Digital Credentials OpenSkills Industry

D I G I T A L C R E D E N T I A L
A R C H I T E C T U R E

E D T E C H D I G I T A L E N V I R O N M E N T
With the rapid advancement in digital education technolo9y, development in isolation inherits a
risk of becoming redundant quickly. Exacerbating this risk, there are significant movements
from traditional institution based credentials towards a more dynamic, person-centric approach
whereby an individual develops, records and presents their achievements independently from
the issuing institutions. The primary developments in this sphere evolve around three key
movements.
1. Capability of immutability and validation of certifications outside of the issuing institutions
via Blockchain
2. The movement towards the collection and accreditation of skills and capabilities evidence
through the collection and presentation of verifiable micro-credentials.
3. The dynamic nature of future skills requirements that are incommensurate with traditional
Higher Education models
Talent based
systems
Lifelong
Learning
Competency
Pathways
Comprehensive
Learner Record
Agile Open
Architecture
Learning Data and
Analytics
Integrated
assessment

O P E N E C O S Y S T E M
Blocksure has founded our systems and products for interoperability across any platform.
Specifically, our programs align to 1Edtech (formally IMS) interoperability standards and Credential
Engine specifications.
These entities are the world’s most innovative and united educational technology community and
custodians of the dominant architecture for digital credentials and skills definition.
By aligning to the Open Ecosystem, we insure interoperability accross all platforms and future
proofing systems.
Their workstreams are now standard across the globe including:
Open Badge Standard
Open Badges is the world's leading format for digital badges. Open Badges
is not a specific product or platform, but a type of digital badge that is
verifiable, portable, and packed with information about skills and
achievements. ( working to Open Badges 3.0)
Comprehensive Learner Record Standard
The Comprehensive Learner Record Standard (CLR Standard) is the
new generation of secure and verifiable learning and employment records
supporting all nature of academic and workplace recognition and
achievements including courses, competencies and skills and employerbased
achievements and milestones.
LEARNING TOOLS INTEROPERABILITY® 1.3
The IMS Learning Tools Interoperability® (LTI®) specification allows
Learning Management Systems (LMS) or platforms to integrate remote
tools and content in a standard way.
Improved security based on OAuth2 and JSON Web Tokens
Enabling a fully integrated and innovative digital ecosystem
Credential Transparency
Description Language (CTDL-ASN)
A common description language that allows YOU to search, discover, and
compare every type and level of credential. Comprehensive information
about content, quality indicators, connections, skills, pathways, outcomes,
and value.
Rich Skill Descriptors (RSDs)
RSDs build on CTDL-ASN to enable skill authors to publish definitions that
can be referenced from digital credentials (including those that appear in
learner records), pathways, and job profiles. Partners in an interoperable
skills ecosystem may use CTDL/CTDL-ASN and/or other vocabularies and
web standards to present skills descriptors and related concepts.

O P E N B A D G E S
Open Badges is the world's leading format for digital badges. Open Badges is not a specific
product or platform, but a type of digital badge that is verifiable, portable, and packed with
information about skills and achievements.
An earner, can…
Demonstrate skills and
accomplishments, often by
submitting evidence, by
earning Open Badges.
Claim Open Badges when
issued to you.
Collect your Open Badges in
a portfolio or backpack to tell
your story.
Share your Open Badges on
social media and with your
community.
An Issuer can…
Break learning down into
small chunks.
Recognize learning based
on proficiency.
Award Open Badges for
completion of microcredentials
Gauge and retain talent.
A Developer or
Authority can…
Design verifiable recognition
of learning.
Track learner engagement
and scale resources.
Create tools to issue,
display, and host Open
Badges.
Certify conformance to the
Open Badges standard.
S k i l l s a r e c u r r e n c y i n t h e o p p o r t u n i t y e c o s y s t e m .
O p e n B a d g e s m a k e l e a r n i n g v i s i b l e a n d t r a n s f e r a b l e
b e t w e e n d e p a r t m e n t s , a g e n c i e s , a n d c o m p a n i e s .
OPEN BADGES TRANSFORM PROFESSIONAL TALENT ATTRACTION AND RETENTION
Employers can confidently discover diverse employee skill sets because Open Badges
(when issued properly) clarify skills and present verified evidence of learning through the
metadata.
When employers recognize the unique skills of their employees, they make room for
targeted growth and increased employee engagement—a desire foundational to new
generations of professionals.
Professionals are entering the workforce with piqued curiosity and empowerment due to
the Open Badges culture. Industry is tasked to create unique programs and develop
certifications that capture new skills and areas of expertise.

