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Topic Tags: Career Navigation

Academic advising

Academic advising is the collaborative process by which students engage with a member of their institution (professor, mentor, or advisor) to receive direction or advice on academic or personal decisions. […]

Indiana Partnership with Credential Engine

Overview The Indiana Partnership with Credential Engine is a statewide initiative to enhance credential transparency and accessibility for learners, employers, and educators. The initiative is driven by the Indiana Commission […]

Upward Mobility Initiative – Urban Institute

Overview In September 2024, Urban Institute published the Upward Mobility Data Dashboard which is an outcome of the Upward Mobility Initiative. The initiative addresses the need for communities throughout the […]

Project Kitty Hawk – North Carolina

Overview The 2021 North Carolina General Assembly allocated $97 million to start Project Kitty Hawk, a nonprofit ed-tech startup focused on producing a diverse, globally competitive workforce, fostering scholarly research, […]

Skills-First Hiring for State Government-California

Overview California is one of 21 states that has adopted skills-first hiring practices for state government positions. This approach means that college degrees and job histories are no longer being used […]

Build Better Careers Initiative – CAEL

Overview In July 2024, the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) launched a 3-year workforce development initiative with support from Truist Foundation’s Where it Starts Initiative. CAEL is creating pathways to […]

ASA Center for Career Navigation at JFF

Overview In July 2024, Jobs for the Future (JFF) with support from a multi-year $25 million grant from American Student Assistance, announced it will create the ASA Center for Career […]

Kentucky Graduate Profile and Profile Academy

Overview Launched in 2021 by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, the Kentucky Graduate Profile is a collaborative statewide initiative among Kentucky’s public postsecondary institutions. The initiative focuses on enhancing […]

Reach University Apprenticeship-based Degrees

  Overview Reach University is a nonprofit university that focuses on K-12 teacher preparation and administrative credentials for school leaders. Credentials are acquired through an apprenticeship model. The mission of […]

New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities

Overview In December 2021, New Jersey’s community colleges and the New Jersey Business and Industry Association launched the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities—Aligning Education to Build an Innovative Workforce.  […]

Career Connect Washington (CCW)

Overview Career Connect Washington (CCW) is a statewide network of business, labor, education, and community leaders creating work-based and academic programs for young people to explore, learn, and earn money […]

Skills-Based Talent Ecosystem – ETS & SHRM

Overview In June 2024, ETS and SHRM announced their initiative to develop a Skills-Based Talent Ecosystem. The initiative focuses on three talent-specific elements that are important to addressing the future of […]

Forming STARS — Wisconsin

Overview Forming STARS is a professional workforce advancement program offered through the WisCaregiver Careers program, and is an initiative aimed at recruiting individuals to start a career in healthcare with […]

Rework America Alliance

The Rework America Alliance is an initiative originally launched by the Markle Foundation, and now managed by Jobs for the Future. The alliance is focused on providing assistance and resources […]

Credentials Futures Coalition (CFC)

Overview In July 2022, four founding members established the Credential Futures Coalition (CFC) — AACRAO, 1EdTech, C-BEN, and UPCEA. The Coalition is composed of non-profit stakeholders working to develop a scalable, resilient, […]

Teacher Occupation Apprenticeship Program – Tennessee

Overview In 2022, the Tennessee Department of Education announced a new way to develop K-12 teacher pipelines through an apprenticeship model and was the first state to be approved by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to establish a […]

BuildWithin: Software Platform in Apprenticeships

Overview BuildWithin is a software platform that launched in November 2022 to provide employers with the ability to create, manage, and expand apprenticeship programs in order to accelerate the productivity […]

STEM Transfer Partnership (STP) – State of Washington

Overview The STEM Transfer Partnership (STP) initiative established by Community College Research Initiatives (CCRI) is creating systemic change within STEM degree pathways in the State of Washington through collaboration between […]

The EdUp Experience Podcast Network

Overview The EdUp Experience Podcast Network is an independent podcast network with a goal to facilitate positive educational change and inspire lifelong learning through podcasts, livecasts, and other mediums. There […]

