Work-Integrated Learning Accelerator – Arizona State University (ASU)
SkillsAware (Australia)
Prior Learning Network– American Council on Education
Credential Registry Badge Publisher Tool — Credential Engine
Overview The Credential Registry Badge Publisher Tool, developed by Credential Engine, helps organizations publish detailed Open Badge information within the Credential Registry. This tool allows issuers to map badge metadata […]
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 […]
Enhancing Global Learning Mobility Through Credential Transparency – AACRAO / Credential Engine
Governance and Technology Needs for Implementing Issuer Registries within Learning and Employment Record Ecosystems –DCC and Credential Engine
Experience You – Education Design Lab & T3 Innovation Network
Overview Launched in January 2023 by the Education Design Lab (the Lab) and the T3 Innovation Network, the Experience You initiative explores how new technologies can convert massive amounts of […]
American Workforce Policy Advisory Board, Learning and Employment Records — White House & T3 Innovation Network
Overview On July 17, 2018, President Trump issued Executive Order 13845 which established the National Council for the American Worker (NCAW). This interagency council was charged with drafting a national […]
Southeastern Regional Talent Ecosystem Pilot – AACRAO, Tennessee, Alabama
Overview In September 2024, the Southeastern Regional Talent Ecosystem Pilot launched with the aim to bridge the talent gap and enhance employment opportunities in the Southeastern U.S. Partners include the […]
Issuer Registries in Practice: Credential Engine & Digital Credentials Consortium Collaboration
Overview The Digital Credentials Consortium (DCC) and Credential Engine are collaborating on a 2024-2025 initiative to explore the governance and technology needs for issuer registries being used within Learning and […]
Administrative Data Repository on the Skilled Technical Workforce – George Washington University
Overview In September 2021, the Program on Skills, Credentials & Workforce Policy (PSCWP) at George Washington University launched a two-year project with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to […]
LER Resource Library – T3 Innovation Network
Overview In August 2024, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s T3 Innovation Network issued a LER Resource Library working in collaboration with experts in learning and employment records. LERs are […]
Measurement For Mobility: How States Can Use Data to Incentivize Postsecondary & Workforce Success in Public Education (Education Strategy Group)
Overview Measurement For Mobility: How States Can Use Data to Incentivize Postsecondary and Workforce Success in Public Education is a report (45 pages) issued May 2024 by Education Strategy Group […]
Data 101 – Data Quality Campaign
Overview In 2023, the Data Quality Campaign (DQC) issued Data 101, a briefing book to inform education leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders about key topics related to education and workforce […]
Research: State Practices Around Industry Certification (EERC Rutgers University)
Overview The Education and Employment Research Center (EERC) at Rutgers University conducted a Survey of State Practices Around Industry Certification. The aim of the study was to provide a snapshot […]
Research Report: Credentials-to-Jobs Misalignment – Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW)
Overview In June 2024, the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) issued “The Great Misalignment: Addressing the Mismatch between the Supply of Certificates and Associate’s Degrees and the […]
Project Unicorn (Data Interoperability in K-12 Education)
Overview Project Unicorn is a national initiative to improve data interoperability within K-12 education. Coordinated by InnovateEDU (Brooklyn based non-profit organization), the initiative works with a coalition of organizations representing […]
Promising Practices Database: Community College Baccalaureate Degrees
Overview The Community College Baccalaureate Association (CCBA) created a Collection of Promising Practices to Advance Quality, Equity, and Success in Community College Baccalaureate Degree Programs, including proven solutions for making […]