O P E N B A D G E P A T H W A Y S
A learning pathway is the chosen route individuals complete as they progress through a range
of specific courses, academic programs, and learning experiences. It is a roadmap describing
the landscape of a field, program or specialization. Pathways are made of steps that represent
requirements, competencies, or other "real-world" experiences and take the form of a
hierarchy of nested steps. Equating this to the Australian context, it can be equated to an
evidentiary and defined recognition of prior learning process utilising the attributes of digital
credentials and badging.
Pathway Structures can be defined depending upon their complexities.
Simple - badges are
only related because
they come from the
same Issuer (e.g. a
university or RTO)
Linearly connected -
one badge leads to
another (e.g. beginner,
intermediate,
advanced)
Complexly
interconnected
badges cross
categories and don’t
follow a linear
Complex cross-system
linking - badges are
connected to badges
from other Issuer’s
systems (e.g. university
pathway (e.g. outside
CS degree, Microsoft
training and
programming
experience or from
certification, Cisco data
another discipline)
security credential)

S K I L L S A S A N E W C U R R E N C Y
The world of work has changed. This shift started before the pandemic with the rise of digitization
and automation, and the magnitude of change has only accelerated since.
Skills are constantly evolving, and this is one reason we’re seeing an increasing reduction in the
use of traditional competence frameworks.
According to World Economic Forum, the shelf life of a skill is five years. Some argue it’s less than
that. In this changing world, organizations need to reconsider how they look at the makeup of the
workforce and start seeing employees through the lens of skills and capabilities. Not only jobs. In
that way, organizations and even governments can more proactively manage these frequent
changes and ensure their workforce is prepared.
S k i l l s O n t o l o g y
A Skills ontology is a categorization of skills that builds a common language of skills, defining the
aspects of a specific job rather than relying on blanket terms and vague descriptions.
Standard terms and qualifications used to be enough to classify workers. There was a basic
understanding of the underlying skills a specific occupation would need for the job. Today, however,
those skills are constantly evolving.
Modern skills ontologies don’t rely on employees inputting their skills into the core system of record.
They can collect and analyze this information by sifting through many sources of data such as job
descriptions, organization network mapping and performance data. These tools allow for the everchanging
nature of jobs, roles and organization because they’re always on and updating themselves
using machine learning.
S k i l l s O n t o l o g i e s L a c k o f R i g o r
While the development and usage of skills ontologies are meeting the needs of individual
companies, the inherent problem of quality over quantity becomes problematic.
As at March 2022, there are over 126 major Skills Ontologies
available with 96% based soley on user nomination.

S k i l l s O n o t o l g y F r a m e w o r k s Q u a l i t y A s s u r a n c e
As previously described, much of the data needed to support skills-based education and hiring
already exists; however, this skills data is siloed, not easily accessible nor machine-actionable,
and if it is, the data is confined to a software system. The scale and urgency needed for open
skills infrastructure is critical to support the future of work and the development of agile and
robust talent pipelines. The urgency necessitates a significant commitment to the
democratization of skills as a sharable, interoperable currency through the creation of an
international network of open, accessible, machine-actionable skills.
Despite significant progress on individual platforms, the most prolific advances and adoption of
a standard sytax for structured skills data is through the use and development of the Open
skills network and specifically the incorporation of Rich Skills Descriptors.
Rich Skills Descriptors
RSDs enable us to explore the details of a skill and quickly get the contextual
information needed to understand a particular skill, ensuring all users of skills are
working from the same definition
Each RSD has a unique web address with consitant definition syntax allowing anyone to
create links between skills and other data enabling the combination of data from multiple
diverse sources
RSDs are both humanly readable (like exploring information related to my own skills)
and machine actionable (like apps that recommend learning opportunities based on my
skills)
Rich Skills Descriptor Library(s)
We have the possibility to link RSDs to specific libraries and can be universal or confined to an
organisation, industry sector or even company.