BACK TO WORK 50+ – AARP

Overview AARP Foundation launched BACK TO WORK 50+ in 2016 to provide unemployed older workers with tools and coaching resources to help them compete for high quality in-demand jobs. A […]

National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) – Ireland

Overview The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) of Ireland describes the qualifications used in the nation’s education and training system.  The 10-level NFQ classifies the level, class of award, and […]

The MICROBOL Project

Overview The MICROBOL project (Microcredentials linked to the Bologna key commitments) was a 2-year effort (2020-2022) to explore whether (1) existing Bologna tools are fit for microcredentials, (2) to propose […]

CareerNavGPT – SkillUp Coalition

Overview Launched by the SkillUp Coalition,  CareerNavGPT has a mission to provide a guided and supported path to ensure that all STARs have access to high-opportunity and quality employment.  CareerNacGPT […]

NOVA Workforce and Professional Development

NOVA Workforce and Professional Development is an initiative of Northern Virginia Community College. The initiative provides continuing education, professional training programs, and pathways to in-demand career fields. The initiative offers […]

State Opportunity Index – Strada Education Foundation

Overview In April 2024, Strada Education Foundation published The State Opportunity Index to help state policymakers and higher education institutions assess how well they are leveraging post-high school education — […]

Education and Career Navigation Framework – ACT

Overview The Education and Career Navigation Framework was developed by the ACT from its report titled Education & Career Navigation. The framework is a comprehensive structure designed to aid in […]

Young Adult Talent Development Network

The Young Adult Talent Development (YATD) Network is an initiative of the Jobs for the Future (JFF) organization, designed to provide information and research to help communities establish talent development […]

Florida Ready to Work – Assessments & Courseware

Overview Florida Ready to Work is a career readiness training and credentialing program established in 2020 by Chapter 445 Section 06 – 2020 Florida Statutes – The Florida Senate:  Florida Ready […]

Reentry 2030

Overview Reentry 2030 is a nationwide initiative launched in April 2022 to scale reentry success for people transitioning from incarceration to their communities. The initiative calls on leaders across the […]

Access in Prison Initiative – JSTOR

Overview The JSTOR digital library enables incarcerated people to access scholarly materials and texts online in more than 1,000 U.S. prisons across all 50 U.S. states. Learners use JSTOR resources […]

Digital-Reskilling at Universities (D-Reskill Project)

Overview The D-RESKILL@U Project, coordinated by Sorbonne Université, focuses on providing European higher education institutions with guidelines for online lifelong learning offers at the post-bachelors level for the reskilling or […]

Universal Credit Transfer Explorer – Ithaka S+R

Overview In February 2024, Ithaka S+R launched a public, non-profit, national credit mobility website. The aim of the initiative is to help address the challenges college students face when they […]

Playbook: Learner Supports (Credential As You Go)

Overview Credential As You Go is an initiative working with many partners toward a nationally recognized transferable incremental credentialing system that increases the number of high-quality, post-high school credentials that […]

WIOA Workforce Programs

Overview The federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed into law on July 22, 2014. The Act is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and […]

STEM Talent Challenge – EDA

Overview The STEM Talent Challenge is an initiative by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, that aims to build STEM talent training systems […]

California Reconnect

Overview A 3-year initiative launched in Spring 2023, the California Reconnect Program is a collaborative effort from the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), InsideTrack, and Project Attain.  California Reconnect […]

Noncredit Mobility Academy

Overview In December 2023, Education Strategy Group, SHEEO (State Higher Education Executive Officers Association), and Opportunity America at the Progressive Policy Institute launched the Noncredit Mobility Academy.  The two-year Academy […]

Central Ohio Talent Network – SkillsFWD

Overview A project of the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio funded by SkillsFWD and announced December 2023, this initiative leverages the SchooLinks college and career readiness platform to match […]

ADVANCE Integrated Education and Training (IET)