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 […]
Center for Skills by C-BEN – Competency-Based Education Network
Overview In April 2024, the Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN) launched the Center for Skills by C-BEN (CFS x C-BEN). Supported by a $1.5 million grant from Walmart, the Center will […]
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 […]
Recommended LER Technical and Functional Requirements — Velocity Network Foundation
This document from Velocity Network Foundation, published September 2023, provides technical requirements for effective Learning and Employment Records (LERs). An LER empowers individuals with control over their career records and […]
College Credit for Military Experience – North Carolina Military Equivalency System
Overview In February 2024, the University of North Carolina System (UNC) launched a new tool to translate military occupations and training to college courses across its 16 public universities. The […]
Initiative to Update Carnegie Classifications – ACE & Carnegie Foundation
Overview In February 2022, the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching (Carnegie Foundation) announced their partnership to create the next version of […]
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 — […]
Midwest Credential Transparency Alliance (MCTA)
Overview The Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) launched The Midwest Credential Transparency Alliance (MCTA) in January 2021 to work with all 12 Midwest states to help move them along a path […]
United States Qualification Framework (USQF)
Overview In 2023-2024, the United States Qualification Framework (USQF) Advisory Council designed and developed a proposed National Qualifications Framework for the U.S. which was issued in 2024. USQF’s goal is […]
1EdTech Open Badges Standard
Overview Open Badges are information-rich visual tokens of verifiable achievements earned by recipients and easily shared on the web and via social media. The Open Badges standard describes a method […]
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: Technology-Integrated Credential Management (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 […]
Job & Skill Trends Tool – EUROPASS & ESCO
Overview Launched in October 2023, the Job & Skill Trends Tool developed from collaboration between ESCO and Europass as part of the implementation of the European Skills Agenda. The Tool relies on […]
Credential Engine Learning and Employment Records Action Guide
Overview The Credential Engine Learning and Employment Records (LER) Action Guide (updated January 2024) offers a structured, step-by-step approach for stakeholders to establish and sustain dependable LER ecosystems. It emphasizes […]
Pathsmith™ (Durable Skills Advantage Framework) – America Succeeds
Overview Launched Jan. 17, 2024, the Durable Skills Advantage Framework is an employer-generated common lexicon for essential non-technical skills. The Framework is viewed as an important step in addressing education […]
TrustEd Microcredential Coalition — 1EdTech Consortium
Overview The 1EdTech Consortium established the TrustEd Microcredential Coalition to help realize the potential benefits of microcredentials for learners, educators, and employers. Founding members of the coalition include senior representatives from: […]
Expand Acceptance of Digital Records and Credentials Initiative
Overview The Scaling Digital Credentials with Community College Systems to Empower Underserved Adult Learners project was a collaborative effort to enhance access to education and employment opportunities for underserved adult […]
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 […]
Building Rural Innovation, Designing Educational Strategies (BRIDGES) & The Rural College Practitioner Design & Data Academies
Overview BRIDGES (Building Rural Innovation, Designing Educational Strategies) is a 3-year initiative launched in 2020 by the Education Design Lab. The initiative focuses on strengthening the capacity of rural community […]
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 […]
Multi-State Agreement: Data Analytics for Student Success, Institutional Efficiencies, & Integration – Midwestern Higher Education Compact & SAS Institute, Inc.