I n h e r e n t P r o b l e m s W i t h O p e n S k i l l s R e p o s i t o r i e s
Unfortunately, until recently open badges and open skills had little rigor around issuance and
validity. With the advent of the Open Skills Management Tool (OSMT) with rich skills
descriptors linked to designated skills databases, there are methods of control to facilitate
authentication protocols.
These processes include:
Restricting access to data sets / RSDs
Restricting articulation linkages
Controlling alignments to standards
Use of A.I. to limit similarities in RSD Skill Statements (globally)
Limiting API Access
Data queries against endorsed and quality assured registeries and registration agencies.
As the typical and most effective dissemination of Open Skills is via web badges we needed to
develop a system to:
Define quality assurance and it's mechanisms
Transparently control access whilst still facilitating open market participation
Ensure immutability of issuance
Provide simple and universal access for verification of skills (note seperate from validation)
Generic RSDs (open Skills)
Solution
Vocational Guidance
Infection Control
Sanitation
Water Flow Tests
Quality Assured Skills which can be filtered
and utilised directly into HRIS systems
without validation.
Under our platform we will only allow organisations who are either externally quality
assured under ISO17024 or similar.

I N T E R O P E R A B L E S K I L L S E C O S Y S T E M
As previously indicated, traditionally digital badges lack transferability as they were artifacts lacking
in an audit trail resulting in issues of trust and verifiability.
Unlike digital badges, users can take their Open Badges and display them anywhere across the web.
Open Badges are portable credentials with information about the learning experience baked in.
Open Badges are not controlled by any one organisation. The technology that underpins the
whole system (the Open Badges Infrastructure, or OBI) is a free, open-source and run for the
world wide community.
Open Badges are evidence-based. The information about who, why, and for what the badge was
issued is hard-coded into it as metadata.
Open Badges are stackable. Badges from one organisation’s system can build upon ones from
another system. This creates a rich ecosystem that individuals can use to build the story of their
skills, knowledge, and experience.
Open Badges are transferable. Badges earned in one environment can be shared in another.
Open Badges put the user in control. Badges are private until they are published by the user.
They provide an easy way to show a portfolio of skills without third parties having to wade
through a mountain of data.
Certifications
Must be registered with a recognised authority
KYC must match the authority registers
3 Step authorisation for issuance of certifications
Blockchain secured with transactions hashed
Verifiable via DID or Verifier app
Open Badges
Can be issued directly via LMS
Can be non-accredited
Can be verified outside of blockchain but
still 128 bit encrypted
Easily shared and displayed on social
media
Greater analytics
Integrates with pathways

Q U A L I F I C A T I O N S , B A D G E S , S K I L L S
From the outset, badges cannot replace credentials or qualifications as they do not have the rigor or
quality assurance requirements. Open Badges were never designed, nor intended, to serve as minicertifications.
Where a certification is an activity in itself (usually an exam), a badge is a digital
representation of an existing activity, like the completion of a class, an assessment or a
demonstration of skills or abilities. Certifications can benefit greatly from Open Badges and, in fact,
create more demand.
Complementary relationships
By issuing badges to certification holders, you can dramatically increase the social media exposure
for the certification. Where a handful of people may see a paper certificate hanging on a wall in a
cubicle, hundreds or thousands of people will see the digital representation of the certification when
it is shared in social media.
By issuing badges for small, bite-sized activities that lead up to a certification, you will increase the
likelihood the earner will continue all the way to the certification exam. Badges help get people on
the “leader board” by making it easy (and rewarding) to start the journey.
Badges can complement certifications by providing “continuing education” credentials for skills
which are more “liquid.” and ensuring that students can demonstrate currency after certificate
issuance.

T h e R e a l U t i l i t y o f B a d g e s L a y W i t h T h e
S k i l l s B a k e d W i t h i n
This skills data contained with a badge inheritance can be utilized to build
and build individual or group skills profiles.