Overview The ADVANCE IET (Integrated Education & Training) project (2022–2025) is being conducted by the American Institutes for Research in partnership with World Education, Inc. and funded by the U.S. […]

Digital Skills

Digital skills are the abilities to use technology including computer software and applications, digital devices (cell phones, tablets, computers), and other computer hardware. Digital literacy skills enable individuals to participate […]

Transcript Holds (Stranded Credits)

Transcript holds occur at many higher education institutions when a student incurs unpaid balances for unpaid tuition, room and board, parking tickets, and library fees. The unpaid balance, often referred […]

Stranded Credits (Transcript Holds)

Stranded credits refer to academic college credit that students have earned but cannot access because their former higher education institution is holding their transcript as collateral for an unpaid balance […]

Good Jobs Hawai’i Initiative

Overview In January 2023, the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges and leaders from the state’s top business sectors launched Good Jobs Hawaiʻi. The $35-million workforce development initiative is building career […]

SkillsFWD

Overview SkillsFWD is an initiative to catalyze a more equitable skills-based hiring ecosystem leveraging Learning and Employment Records (LERs).  The initiative is managed by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors with funding support […]

Higher Education & Employer Partnerships

Partnerships between higher education institutions and employers are increasingly useful in addressing talent development in key job categories. Partnership agreements are especially prevalent in areas such as data science, digital […]

Technology Tools & Systems

Technology tools and systems are hardware tools which include computers, mobile devices, servers, networks, printers, and other physical components that enable technologies; and operating systems which include software that manages […]

Open Educational Resources (OER)

OER are publically accessible teaching, learning, and research resources created and licensed to be free for end users to own, share, and in some cases modify.  Modify could include re-mixing, […]

Disruptive Innovation

Disruptive innovation refers to innovations and technologies that make expensive or sophisticated products and services accessible and more affordable to a broader market. The term was coined in the early […]

Digital Equity

The concept that every person should have equal access to digital technologies, including internet access. The concept aims to address the divide in access to digital infrastructure that gives some […]

Wraparound Learner (Student) Support Services

A term used to describe a package of services found in the research literature to support learner success. Tutoring, counseling, childcare, transportation and other non-instructional services can help learners at […]

Learner and Student Success

Learner/student success can be defined in many ways — one that is learner-centric and one that is institution- and policymaker-centric. A general definition that is learner-centric — a determination of goals […]

Learner and Student Supports

A comprehensive range of services and resources provided by credential providers to enhance the academic, personal, and career development of learners. Learner supports aim to remove barriers to success on […]

Operational requirements

The detailed specifications in a credential management system shows how a technical system meets the needs of users and stakeholders. These typically describe how the system should work, what features […]

Employer orientation and onboarding

The ways that new employees are welcomed to the organization, receive information about how the organization functions on a day-to-day basis, and are introduced to others who work for the […]

Compensation

Refers to all sources of employee earnings, including hourly wages, salaries, overtime, bonuses, commissions, and benefits. Benefits refer to options with monetary value including health insurance, dental insurance, disability insurance, […]

Job Structures

Refers to the ways jobs are classified such as part-time and full-time, exempt and non-exempt, employees and contractor, and permanent/temporary employees. Job structures refer to when people work, where they […]

Integrated Credential Management System

A comprehensive technology solution for managing a variety of credentials. The system streamlines the entire life cycle of credentialing—from a credential’s proposal and development to its issuance and verification.

