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In a time when rapid technological shifts are reshaping the education and workforce landscapes, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s T3 Innovation Network and other leading organizations, is proud to launch Project Infuse. This collaborative initiative expands equitable access to digital credentials and Learning and Employment Records (LERs), empowering millions of learners with the tools they need to succeed in a dynamic economy.
With artificial intelligence, automation, and immersive technologies transforming how we live and work, studies suggest that up to 90% of the workforce will need continuous learning and skill adaptation—not because people lack knowledge, but because skills must evolve with our changing world. We believe disruption—when guided by equity, collaboration, and sound strategy—can lead to long-lasting, systemic transformation. Infuse represents our commitment to reimagining how academic and workforce credentials can become more accessible, interoperable, and meaningful for learners and employers.
What Is Project Infuse?
Today’s learners—particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, resource-limited institutions, or with “some college, no degree”—face structural barriers to accessing modern digital credential systems. Project Infuse addresses this critical gap by offering a public good infrastructure that meets institutions and learners where they are—technically, financially, and structurally—without requiring costly overhauls or proprietary lock-ins.
Infuse enables low-cost/no-cost issuance of enriched, interoperable, AI-enhanced digital credentials that are portable, interpretable, and aligned with real workforce demands. The initiative centers on three core functions supporting shared public infrastructure to connect, integrate, and enhance existing systems:
- Ingest: Integrating with existing Student Information Systems (SIS), PDFs, and CSVs to convert academic credentials into structured, digital formats. Infuse employs a universal data standard translator to enable interoperability between LER systems using open standards.
- Infer: Using artificial intelligence to extract and infer skill-level information from academic data, allowing learners to generate skill narratives that better align with workforce needs. The initiative plans to deploy domain-specific AI to further enrich credential quality and relevance over time.
- Issue: Empowering learners with access and control over their digital credentials through interoperable LER repositories and wallets. Infuse enables low-cost, public-good wallet and repository solutions for institutions.
Project Infuse proposes infrastructure that transcends traditional credential issuance—it enhances credentials with AI-driven skills inference, taxonomic alignment, and career pathway insights. For institutions, Infuse reduces complexity and cost. For learners, it opens doors to clearer, more personalized educational and career journeys. For employers, it offers a trusted lens into validated, structured skill data that supports skills-based hiring.
A Collaborative Public Good Approach
Project Infuse brings together an unprecedented coalition of organizations committed to learner-centered innovation. At its heart lies sustainable, open-standard-based infrastructure allowing all institutions—especially resource-limited colleges and universities—to participate in the future of credentialing.
The initiative is rooted in the T3 Network’s core principles, aligning seamlessly with a shared vision for a more equitable, connected, and future-ready learning ecosystem that:
- Makes all learning count – recognizing skills and competencies gained through formal education, work, and life experience.
- Enables competencies and skills to function like currency – allowing for transparent skill signaling in education and employment settings.
- Empowers learners and workers with control over their data – promoting autonomy, privacy, and informed consent through secure data exchange.
Infuse builds upon established efforts, leveraging key T3 Network initiatives to power a comprehensive ecosystem:
- Experience You: Complementing the T3 Network's efforts on skill assertions by providing the public infrastructure to house and share these valuable credentials
- Talent Pipeline Management: Aligning with the T3 Network's employer-focused tools that help organizations identify and develop talent
- LER-RS and LinkedClaims: Integrating with the T3 Network's resume publisher and credential verification systems to ensure seamless employer access
- JEDx: Supporting the T3 Network's job posting and matching innovations with enriched, standardized credential data
This continuity ensures our shared work evolves into a robust, interoperable, and inclusive public good infrastructure for all.
Real-World Impact
Project Infuse will deliver tangible benefits across the education and employment ecosystem by tackling real barriers faced by learners, institutions, and employers.
For students at under-resourced institutions, Infuse offers low-cost, scalable solutions for issuing digital credentials and Learning and Employment Records (LERs). By reducing technical and financial burdens, Infuse helps colleges transform traditional transcripts into interoperable digital records enriched with inferred skills—empowering students to showcase their full range of learning to employers and graduate programs.
For adult learners and stop-outs, Infuse supports re-engagement with education and the workforce by making legacy academic records accessible, portable, and meaningful. Learners can gain a clearer understanding of their skills and career options, helping them reenter the talent pipeline with confidence and clarity.
For employers shifting to skills-based hiring, Infuse helps make the credential ecosystem more transparent and useful. Verified digital records linked to real skills and achievements enable faster, more informed talent decisions. As a shared infrastructure, Infuse also fosters innovation among vendors and service providers, leading to better tools that connect education and employment.
By aligning the needs of all stakeholders, Infuse is empowering a future where credentials are not static documents, but dynamic assets that reflect a learner’s journey and potential—unlocking opportunity at scale.
Infusing the Ecosystem
Project Infuse represents more than a technical solution—it is a movement toward a more equitable, connected, and learner-centered future. By lowering barriers, aligning with open standards, and fostering collaboration across sectors, Infuse is helping to transform digital credentials from institutional records into dynamic tools for lifelong learning and workforce mobility. As this work unfolds, it invites every institution, learner, and employer to participate in shaping an ecosystem where opportunity flows more freely—and every learning experience truly counts.