Credential Engine is a non-profit whose mission is to map the credential landscape with clear and consistent information, fueling the creation of resources that empower people to find the pathways that are best for them.
Through their utilization of linked open data for credentials, Credential Engine is making credential data transparent for all stakeholders including learners and workers, credential providers, policymakers and thought leaders, and employers. The work is already underway in 35 states and regions, and across 2 regional consortia of states.
P20’s partnership with Credential Engine began when we submitted a bid in August of 2024 in response to their RFP for their Gates Foundation subgrant. In October of 2024, they selected P20 as one of the recipients. The Gates Foundation subgrant has three intentions:
- Opportunities for Success: To help partners expand data about credentials, providers, programs, quality, outcomes, pathways, and support services that promote equitable outcomes and help students, workers, and others make their most informed decisions.
- Job Skills: To help partners improve the connection between the learning and work ecosystem by publishing data about jobs and skills requirements and describing how they align with competencies gained through education and training.
- Pathways: To help partners who have existing learning and career pathways make this information available as linked open data and navigable in tools that help learners achieve their goals.
For our specific project with Credential Engine, P20 has two goals:
- Publish NC Workforce Credentials to the Credential Registry.
- Leverage Registry data via widget, embedded web link, or other data integration.
For goal #1, our project focus is on:
- Publishing regional institutions’ programs. (e.g., A-B Tech Community College and Blue Ridge Community College).
- Publishing regional institutions’ connections to industry-recognized credentials.
- Publishing Equity Tier 1 data (where applicable), including duration, costs, financial aid, support services, credit, time to completion, and outcomes.
For goal #2, our intention is to support more transparent information on how learners can access NC Workforce Credentials in the Land of Sky region.
Once the credential data are in the Credential Registry, we will have the ability to display all regional programs that help prepare students for NC Workforce Credentials together, similar to our localized list of NC Workforce Credentials on the P20 website but much more robust.