Workforce Equity

Workforce equity means the elimination of racial gaps in employment and income such that the workforce – both public and private – is racially representative of the general population, at […]

Skills Compass Platform – CAEL

Overview The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) is a national, nonprofit membership organization working to improve education-to-career pathways for adult learners. CAEL’s services to organizations include providing expertise, […]

Inventory of Community College Baccalaureate Degree Programs

Overview Currently, 25 states allow their community colleges by legislative action to offer some baccalaureate degrees: California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, […]

Credential Management System (CMS)

Credential Management System (CMS) is a broad term that refers to the software used for issuing and managing credentials. Governments and other enterprises employ CMS software to issue and manage […]

International Classification for Standards (ICS)

An international classification system developed and maintained by the International Organization for Standardization.  ICS are used to catalog and classify standards,  often for use in databases and libraries.  ICS currently includes […]

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

An international nongovernmental organization founded in 1947 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It works in 168 countries (as of 2023). Official languages are English, French and Russian. Membership is open […]

SmartResume – iDatafy LLC

Overview SmartResume is a new type of resume that recognizes the three-sided marketplace (ecosystem) connecting job seekers, higher education institutions, and employers using the power of digital credentials. Partners such […]

Learning Outcomes

Descriptions of what students will learn in a course, program, or training, and how that learning will be assessed. Creating clear and measurable learning outcomes are necessary for assessment and […]

Value in Credentialing (Credential Value)

Refers to the worth, usefulness, and tangible benefits that a credential provides to individuals, employers, educational institutions, and society as a whole. Many elements help ensure value in credentials: (1) […]

Trust in Credentialing

Refers to the confidence and reliability attributed to a credential by various stakeholders, including employers, educational institutions, professional organizations, and individuals themselves. It involves the belief that the credential accurately […]

Return on Investment (ROI) in Higher Education

Often refers to evaluating what students will earn professionally based on their investment in an undergraduate or graduate degree, to determine if there is a positive return on their investment. […]

Relevance/Currency in Credentialing

Demonstrates relevance to the current needs and trends of the industry or field, reflecting the knowledge and skills that are in demand, aligning with the evolving requirements of employers and […]

Recognition/Reputation in Credentialing

A quality, trusted, and valuable credential is widely recognized and respected by employers, professional organizations, and other relevant stakeholders. Recognition and reputation are built over time through consistent delivery of […]

Ethical Standards/Integrity in Credentialing

Ethics and integrity are crucial to the learn-and-work ecosystem, particularly to credentialing.  Credentials such as diplomas, degrees, certifications, certificates of accomplishment, licenses, and badges represent an individual’s qualifications and expertise […]

State Funding Models & Short-Term Credentials

Funding models refer to the ways in which higher education institutions acquire revenue to operate. As described by Ithaka S+R, there are significant differences between funding models for public two- and […]

Specialist Tasks

Refer to day-to-day work within an occupation.  Specialist tasks are useful for differentiating occupations. They can be transferable across occupations and industry sectors, but they are not viewed as universal.

Skills Clusters

Are a new way of looking at the labor market than occupational classifications or degree qualifications, as described by the National Skills Commission of the Australian Government. Skills clusters contain […]

Gainful Employment

An employment situation in which a person receives steady work and payment from the employer that allows for self-sufficiency.

Employability Skills Framework 

Developed in 2012 with funding from the U.S. Department of Education to advance a unifying set of employability skills, the Employability Skills Framework details a set of nine key skills […]

Skills Framework

A structure that allows organizations to develop strategy on how to acquire necessary skills. It provides key sector information, occupations/job roles, and the required existing and emerging skills. The Frameworks […]

Lightcast Skills Taxonomy

Open-source library of 32,000+ skills gathered from hundreds of millions of online job postings, profiles, and resumes—updated every two weeks. The Skills Taxonomy collects real-time data from over 40,000 sources […]

Skills Taxonomy

A system of classification that categorizes and organizes skills into groups or skill clusters. The process of developing a skills taxonomy involves identifying the skills and competencies required for a […]

Skills-based Incremental Credentialing

Incremental credentials, frequently known as microcredentials, are an evolving concept in postsecondary education and training. Less comprehensive than a degree, they represent the attainment of a specific competency or set […]

Alternative Credential Platforms

Nontraditional and digital credentials are offered through a higher education institution’s partnerships with approved third-party vendors. These alternative credentials may be viewed as pathways to obtain attainable and accessible education. […]

Stand-alone Academic Certificates

Consist of free-standing body of knowledge with organized, graded higher education courses, and are often offered in an interdisciplinary manner. Generally, learners are certificate-seeking students although some may choose to […]