Australian Microcredentials Framework VS Blocksure
The biggest problem is that in their
current (proposed) form, microcredntials
are not easily consumed or utilised by
industry

Example of A Qualification Vs Skills Descriptors
Qualification
Position Description
with functional Analysis
CHCCOM005 Communicate and work in health or community services Collect biological specimens from patients
CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people Dispose of biomedical waste in accordance with standards
HLTINF001
Comply with infection prevention and control policies and
Conduct diagnostic tests to determine patient health
procedures
HLTPAT001 Identify and respond to clinical risks in pathology collection Maintain medical records
HLTPAT002 Perform venous blood collections Transport biological or other medical materials
HLTPAT004 Collect pathology specimens other than blood Explain technical medical information to patients
HLTWHS001 Participate in workplace health and safety Monitor patients to detect health problems
BSBCUS201 Deliver a service to customers Clean medical equipment
BSBMED301 Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use
HLTPAT003 Perform capillary blood collections Give medications or immunisations
HLTPAT005 Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing Maintain medical equipment or instruments
HLTPAT006 Receive, prepare and dispatch pathology specimens Communicate effectively with people
HLTAID011 Provide first aid Collaborate with colleagues
HLTCAR001 Perform electrocardiography (ECG) Complete medical workplace documentation
Infection Transmission Prevention Demonstration
Clinical risks in pathology collection response
Perform venous blood collections
Collect pathology specimens other than blood
Particiapte Clinical health and Safety
Interpret and apply medical terminology
Provide First Aid
Perform capillary blood collection
Drugs of abuse testing collection
Receive, prepare and dispatch pathology specimens
Customer Service in a Medical Setting
Respond to behaviours of concern
Work with diverse people
Electrocardiography
Holter monitoring
Apply Communication Strategies
WHS Implementation & Monitoring
Coordinate Resources
Develop work priorities
Support human resources
Apply Digital Solutions
Continuous Improvement
Maintain Digital Records
Promote cyber security awarness and practice
Coordinate client care
Produce coded clinical data
Digital Engagement Level 5

Data queries between Occupational /role profile and
skills held by participant to produce skills map.

O u r s y s t e m c a n m a n a g e b o t h : A c c r e d i t e d a n d N o n - A c c r e d i t e d
W e c a n s e c u r e l y i s s u e a n d m a n a g e a c c r e d i t e d c e r t i f i c a t i o n s
Certificate Details
Certificate Details
Certificates
Store Share Verify
W e c a n a l s o i s s u e , s h a r e a n d v e r i f y : o p e n b a d g e s a n d m i c r o - c r e d e n t i a l s

W H A T I S T H E D I F F E R E N C E ?
Certifications
Must be registered with a recognised Authority
(typically Government)
KYC must match the authority registers
2 Step authorisation for issuance of certifications
Blockchain secured with transactions hashed
Verifiable via DID or Verifier app
Certificate Details
Badges
Can be issued directly via LMS
Can be non-accredited
Can be verified outside of blockchain but still 128 bit
encrypted
Easily shared and displayed on social media
Greater analytics
Integrates with pathways
NB. Certifications and units of competency can
be issued as badges but not as secure

W H A T I S B L O C K C H A I N ?
The blockchain can be defined as a global list of records, distributed on a network and arranged in a
decentralised way, which keeps track of the transactions that occur between different accounts. All
the active users of this network contribute to the permanent storage of signed data and the
management of the blockchain, allowing access to information even to those who do not have a
local copy of all data.
BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY: FEATURES
Most people think of blockchain as only relating to cryptocurrency, however as described by the
European Commission’s science and knowledge service, blockchain will end paper-based
certificates, automate the award, recognition and transfer of credits, increase learner ownership and
control over their own data, reduce institutional data costs and risk.
Benefits of using blockchain include:
Trust - Confidence in the system
Transparency - Verification of a certificate without the need to contact the issuing institution
Immutability - records written and stored permanently without the possibility of modification
Disintermediation - removal of the need for a central controlling authority.
Time-bound contracts - for certifications that have a finite validity (e.g. first aid)
Self-Sovereignty: users identify themselves while maintaining control over the storage and
management of their personal data

