Welcome to the first MCDS newsletter! 

From Charlsey Pearce, CEO of MortarCAPS 

Welcome to the very first edition of the MCDS monthly newsletter.
When we began this journey, the idea was simple but powerful: create a sector-led, open standard that would allow our systems to talk to each other, reduce duplication, and give our institutions and learners the trust, efficiency, and consistency they deserve.

In just a short time, that vision has grown into a global collaboration — supported by over 80 universities, colleges, and polytechnics across Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, and strengthened by our partnerships with sector bodies like CAUDIT, CUCCIO, CAUBO, ARDC, HoSA, ACODE and many more.

We’re also building strong alliances with technology partners — TechnologyOne, AWS, Salesforce, CeNote Solutions, TimeEdit, StudyPlanner, and KnowmeQ. Together, we’re shaping a plug-and-play ecosystem that keeps the human at the centre, while making our data AI-ready, interoperable, and future-proof.

This newsletter will be your monthly update on progress across the working groups, highlights from sector events and workshops, new collaborations, and the roadmap ahead — including areas like financials, research administration, HR, and reporting. It will also be a space to celebrate the contributions of the many people who are making this possible.

Learn More

Thank you for being part of this movement. The momentum is real, and together we’re proving that the sector can define its own data future.

Cheers!
Charlsey 

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These collaborations ensure that institutions can reduce duplication, accelerate adoption, and access an ever-growing plug-and-play ecosystem. 

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Partner Highlights 

TechnologyOne proud to support MortarCAPS Data Standard as Foundation Partner    

TechnologyOne is exceptionally proud to be a Founding Partner of the MortarCAPS Data Standard (MCDS), reinforcing its commitment to advancing digital transformation across the sector. The team is actively analysing the standard and developing a roadmap to embed capability in upcoming releases, ensuring its products evolve in line with sector priorities.

TechnologyOne is Australia’s largest enterprise Software as a Service (SaaS) provider and a top 50 ASX-listed company. For more than 37 years, TechnologyOne has partnered with leading universities, TAFEs, and vocational providers to simplify operations and deliver student-centric experiences across the education sector. TechnologyOne’s purpose-built OneEducation SaaS ERP now supports more than 90% of universities and over 60% of TAFE/VET institutions in Australia and New Zealand, helping institutions reduce administrative burden and embrace continuous innovation.

By aligning OneEducation with MCDS, TechnologyOne will support institutions to improve data quality, simplify government reporting, and achieve interoperability across systems. This initiative will unlock benefits not only for education providers, but also for policymakers and public accountability, enabling better decision-making at every level.

Together with MortarCAPS, TechnologyOne is committed to building the future of education technology infrastructure, helping institutions adapt, innovate, and thrive in a rapidly changing environment.  

🔗Learn more about TechnologyOne.  

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MCDS Implementation Update: AWS Leads Higher Education Data Transformation  

As discussions around the MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard (MCDS) advance across Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a critical partner helping to solve the complex challenges of data interoperability in higher education.

In close collaboration with MCDS, AWS is developing innovative reference architectures that will equip institutions with a modular, flexible approach for adoption using AWS services. The initial focus is on facilitating inter-organisational data transfers, enabling seamless information sharing across the education sector.

Over the next 3 to 6 months, AWS and MCDS plan to launch pilot programs with select institutions to demonstrate real-world applications of this approach. The implementation strategy prioritises flexibility, allowing institutions to adopt components that best align with their specific needs and capabilities. It draws inspiration from proven frameworks such as Open Banking on AWS.

The pilot program is now open for expressions of interest from institutions eager to showcase MCDS capabilities. Forward-thinking partners and institutions are invited to connect with the AWS team to learn more and be at the forefront of higher education data transformation.   

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The Connected Campus: How AI and Unified Data Are Reshaping Higher Education

Students today expect the same seamless, personalised experiences from their institutions as they do from their favourite online brands. The Salesforce Connected Education Report, Fourth Edition, surveying over 2,000 students and staff globally, makes one thing clear: AI and unified data are now essential for higher education success.

1. Students Expect More: 82% want more personalised support than five years ago, and 77% say admissions should be as easy as online shopping.
   
2. AI on the Rise: 54% of students are open to autonomous agents for faster help, while 83% of staff say AI frees them to focus on higher-value work.
   
3. The Power of Unified Data: 72% of institutions are prioritising integration, enabling a single student view that drives truly personalised support and smarter decisions.
   
4. Beyond Graduation: With 44% of students choosing colleges for career outcomes but only 18% feeling prepared, institutions must strengthen alumni engagement for both career and fundraising benefits.

To conclude, successful institutions embrace leadership, empowered teams, and a test-and-learn mindset. By harnessing AI and data, higher education can exceed learner expectations and create a connected, lifelong experience.

🔗 Download the full report here.

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🏆 ANZ Credit Management   

MortarCAPS selected to deliver sector-wide Data Service for Credit Management 

The ANZ Credit Management Initiative, under the auspices of My eQuals, has completed an RFP and selected MortarCAPS to advance the sector-wide Data Service to the next phase (subject to funding), leveraging the MortarCAPS data standard as the foundation for a smarter, scalable solution. 

Why it matters: current credit management is clunky, inconsistent, and far too manual. Institutions struggle to keep databases current, while learners face delays and confusion. A sector-wide Credit Management System (CrMS) will change that — delivering faster, consistent, learner-centric credit outcomes through a shared precedent database, AI-assisted maintenance, and strong governance that balances collaboration with institutional autonomy.

👉 Stay tuned for next steps. 

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📢 🎯 Consumer Data Rights (CDR) Workshop — 23 October @ AWS Sydney 

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📈 Student Mobility Progress

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🎭 Curtains Close on V1.2 Development, Focus Shifts to V1.3

With the new tenant live and automation in place, we are on track to finalise V1.2 for an early-October release. This version tightens the standard where institutions feel pain most often: how learning is evidenced, how people and places are recorded, and how sensitive or questionable data is flagged. In practice, that means consistent assessment structures, address handling that works in the real world, and a simple way to tag data quality and consent concerns across systems. 

Attention now turns to V1.3, which broadens the lens from the student record to the whole institution. We are shaping a staff model that connects people and roles to the student journey, a finance stream co-designed with sector finance leaders for trustworthy, automated reporting, and a research administration track aligned to persistent identifiers so research data can move with integrity. 

Better structure and governance set the stage for reliable analytics and responsible AI. 

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🛣️ Roadmap for the Standard 

💡 UPDATE
The Financials domain has been rescheduled to V1.3 to ensure it is developed in full collaboration with institutional VPs of Finance and CAUBO. 

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What’s Next: Preparing for V1.3 

• V1.3 Design Workshops (September): deep dives with institutions across Australia, New Zealand and Canada to finalise scope and development.
  
   
• V1.3 Working Group Kick-off (October 2025): focused on Financials (with VPs of Finance & CAUBO), the Holistic Capability Record, and Research Administration. 

• Consumer Data Rights (CDR) Workshop – Late October: a focused session on consent, portability, and “Open Education” foundations led by Ian Opperman.
   

🍿That’s All Folks! 

Thanks for tuning in, no popcorn needed this time, but we promise the sequel in next month’s update will be just as good. 

Cheers,
Charlsey Pearce
CEO
MortarCAPS