Working Learner

Individuals who are both working for pay and enrolled in formal learning programs that lead to a recognized credential. They are the majority of part-time students and more than a […]

Learner

An inclusive term that encompasses many types of learners; for example, those taking part in the educational process whether a degree program or microcredential. Learners acquire new competencies and skills […]

Catalyze Registry

Overview On November 2, 2022, President Biden announced commitments made by more than 350 organizations in 50 states and territories as part of the Infrastructure Talent Pipeline Challenge (nationwide call […]

Skills Library

A centralized and structured compiling of skills data, qualifications, and attributes that helps to create a unified understanding of skills for an organization in areas of employment need, curriculum development, […]

Skills Taxonomy (Open Skills) – Lightcast

Overview The Lightcast Skills Taxonomy is an open-source library of 32,000+ skills gathered from hundreds of millions of online job postings, profiles, and resumes—updated every two weeks. The Taxonomy collects […]

Quality Non-Degree Credential

Quality non-degree credentials provide workers and learners with the means to successfully achieve their employment and educational goals.  In order to qualify, there must be valid, reliable, and transparent evidence […]

Frontloaded Embedded Non-Degree Pathways

Frontloading embedded non-degree pathways is a method to address workers and learners who are looking to re- or upskill quickly to transition jobs. It entails reordering degree pathways to frontload […]

Badge, Skills Badge, Open Badge, Competency Badge

Badges are tools to represent someone’s achievements, certifications, or abilities. There are several types of badges such as digital badges, skills badges, open badges, and competency badges. A badge is […]

Articulation / Transfer

Transferring occurs from one educational institution to another. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, over a million students have transferred among colleges since 2015. Students can transfer from […]

Credit Pathways, Noncredit-to-Credit Articulation

Credit pathways are ways for learners to earn reputable or transferable credits for proven skills or work completed. Credit pathways include but are not limited to: credit/course articulation, credit for […]

Digital Credential Ecosystem / Marketplace

Digital credentials are similar to digital badges in the sense that they create opportunities for learners and workers to demonstrate qualifications, skill sets, claims, or achievements through digital certificates or […]

Accelerate ED

Overview Accelerate ED focuses on building stronger, smoother, and accelerated pathways between K-12 education, postsecondary education, and careers. The initiative is coordinated by the Education Strategy Group (ESG) and supported […]

Skills Mapping

Graphic depiction of the abilities that an individual employee possesses. The mapping  process assesses the employee’s proficiency with a specific skill, particularly those associated with certain projects, positions and duties. […]

Comprehensive Learner Records (CLRs)

Seek to capture, record, and communicate learning when and where it happens in a student’s higher education experience. This includes learning from courses, programs, and degrees, as well as experience […]

Learning and Employment Records (LERs)

Comprehensive digital records of an individual’s skills, competencies, credentials, and employment history that may be able to show a complete picture of an individual’s education and work experiences. They have […]

Navajo Nation Talent Marketplace

Overview In April 2023, the Navajo Nation launched the Talent Marketplace initiative. It is a first-time central repository of in-person and remote jobs available on the reservation. The marketplace is […]

Good Jobs

Good jobs are defined as those that provide family-sustaining pay, adequate benefits, and equal access to opportunity.

Pay for Skills Programs

Some private and public sector employers are adopting internal Pay for Skills programs. A key element of these programs is to incentivize skill development among employees through internal training. Such […]

Skills-based Promotion

As the workplace changes, some private and public sector employers are turning to skills-based promotion.  A skills- or merit-based promotion is based on an analysis of the employee’s performance. Skills-based […]

Modular Learning

Modular learning unbundles the traditional learning “packages”—Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees—into more manageable learning chunks that are also tied to real career and life outcomes. Modular learning enables working professionals […]

Non-degree Credentials

Non-degree credentials include certificates, industry certifications, apprenticeships, educational certificates, occupational licenses, and digital badges.