S E C U R I T Y F E A T U R E S
1.Blockchain Based
2. Setup and Issuance must match TGA data sets including: CEO approval, Scope, Registration
3. 3-step, 6-parameter approval process for issuance. CEO - Approves Issuer and Validator, Issuer
inputs data and issues, Validator confirms both Student ID and qualification check and sends certificate.
4. 3-step authentication for User including biometrics.
5. Links to USI
6. Secure data centres based in Sydney.
V A L I D A T I O N M E T H O D S
1. Click on PDF Validation Button.
2. Upload Certificate or QR
3. Scan QR with Mobile Phone or PC

SKILLS PROFILING
Student Profiles with photo verification and verified skills
Blockchain Verified Qualifications all in one place which can be easily shared on any platform

OCCUPATIONAL PATHWAYS ALIGNMENT TO A
STUDENT'S ATTAINED SKILLS
Skills Mapping to Occupations with Gap Analysis (can form automated
training plan- See Badge Pathways)

MARKETING AND ANALYSIS
Stay connected to your students
through push notifications to the app
Detailed Analytics including:
Most awarded
When are they awarded
What is being shared on social media
What platforms are they being shared on
This can then drive marketing intiatives for greater
traction and ROI

PATHWAYS
With student pathways, training providers can provide a
visual map and guide students through a defined
process to completion improving outcomes.
Once one pathways is completed this can then become
the start of another pathway. given that many
qualifications can utilise credits from previous
qualifications to reduce the required study time and
can be a valuable marketing tool

E X A M P L E U S E C A S E S
Competence Attestation
Student sends DID or
QR to employer
VOC and internal training
conducted and
recorded via Badge
worker scans to
access
plant or location
Verification not needed
as it is immutable
All transactions recorded securely in the blockchain
No need to verify any credentials or attest certifications.
Full transparency and analytics
Can be verified at any time via mobile phone
Credentials, awards and access can be revoked remotely
Badges and certifications can be issued conditionally including:
Time bound - e.g. expires within a time frame
Employer bound i.e if they leave then it is revoked
Prerequisites
Any other conditions via smart contracts.
Company has full visibilty and analytics
Contractor Validation and Attestation
Contractor aggrigates
and applies any other
contractual requirements
This is automatically
checked against predetermined
conditions
If all conditions are met,
approval granted and
access/pass issued.
Workers send
credentials and
skills attestations
and licences to
contractor via
DID.
Primary Company has full
visibility records and control
without human intervention.
All while being immutable
and instant.

E X A M P L E U S E C A S E S
Risk Identification
Company wide skills matricies developed
via RSDs (can be internal and external)
Whether for specific projects or global talent pool
analysis, real-time and detailed data can be
acquired and reported.
Site Access
Worker can
choose or come
from any preauthorised
provider
Accreditation
automatically
accepted in the
access defined
pathway
Any internal training
assessments or
conditions can be defined
and added
Acces can be issued and
Managed via web-badge

Skills Pathways and progression extensions
Live Jobs Board
with API to indeed, linkedin or seek,
a live jobs board could be
developed for that occupation
Job 1
Position Name
apply
Job 1
Position Name
Job 1
Position Name
Live Jobs

Skills Pathways & Progression For Companies
Recruitment
Analytics and shortlists could be developed based on skills attainments against position criteria
Currently these skills are arbitry, not industry specific and lack rigor
Analytics and shortlists could be assigned to specific skills, accreditations and even employer specific.

