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Open Data Principles & Framework for the Education-to-Employment Ecosystem

Data benefits all stakeholders in education-to-employment (E2E) ecosystems. Among those data, learners need access to education and employment outcomes data to make informed decisions about their education and career pathways during and after high school. Similarly, institutions, employers, and policymakers rely on this information to improve and align education programs for career success. 
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Strada Education Foundation’s State Opportunity Index (SOI) highlights the importance of open data in understanding and improving postsecondary employment outcomes. The Clear Outcomes framework of the SOI encourages state data systems to provide accessible education and employment data to all stakeholders. Specifically, the framework highlights  “comprehensive and timely open data files containing anonymized education-to-opportunity statistics” and “robust, timely, and easily understandable interactive resources.” 

These two elements – open data and interactive resources – work hand-to-hand. The data powering interactive reporting tools can be published to open data repositories, once appropriately documented and stored in non-proprietary, machine-readable formats. These public-use open data files allow researchers, policymakers, and members of the public to use information for their own needs. Open data portals can allow exploration through interactive visualizations to help non-technical data consumers easily make sense of open datasets without specialized tools.

Open data:

  • increases interoperability because common formats and shared vocabularies enable different systems and organizations to read, share and process data consistently;
  • improves operational efficiency by avoiding duplicative research and facilitating reuse inside and outside government;
  • enhances public accountability by allowing individuals to monitor the use of public resources and program outcomes; and
  • supports AI tools by improving the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated outputs by utilizing structured data formats.

The Postsecondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) Coalition is partnering with Strada to advance state progress along the Clear Outcomes elements of the State Opportunity Index, including the element focused on open data. Credential Engine is a non-profit organization committed to empowering everyone to contribute to and benefit from an open, transparent, and interoperable credential data ecosystems. 

This guide draws heavily from the U.S. Open Data Policy and incorporates various Credential Engine standards and frameworks.

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Tags: Credential Ecosystem, Data, State Partners & Policymakers
Fact Sheets

Open, Interoperable Data for Actionable Credential Ecosystems

Creating an effective, efficient, and fair marketplace for credentials, qualifications, and skills requires collaboration among various stakeholders, including employers, educational providers, quality assurance organizations, assessment bodies, funders, and guidance platforms.

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Equity Advisory Council Report and Recommendations

Credential Engine’s work is centered around data transparency. Transparent, linked, open data has been identified as a particularly valuable tool for revealing inequities, understanding their root causes, and then informing and driving systemic change in a number of areas, including postsecondary education and training. Credential Engine understands that in a society rife with inequities, a commitment to open data use alone is not sufficient. To support the intentional identification and publishing of key data to aid the field in assessing equitable pathways, transfer, and the recognition of learning, Credential Engine convened a broad coalition of equity-focused thought leaders, called the Equity Advisory Council (EAC). The Council, along with HCM Strategists, and Credential Engine staff worked diligently to create a report of recommendations.

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Credential Transparency Self-Assessment

This self-assessment tool provides an overview of the specific steps laid out in the “Making Sense of Credentials: A State Roadmap and Action Guide for Transparency” report that state leaders can take to help integrate a common data infrastructure into their statewide education systems and to build a public, open marketplace for information about credentials for learners, workers, employers, and others to make informed decisions about credentials and pathways.

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Fact Sheets

Open, Interoperable Data for Actionable Credential Ecosystems

Creating an effective, efficient, and fair marketplace for credentials, qualifications, and skills requires collaboration among various stakeholders, including employers, educational providers, quality assurance organizations, assessment bodies, funders, and guidance platforms.

Report

Equity Advisory Council Report and Recommendations

Credential Engine’s work is centered around data transparency. Transparent, linked, open data has been identified as a particularly valuable tool for revealing inequities, understanding their root causes, and then informing and driving systemic change in a number of areas, including postsecondary education and training. Credential Engine understands that in a society rife with inequities, a commitment to open data use alone is not sufficient. To support the intentional identification and publishing of key data to aid the field in assessing equitable pathways, transfer, and the recognition of learning, Credential Engine convened a broad coalition of equity-focused thought leaders, called the Equity Advisory Council (EAC). The Council, along with HCM Strategists, and Credential Engine staff worked diligently to create a report of recommendations.

Other Resources

Credential Transparency Self-Assessment

This self-assessment tool provides an overview of the specific steps laid out in the “Making Sense of Credentials: A State Roadmap and Action Guide for Transparency” report that state leaders can take to help integrate a common data infrastructure into their statewide education systems and to build a public, open marketplace for information about credentials for learners, workers, employers, and others to make informed decisions about credentials and pathways.

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