Noncredit Education

Non-credit education includes any course or program that did not go through the process to be for-credit at a community college or university. They typically include personal enrichment classes, customized […]

Noncredit to Credit Bridges

Noncredit courses are designed for students who wish to advance their educational and career goals. There are a variety of bridge tools institutions can use to strengthen how noncredit courses […]

Opportunity Populations

Opportunity populations refer to people in America who have had limited access to educational and professional opportunities and who face barriers to employment and career advancement. They may include: opportunity […]

Digital Platforms/Platforms

A digital platform is a technology-enabled software solution, an interactive online service that allows exchanges of information, tools, and resources. Three main types of platforms serve components of the learn-and-work […]

Remedial Education (Developmental Education)

Remedial education (aka developmental education) is required instruction and support for students who are assessed by their institution of choice as being academically underprepared for postsecondary education. The intent of […]

Reverse Transfer

Reverse transfer is the process by which a student is awarded an associate degree after transferring and completing degree requirements at a four-year institution. Through reverse transfer, students can combine […]

Skills and Competencies

Skills define specific learned activities, and they range widely in terms of complexity. Knowing which skills a person possesses helps to determine whether their training and experience has prepared them […]

Skills Ecosystem

The skills ecosystem is a term popularized with the advent of skills-based hiring. Skills-based hiring is hiring for skills required for a particular job role. Employers are trying to match […]

Skills-based Hiring

Skills-based hiring focuses on skills, not degrees. Skills-based hiring emphasizes practical, working knowledge; it prioritizes what an applicant can do, rather than the education they have.To succeed at a job, an […]

Stackable Credentials

Stacking credentials is part of a sequence of credentials that can be accumulated over time to build up an individual’s qualifications and help them to move along a career pathway […]

Unbundling / Degree Unbundling

Unbundling is the process of disaggregating educational provision into its component parts, very often with external actors. Rebundling is the reaggregation of those parts into new components and models. Both […]

Verifications & Recordkeeping

Verifying learning and recording that learning on a portable record is the main way learners communicate their readiness for further education and work. Most job seekers rely on resumés, job […]

Work-based Learning

Work-based learning refers to education and training carried out by students or employees while working. This approach contrasts with traditional methods of learning, which tend to take place in a […]

Workforce Development

Workforce development refers to the broad range of initiatives offered by government offices and agencies to help create, sustain, and retain a viable workforce. The objective of workforce development is […]

Credential As You Go

An initiative working toward a nationally recognized transferrable incremental credentialing system that increases the number of high-quality, post-high school credentials that lead to further education and employment. The system captures […]

Credential Registry

The Credential Registry (Registry), operated by Credential Engine, is a public, cloud-based system available to anyone seeking information about a variety of credentials and skills in an easily-accessible format. Users […]

Credit for Prior Learning

Prior learning assessment (aka recognition of prior learning) is a term used for various methods of valuing college-level learning that has taken place outside of formal educational institutions, that can […]

Degree

A degree is a title given by an institution (usually a college or university) that has been granted the authority by a state, recognized Native American tribe, or the federal […]

Digital badge

A digital badge (aka e-badge) is a digital representations of individuals’ achievements, consisting of an image and metadata uniquely linked to the individual’s skills. Digital badges have an issuer (institution […]

Eligible Training Provider Program

Eligible Training Provider programs are job training programs eligible for funding under United States workforce development law, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Under the law, each state and […]

Eligible Training Provider Lists (ETPLs)

Eligible training provider lists (ETPLs) are lists of pre-approved programs established by each state and territory under United States workforce development law, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA […]

Equity, equality

Equity means that no matter what a student’s background, language, race, economic profile, gender, learning capability, disability or family history, each student has the opportunity to get the support and […]

Guided pathways

Guided Pathways is a movement that seeks to streamline a student’s journey through college by providing structured choice, revamped support, and clear learning outcomes—ultimately helping more students achieve their college […]

Incremental credential

Incremental credentials capture learning as it is acquired along the learning pathway and formally recognizes and connects that learning to a larger context. Incremental credentials can be non-credit or credit-bearing; […]

Incremental credentialing

Incremental credentialing is the overall design and process used to develop and connect credentials to further learning and employment.