Overview An agreement between the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) and SAS Institute makes SAS software bundles available to MHEC members at discounted prices. SAS software capabilities include data access, […]
Degrees When Due (DWD) – Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP)
Overview Degrees When Due (DWD) was an initiative launched in 2018 by the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) to help more than 200 participating institutions across more than 20 […]
LER Ecosystem Map (Learning & Employment Records)
Overview Learning and Employment Records (LERs) are digital records of learning and experience that are linked to and may be controlled by learners and earners. LERS are proposed to include […]
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 […]
Comprehensive Learner Record (CLR) Standard — 1EdTech Consortium
Overview The 1EdTech Consortium established a Comprehensive Learning Record (CLR) Working Group to collaborate around CLR developments and transition CLR 1.0 to CLR 2.0 (learning and employment records – LER). Major […]
CASE Network: Competencies and Academic Standards Exchange® (CASE®) – 1EdTech Consortium
Overview The 1EdTech Consortium launched the Competencies and Academic Standards Exchange CASE Network) with the mission that all state academic standards and national learning standards should be in the CASE […]
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 […]
Data Collaborative for a Skills-based Economy (Data Collab) — Education Design Lab
Overview The Data Collaborative for a Skills-based Economy (Data Collab) is a data hub that connects and aggregates data across a range of data sources to uncover how new education-to-work […]
Delivering on the Degree: The College-to-Jobs Playbook
Overview Launched in April 2023, Delivering on the Degree: The College-to-Jobs Playbook was developed through The Project on Workforce with the aim to produce and catalyze basic and applied research at […]
National Pathways Initiative
Overview The National Pathways Initiative is a national coalition of leaders from education, business, government and the Civil Rights Community with a goal to champion high-quality pathways to help students […]
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 […]
The State of Digital Credentials 2022 Guide & 2024 State of Credentialing Report (Accredible)
Overview Accredible issued The State of Digital Credentials 2022 Guide in August 2022, and the 2024 State of Credentialing Report in July 2024. The Guide explores the landscape of digital […]
Bendable (Lifelong Learning Platform) – Bendable Labs & Drucker Institute
Overview Bendable is a community-powered learning marketplace. It operates a lifelong learning platform that was established initially in 2020 to allow residents of all ages and backgrounds in South Bend, […]
Tracking Transfer & Transfer Playbook 2.0 — The Aspen Institute & Community College Research Center
Overview The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program and Community College Research Center launched a two-year new project in fall 2022 to deliver the “second edition” of the Transfer Playbook, made […]
Industry Credentials Initiative
Overview [See also Industry Credentials & Education Performance Data System] The National Student Clearinghouse offers a service to help education and industry connect the dots between industry-based credentials, and secondary […]
The LER Ecosystem Report & Ecosystem Map
Overview The Smart Report Ecosystem Map was created by iDatafy in 2022 – launched in January 2023 and updated in 2024. iDatafy originally worked with a team of digital credentialing […]
Wellspring Initiative, Phases 1 & 2 — 1EdTech
Overview The Wellspring Initiative from 1EdTech Foundation (Phase 1 in 2020, Phase 2 in 2021) is a multiyear program that seeks to create an open, scalable foundation for a lifelong […]
1EdTech’s Digital Credentials Learn & Lead Roundtables
Overview 1EdTech’s expert-led Digital Credentials Learn & Lead Roundtables provide knowledge and resources for institutional leaders driving credentialing programs and initiatives at their institution—sharing best practices from planning to implementation. […]
Industry Credentials & Education Performance Data System
Overview The National Student Clearinghouse launched the Industry Credentials and Education Performance Data System in February 2020. The new service brought together for the first time academic and industry credentials […]
Outcomes for Opportunity (O4O) – Jobs for the Future & Google.org
Overview Jobs for the Future (JFF) and Google.org established the Outcomes for Opportunity (O4O) initiative to enable workforce development boards and nonprofit job training providers to make better use of outcomes […]
Advancing Equity and Upward Mobility through Community College-Employer Partnerships (ACE-UP)
Overview Launched in 2023, Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW), with support from Lumina Foundation, convened 20-25 community colleges and their industry partners a community of practice, Advancing Community Equity […]
Incremental Credential / Incremental Credentialing System / Incremental Credentialing Framework
Digital Credential Ecosystem / Marketplace
Badge, Skills Badge, Open Badge, Competency Badge
Skills-Driven State Community of Practice Initiative — National Governors Association
