What if students, advisors, and employers could all speak the same language of skills? At
Bristol Community College, we’re making that vision real through a Credential Engine grant (funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation). Our project maps competencies for every career-based program—creating transparent, searchable data that drives informed decisions and connects learners to opportunities.
This work is a cornerstone of our
Learning and Employment Record (LER) adoption strategy and directly supports our use of
SmartResume to link students with local employers. By mapping skill sets to programs, we enable SmartResume’s talent marketplace to match candidates with verified competencies. Students also receive these skill lists to strengthen resumes and prepare for interviews, ensuring they can confidently articulate their value in the labor market.
We’re not just using this data at the end of a student’s journey—we’re embedding it before and during. Program-specific details, such as online or in-person completion options and embedded certifications, will be published in the
Credential Registry. These frameworks will power an app or widget that allows students and advisors to search programs by key terms, making pathways clearer and choices smarter.
Join me for a conversation about:
- How competency frameworks enhance transparency and choice for learners
- Practical steps for integrating Credential Engine data into advising tools
- The role of LERs and SmartResume in bridging education and employment
- Lessons learned from incentivizing faculty and managing change
