Interoperability, flexibility, security and privacy are cornerstones of a National Skills Passport

In today's rapidly evolving global economy, the ability to adapt and upskill is paramount. In our digital age, where automation and artificial intelligence reshape industries, the demand for a highly skilled and adaptable workforce has never been greater.

The release of the Employment White Paper identified the need for a learner-centric approach that recognises the diversity of each learner and their skills—regardless of their location. Against this backdrop, a National Skills Passport has the potential to unlock individual learning outcomes and drive national prosperity.

The opportunity exists for tech to streamline and modernise sourcing and verifying talent. By leveraging existing platforms like My eQuals, which already provides employers with a way to check an applicant’s credentials, along with the power of data analytics—the possibility of a dynamic repository of skills that industry can tap into is well within reach.

Imagine ‘LinkedIn skills’ but on steroids and validated.

A National Skills Passport would be holistic in its approach—it would not only capture formal qualifications, but also recognise experiential learning, micro credentials and competency assessments. It would provide a comprehensive profile of an individual's capabilities, giving employers a comprehensive view of an individual’s entire skillset.

Similar tools have already been successful outside of Australia. Singapore’s MySkillsFuture or Europass provide valuable lessons on the efficacy of such a system and the key attributes needed. These successful implementations have demonstrated the power of a unified platform to consolidate an individual's skills and credentials—streamlining processes for both employers and job seekers.

However, for a National Skills Passport initiative to be successful, it needs to be secure, trusted and easily available. It needs to leverage the power of Software as a Service to ensure real-time updates, widespread accessibility and ongoing optimisation. As a federal government initiative, the National Skills Passport requires interoperability, flexibility, security and privacy, and only a true SaaS solution can ensure these features and principles are embedded in its design and implementation.

SaaS not only facilitates seamless data management, but also enables continuous updates and enhancements, fundamental for a tool that keeps pace with the ever-evolving skill requirements of a modern and agile workforce.

With educational institutions already facing numerous challenges posed by tight budgets and skill shortages, it is important that a National Skills Passport doesn’t further burden universities and vocational education providers with additional layers of administrative complexity and compliance. Government and industry must achieve alignment to deliver an integrated platform that seamlessly connects to existing widely used systems—this will be critical to its success.

Additionally, cybersecurity is another critical aspect. Institutions and students need to have confidence in the system to encourage its uptake, and this requires robust protocols that provide the highest level of protection for sensitive personal and professional information.

Therefore, the National Skills Passport must incorporate robust cybersecurity measures that leverage encryption, authentication protocols and regular audits to mitigate risks and instil trust in the system. And it is only a true SaaS-native architecture can provide the highest level of data safety and defence to safeguard data and privacy.

As the government begins consultation to define the scope, outcomes and benefits of a National Skills Passport, meaningful collaboration with the tertiary education sector is fundamental to assess the readiness of universities and higher education provider to participate in the initiative.

Deakin University’s ‘DeakinDigital’ is an example a pioneering approach that has already embraced digital credentials and blockchain technology. It allows students to earn and digitally store their credentials—degrees, certificates and badges—providing students with easy access, and also enabling employers and other institutions to easily verify the authenticity of these credentials.

However, there remains a need for broader adoption and standardisation. Investment in faculty training, infrastructure upgrades and policy frameworks to ensure a smooth transition to this new era of credentialing is still needed.

There is a key role for the Federal Government to play in setting a taxonomy standard. However, in relation to the development of the solution—let’s not reinvent the wheel. The existing framework of My eQuals provides a great base to build upon.

A National Skills Passport is an opportunity to further foster collaboration between stakeholders to create a cohesive ecosystem that serves learners, educators, employers and policymakers' needs.

As not only a technological solution—a National Skills Passport is also a societal imperative. By harnessing the power of SaaS, embracing an integrated platform approach and prioritising cybersecurity, a National Skills Passport has the potential to be a transformative tool that empowers individuals, fosters lifelong learning and drives economic growth.