability and Comparability” session to share real-world examples of how structured credential data empowers systems, supports decisions, and improves global learn-and-work ecosystems. Additionally, we will present at the “Transforming Transfer Articulation Agreements into Structured, Human-Centered Vocabularies Using CTDL for Improved Student Mobility” session and the “Aligning for Impact: Principles-Based Interoperability for Global Learner Mobility” workshops. Explore these sessions and more here ([link removed]) .

1EdTech Learning Impact Conference ([link removed])

Indianapolis, IN. June 2nd-5th: This year’s conference will bring together leaders from K-12, higher education, workforce learning, and government to collaborate with edtech providers on advancing digital learning and credentialing solutions. Credential Engine will present at the “AI for Economic Opportunity: Enabling Career Advancement for Non-Completers ([link removed]) ” session alongside AACRAO to explore how AI and open data are being used to turn incomplete college coursework into career-relevant skills, helping millions gain career-boosting Learning and Employment Records. Make sure to check out our session!

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