Skills Pathways & Progression For Companies
HR and Competency Management
Employers could manage their internal and contractor competencies easily through this system
Position Description
Embedded Skills from RSDs
Develop Company Wide or Specific
Skills Analysis
This could be extended to include
Risk Assessments
Capability Assessments
Contracting Compliance
WHS Compliance
Access Management
Succession Planning

SKILLS PATHWAYS ANALYTICS
Platform likes and shares
With Linkedin API can get Viewer Data
Using APP can add locations
Analytics accross all platforms
Accepts Badges from all Open Badge Platforms
Stackable
All data can be sent and
analysed through any BI
tool

RISK-BASED AUDITING AND COMPLIANCE EXAMPLES
In almost all reporting systems globally, it is possible through most student
management systems to withhold reporting on certificate issuances for fee for
service and overseas students. Through this project,regulatory agencies or
organisations would be able to immediately identify anomalies where numerous
certifications are issued where:
The issuance exceeds the capacity of the training organisation
The Issuance exceeds the capacity of the individual trainer
Significant certification usage and verification occurring overseas without
notification.
Certificate issuance outside of scope of registration .
IMMUTABILITY AND CONTROL OVER CERTIFICATION ISSUANCE
Most national qualification systems employ a central registering authority that
underwrites and issues official certifications. However, in places such as the UAE
where unaccredited training organisations are not required to report certification
issue to the registration body, this system has an inherent flaw in that it relies on
verification of testamur from the issuing agent to prevent fraud. This in particular can
be hampered in the event of an issuing training organisation no longer in business or
issuing data has been lost through antiquated reporting systems and backups.
Consequently where competencies and certifications have been issued and have
been recalled byan agencies, the physical testamurs are difficult to recall and
typically theentity is deregistered, it is impossible to verify authenticity.
Similarly, despite the requirements on security of Certificates and Statements of
Attainment under the regulations, forgery and fraudulent issuances still occur and
can be in circulation for extensive periods before identification.

INTEROPERABILITY OF SYSTEMS
As discussed previously, the project has been designed to facilitate rapid
development and system interoperability through API development and existing
links to Government data systems through our partner in Rapid ID.
While the primary focus for regulatory authorities, will be on regulation and
management of operational, Systemic and Strategic risk as well as quality
assurance, there are a multitude of associated entities that also benefit from access
to data in real time including:
State and Federal funding mechanisms
Licensing and regulatory bodies outside of the accrediting agency that rely on
UOCs and Qualifications. (such as ILAC IEC certifications
Employment and skills forecasting
Immigration
Other Awarding bodies.
Infectious disease control
Food safety
INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION
Almost all skilled Immigration and work visa systems rely on authentication
processes of credentials. This is typically both time consuming and expensive for
both the employers and the individuals as the requirements of authentication are
onerous (and justifiably so under paper based systems). With the implementation of
blockchain based systems coupled with QA provided by trusted agents in origin
countries, the work visa system can be significantly more efficient in both time and
money.
Conditions and requirements
are agreed and written as
code and posted onto the
blockchain. The code and
conditions are publicly
displayed on the ledger (but
not individual identifiers)
When the agreed
conditions are met (such
as competency
demonstrated or
certificate issued) the
code is executed and
registered.
Regulators can watch the
activity on the blockchain,
monitor activity, and deverify
any suspicious or
fraudulent activity. All while
maintaining the privacy of
individual participants

SMART CONTRACTS
Smart contracts are lines of code that are stored on a blockchain and automatically
execute when predetermined terms and conditions are met. At the most basic level,
they are programs that run as they’ve been set up to run by the people who
developed them. The benefits of smart contracts are most apparent in business
collaborations, in which they are typically used to enforce some type of agreement
so that all participants can be certain of the outcome without an intermediary’s
involvement.
One of the benefits of using Ethereum is that there can be any number of subcontracts
under a primary contract. This opens the door to any number of
applications involving numerous steps which can be automated including:
Site access
VOCs, Licencing and competency
Work permit issuance and confirmation
Service ledgers
Rostering
project management
Quality assurance
Safety checks and inspections
QUALIFICATIONS MAPPING
Given the common coding system of the vocational system and the defined rules
surrounding training packages, the application of smart contracts allows for the
development of a system that can apply the training package rules with the existing
competencies a person holds and provide qualification options and advanced
standing for the upgrading of qualficiations. It is also expected that a similar process
could also be extended to include employee and job skills profiles for RPL
processes.
Qualification 1 Qualification 2

CONTACT DETAILS
MICHAEL STAAL
Director
E: mstaal@blocksure.com.au
M:+61 402 108 296