The Open Skills Network (OSN) is a collaborative organization aimed at developing an open and transparent framework for skills-based education and workforce development. The network brings together various stakeholders, including:
This coalition seeks to address the growing demand for a skilled workforce in an evolving economy. The OSN seeks to create a standardized system for identifying, assessing, and validating skills across various domains and industries.
OSN promotes and emphasizes Rich Skill Descriptors (RSDs) as a standardized and detailed representation of skills which can be utilized by educational institutions and employers to streamline hiring processes. Furthermore, OSN promotes the use of RSDs as a standardized system as they are:
The OSN also provides access to the Open Skills Management Tool (OSMT), which is an open source and cost-free database tool that allows for the creation, storage, and publication of RSDs. The OSMT would allow users to share and reuse RSDs across institutions and organizations. In addition, the OSN maintains a skills library, which acts as a centralized collection of skills, data, and qualifications with the goal of establishing a unified standard of organizational skills distinguished by specified areas such as:
The skills library is also a collaborative effort, allowing partners and organizations to contribute published skills collections.
The Open Skills Network is also focused on promoting equity and inclusion in skills-based education and employment. By facilitating access to standardized skill frameworks and assessment tools, the organization aims to reduce barriers to entry for individuals from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented groups. Additionally, the OSN maintains numerous workgroups, including the open recognition workgroup, which advocates for the recognition of a broad range of skills beyond traditional academic credentials including soft skills, technical competencies, and experiential learning.
Rich Skill Descriptors (RSDs) - Open Skills Network (OSN)