Incremental Credentialing Framework

The Incremental Credential Framework was developed through a 2019-2021 planning, research, and testing project in a Lumina Foundation grant to SUNY Empire State College (Credential As You Go, Phase I). […]

Intermediaries

Intermediary organizations are often viewed as a distinct class of third-party entities. They tend to support the provision of services by another organization rather than providing direct services. They tend […]

Interoperability

Interoperability is the ability of different information systems, devices or applications to connect, in a coordinated manner, within and across organizational boundaries to access, exchange and cooperatively use data amongst […]

Learn-and-Work Ecosystem

The learn-and-work ecosystem is a connected system of formal and informal learning (education and training) and work. The ecosystem is composed of many building blocks. When all the building blocks […]

Learning Frameworks

Learning frameworks are tools that specify learning outcomes and/or competencies that define, classify, and recognize educational, learner, and industry expectations of knowledge, skills, and abilities at increasing levels of complexity […]

License

A license is a credential awarded by a government agency that constitutes legal authority to do a specific job. Licenses are based on some combination of degree or certificate attainment, […]

Micro-pathway

A micro-pathway is two or more stackable credentials that can be packaged as a validated market signal connecting learners to employment in high-growth careers.

Accreditation / Programmatic Accreditation

According to the U.S. Department of Education, accreditation is the process of assessment meant to improve academic quality and institutional accountability by an established set of standards to ensure a […]

Adult Learners

Adult learners are known by a variety of names: nontraditional students, adult students, returning adults, adult returners, mature learners, comebackers. Common characteristics: usually 25 or older; delayed entering college for […]

Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is an all-in-one human resource(HR) software that automates the hiring process. It helps HR teams manage every part of recruitment (from job posting to onboarding): (1) […]

Alternative Credentials

Alternative credentials are competencies, skills, and learning outcomes derived from assessment-based, non-degree activities that align to specific, timely needs in the workforce. Different types of alternative credentials include but are […]

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway that combines classroom instruction with on-the-job experience. Through apprenticeships, employers can prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience while […]

Course Articulation

Course articulation is the process of comparing the content of courses that are transferred between postsecondary institutions; i.e., . In course articulation, one institution matches its courses or requirements to […]

Auto-award

With the advent of degree audit software, the software can be used to audit coursework students have completed and automatically award degrees and certificates if they have completed the required […]

Blockchain

Blockchain is a shared, distributed ledger technology in which records are stored together as blocks of information connected to other similar blocks of information. Blockchain use in educational records rests […]

Career Coaches

Career coaches are experts in career planning, resumé building, negotiation, and interviewing. A career coach helps working professionals and recent graduates make educated decisions about their careers. Career coaches focus […]

Career Counselors

Career counselors work mostly with college students and recent graduates. They are frequently found in community colleges, universities, nonprofit organizations, and high schools.

Career Navigation

Career navigation services help individuals of all ages understand how their personal interests, abilities, and values can help shape their educational and career goals and contribute to their success. A […]

Certificate

Type of award conferred by a college, university, or other postsecondary education institution indicating the satisfactory completion of a non-degree program of study. Typically, the course requirements for earning a […]

Common Job Description

A job description explains the tasks, duties, functions, and responsibilities of a position. A common job description outlines the expectations of a job in a way that is comparable to […]

Competency

A measurable, assessable capability of an individual that integrates knowledge, skills, abilities, and dispositions required to successfully perform tasks at a determined level in a defined setting.

