Thu Sep 19 07:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Global Credentials Get a Makeover: AACRAO and Credential Engine Team Up for Transparency
**Washington D.C. -** In a move aimed at boosting global learning mobility, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) and the Credential Engine have joined forces to create a more transparent and accessible global credential landscape. This collaboration, utilizing a linked, open, and transparent data schema, will allow for easier comparison of credentials across different jurisdictions, supporting learners who move across borders and those who have been traditionally excluded.
The project hinges on the integration of AACRAO’s Electronic Database for Global Education (EDGE) with the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL), a linked open data schema developed by Credential Engine. EDGE, a premier resource for evaluating foreign educational credentials, will provide the data that will be made machine-readable and readily accessible through CTDL. This means that the data can be easily understood and used by tools designed for learners, employers, and educators, enabling better decisions about credential recognition and placement.
“By making EDGE data available in CTDL, we are creating a system that allows for cross-system interoperability, illuminating the value and worldwide connections of credentials,” said Julia Funaki and Deb Everhart, authors of the article.
The pilot project, currently in its initial phase, focuses on representing non-U.S. educational credentials in CTDL and publishing them to the Credential Registry, a database of CTDL metadata. This will enable a clear understanding of a credential’s level, competencies, and equivalencies with other qualifications, regardless of where it was earned.
For learners, this means that their credentials will be understood and accurately assessed by employers, higher education institutions, licensors, and other relevant stakeholders. For institutions and the workforce, it creates tools for more efficient and effective recruitment, placement, and support for learners.
The project’s success will rely on the successful mapping of educational programs to CTDL, allowing for clear comparisons and recommendations on how to interpret and apply credentials across different jurisdictions. This will be particularly beneficial for learners who are seeking further education or employment opportunities abroad, such as a South African student pursuing higher education in the United States.
The project also encourages public participation, inviting individuals to join Credential Engine’s Qualifications Frameworks task group, which aims to represent qualifications frameworks as linked, open data. This collaboration represents a significant step towards a more interconnected and equitable global education landscape.
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