Overview The National Governors Association (NGA) supports participating states in developing skills-based pathways to opportunity. Efforts focus on quality assurance, data collection, and the connection to good jobs. In the […]
The Learner Credential Wallet
Overview The Learner Credential Wallet is an open-source mobile wallet designed to hold verifiable credentials of learning achievement (diplomas, certificates, badges and other credentials). It was developed by the Digital Credentials […]
The HR Open Standards Resume/CV Project
Overview Founded in 1999, the HR Open Standards Consortium is an independent, non-profit, volunteer-led organization dedicated to the development and promotion of a standard suite of specifications to enable human-resource-related […]
AACRAO Digital Interoperability Initiative
Overview To achieve digital interoperability, institutions require incentives, an effort to reach consensus, technical and other resources, and effective student information systems. Such systems must be able to seamlessly ingest […]
SNHU 2025
Overview Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) has developed a new mode of learning focused on stackable digital credentials and the alignment between jobs, skills, prior experience, and learning: SNHU 2025. […]
SkyHive® Platform
Overview SkyHive® is a Certified B Corporation and software provider of global workforce intelligence technology. Examples of uses of the SkyHive Platform include: Leading enterprises use SkyHive’s cloud-based applications and […]
North Dakota Partnership with Credential Engine
Overview The North Dakota University System, in collaboration with the Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) and Credential Engine, is giving its residents access to detailed, accurate information about the more […]
Skillful – Markle Foundation, Rework America Alliance, Jobs for the Future
Overview Skillful, a nonprofit initiative of the Markle Foundation, works to develop resources to accelerate the adoption of skills-based practices to reduce bias in hiring and talent management and open […]
Linked, Open Languages/schemas (CTDL & CTDL-ASN)
Overview Credential Engine’s family of specifications are available for use under open licenses. These specs include the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) used to describe credentials and information about them. […]
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 […]
EDUCAUSE Microcredentialing
Overview EDUCAUSE offers microcredentials to member audiences for participation in various professional development activities. EDUCAUSE microcredentials recognize an individual’s achievements, expertise and skill acquisition, engagement, and volunteer service with EDUCAUSE […]
Industry Certification Education & Performance Data System Initiative
Overview In 2016, the National Student Clearinghouse, in partnership with the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Census Bureau, launched a project to collect, report, match, aggregate, and analyze […]
Understanding the Landscape of Industry Certifications
Overview Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, in partnership with Workcred and the George Washington Institute of Public Policy, conducted a two-year study to unpack the complex diversity of certifications. The […]
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, […]
Comprehensive Learner Records Standard Working Group
Overview A web-friendly interoperable digital record, Comprehensive Learning Record (CLR), is designed to be flexible enough to support a wide range of use cases to meet the needs of students, […]
Alabama Talent Triad
Overview Alabama’s workforce development system is helping state residents acquire the skills, training, and services needed to pursue in-demand jobs in the state. Alabama is building three open-linked data sets, […]
Alabama Partnership with Credential Engine
Overview Leaders in Alabama are developing a statewide Credential Registry as a state-specific subset of the global Credential Registry. They are using the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) available from […]
Accelerating Opportunity: Kansas
Overview The Kansas Board of Regents, in partnership with the Kansas Department of Commerce, has implemented Accelerating Opportunity: Kansas (AO-K) to transform the delivery system for adult education in the […]
SkillsEngine – Texas State Technical College (TSTC)
Overview SkillsEngine is a technology innovation team based in Austin, Texas. The team builds data-driven solutions to connect the worlds of learning and work through a unified skills language. Its […]
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 […]
European Blockchain Partnership (EBP)
Overview The European Blockchain Partnership (EBP) is a key initiative to develop a blockchain strategy. It includes 29 countries — all EU Member States, Lichtenstein, and Norway. The partnership is […]
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 […]
Solutions for Information Design (SOLID) for Military Populations
Overview Solutions for Information Design, LLC (SOLID) is an intermediary that works to enhance the nation’s military and civilian workforce by strengthening career pathways, guiding skill attainment, and improving communication of […]
Credentials Matter
Overview Credentials Matter analyzes how the credentials that students earn align with real-world employer demand. The project includes a website and a series of reports informed by extensive collection and […]
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 […]