Competency-based programs

Competency-based programs transparently communicate the learning objectives students must achieve to earn degrees and other credentials; enable students with existing knowledge and skills to personalize their educations and accelerate progress […]

Concurrent Enrollment (Dual Enrollment)

Concurrent or dual enrollment means taking college courses while still in high school. Dual-enrollment courses are taught by college-approved high school teachers in a secondary education environment. Students earn transcripted […]

Credential

A credential is a documented award by a responsible and authorized body that attests that an individual has achieved specific learning outcomes or attained a defined level of knowledge or […]

Mapping Learning & Employment Records (LERs)

Overview The Digital Credentials Consortium (DCC), hosted at MIT Open Learning, is partnering with NationSwell (a B Corp dedicated to providing essential support to impact-driven leaders and organizations through a […]

Career Optimism Index- University of Phoenix

Overview In March 2022, the University of Phoenix launched the University of Phoenix Career Institute, a research center within its College of Doctoral Studies. The institute conducts research, shares insights to […]

2U, Inc. / edX Bootcamp Partnership

July 2024 Update On July 25, 2024, 2U Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with plans to restructure, reduce its debt load and wrap up the process by September 2024. […]

XCredit Skills Validation – Education Design Lab

Overview Launched in summer 2021, XCredit Skills Validation is an initiative of the Education Design Lab. The Lab developed the concept of an employer-validated “XCredit”, or Experience Credit, which signals to […]

OneTen

Overview The OneTen Network aims to close the opportunity gap for Black talent in America. The Network is composed of a coalition of leaders  working together to cultivate economic opportunities […]

Apprenticeships for America Initiative

Overview Apprenticeships for America (AFA), a new nonprofit established in March 2022, launched an initiative to help the United States bring registered apprenticeships to the scale experienced by other advanced […]

Raise the Bar: Unlocking Career Success – ED

Overview In November 2022, the U.S. Department of Education launched the Raise the Bar: Unlocking Career Success, a Biden-Harris Administration initiative to increase and expand access to high-quality training programs to […]

CTE Leadership Collaborative

Overview The CTE Leadership Collaborative launched in 2018 by ECMC Foundation to bring together diverse perspectives and equip postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) leaders with the tools, resources and skills […]

Workforce Compass

Overview In June 2021, the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) launched an AI-powered career navigation and learning platform, Workforce Compass, in partnership with technology provider FutureFit AI. The platform […]

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

Overview The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) is a private nonprofit organization [501(c)(3)] that helps expand students’ access to educational opportunities and ensure more efficient, consistent, and […]

Interstate Passport® (Transfer)

Overview Interstate Passport® is a national program based at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). The program enables seamless block transfer of lower-division general education attainment based on […]

Learn & Work Ecosystem Library

Overview Accurate and timely information about developments in the learn-and-work ecosystem are essential for those working to improve the ecosystem. Yet information is too often siloed and difficult to access […]

Jobs and Employment Data Exchange (JEDx)

Overview The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the T3 Innovation Network launched the Job Data Exchange (JDX) initiative in 2021 to develop a public-private approach for collecting and using […]

Credential As You Go

Overview The Credential As You Go initiative focuses on building an incremental credentialing system, recognizing the value in many types of quality credentials, including degrees, certificates, industry certifications, licenses, badges, […]

Career Bridge

Overview Career Bridge is a public-facing, online resource that students and transitioning workers use to support career and education planning. It is designed to work as a one-stop shop, offering […]

Just Equations

Overview Just Equations is an independent partnership focused on reconceptualizing the role of mathematics in ensuring educational equity. It works across educational sectors to build awareness and support for policies […]

American Opportunity Index

Overview Created in Fall 2022, the American Opportunity Index assesses how well America’s largest companies foster workers’ economic mobility and how they could do better. It ranks 250 large companies […]

Unmudl Skills-to-Jobs Marketplace

Overview The Unmudl Skills-to-JobsTM Marketplace connects learners with new or better jobs, college and continuing education credits, and credentials—from certificates to certifications and degrees. Unmudl.com was released publicly in November […]

The Education Blockchain Initiative

Overview The U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology contracted with the American Council on Education (ACE) to lead the Education Blockchain Initiative (EBI). EBI launched in February 2020 […]

Organizations (521)

Initiatives (668)

Topic Briefs (159)