By Autumn Walden, Content Strategy Manager, AACRAO, and Jeanne Kitchens, Chief Technology Services Officer, Credential Engine
AACRAO’s strategic partnership with Credential Engine places our international and transfer credential evaluation work at the forefront of the intersection of AI, open data, and learning mobility. Our Director of International, Julia Funaki, recently attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Third Senior Officials Meeting (SOM3) in Lima, Peru. This global gathering included conversations about qualifications frameworks (QFs) used to categorize credentials and how QFs can evolve to meet the challenges of AI.
Collaboration is critical in advancing the definitions used to describe credentials and competencies—notably for developing the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL). AACRAO has partnered on this groundbreaking initiative through our innovative credentials work, the release of our Comprehensive Learner Record (CLR) Implementation Guide, membership in the United States Qualifications Framework (USQF) Advisory Council, and numerous activities over the years.
Now, it’s your turn to join the conversation. Credential Engine has recently completed a months-long collaborative process to enhance global data interoperability for QFs. This effort involved input from subject matter experts worldwide and culminated in a proposal to add new CTDL terms, definitions, and usage guidance for representing QFs as linked open data.
Anyone who is interested in learning more and providing input is invited to participate in an upcoming webinar or review the recording afterward. The webinar will provide the necessary context to understand the CTDL terms proposal and its potential impact. Participant feedback following the webinar will be instrumental in refining this initiative.
Webinar: CTDL Qualifications Frameworks Terms Proposal
The proposed CTDL additions are designed to enhance transparency and standardization of education and workforce data, supporting critical areas such as learning mobility and international credential recognition. By attending the webinar, participants will better understand how these additions strengthen the connection between QFs, credentials, competencies, and quality assurance and promote data interoperability that benefits learners, workers, and organizations worldwide.
Data transfers across borders—definitions matter. Our collective efforts to create structure shape the future of learning mobility in the U.S. and abroad.