What Mortarcaps Higher Learning Data Standard does

MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard Limited is an Australian not-for-profit standards body (ACNC Registered Charity, ABN 21 684 569 864) headquartered in Sydney that stewards the MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard (MCDS), the first sector-owned data standard for higher and vocational education. MCDS is a CAUDIT Higher Education Reference Model (HERM)-aligned schema defining 5,400+ entities across 24 domains — covering students, courses, credentials, finances, HR, research, and locations — expressed as JSON-API-native contracts with machine-readable, jurisdiction-aware reference data (ABS, ISO, Statistics Canada, PESC). The organisation operates a three-layer Capability Economy architecture: Layer 01 is the MCDS schema and semantics; Layer 02 is the Capability Cloud / ANZ Credit Management System, the sector-owned exchange rails selected under My eQuals; Layer 03 is the Human Capability Record (HCR), a consent-driven, learner-owned, AI-readable record of capability built on the HCS25 framework. The current release is V2.1.1, which added a Recognition of Credit standard; V2.2 with PESC cross-border portability is scheduled for October 2026.

The business model is asymmetric by design: institutions access MCDS free through peak-body membership (CAUDIT for ANZ, CUCCIO for Canada), preserving sector buy-in and neutrality, while the not-for-profit is funded entirely by commercial partner licence fees. Vendors pay tiered worldwide-territory fees ranging from AUD $5,190 to AUD $51,900 per year, plus an AUD $50,000 one-off Founding Vendor add-on; Implementation Partners pay region-scoped fees from AUD $2,500 to AUD $15,570 per year; Education Partners pay AUD $10,000 to AUD $30,000 per year. Six Founding Vendors (AWS, Microsoft, Salesforce, Ellucian, TechnologyOne, Workato) anchor the ecosystem, supported by Implementation Partners including KPMG, Deloitte Canada, and Ingenuity Partners (the lead architect). The organisation engages 160+ institutions and 700+ community members across Australia, New Zealand, and Canada via monthly townhalls, weekly working groups, and public draft windows.

Strategic distribution is community-led and partner-amplified rather than field-sales-driven. MCDS is increasingly being written into university RFPs, and aligns to government initiatives such as the Australian National Credit Recognition Framework and PESC portability. Adjacent products extend the platform: InfoCAPS (live visual schema browser built by AWS), the MortarCAPS Accelerator (Workato-powered standardised API layer and AI-enabled Data Utility enabling 5–10x faster integrations), and the HCR Discovery coalition commenced July 2026 with CBA, KPMG, ACS, VTAC, University of Sydney, UTS, and Western Sydney University.

Name

Mortarcaps Higher Learning Data Standard

Legal name

MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard Limited

Website

https://mortarcaps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MortarCAPS is an Australian not-for-profit standards body that stewards MCDS, a sector-owned, CAUDIT HERM-aligned data standard covering 24 domains and 5,400+ entities for higher and vocational education institutions, vendors, governments, and learners across Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Data Standard

akta.pro primary industry

Higher Education Academic Standards & Degree Framework Authorities (EDADAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Standards Development & Publishing (SDOs, Technical Standards) (MPAJACAB), National/State Curriculum & Standards Authorities (EDADAEAA), Transcript, Score Reporting & Verification/Credential Wallet Platforms (EDAFADAO)

Keywords

• Education data standard
• Higher education interoperability
• Data schema framework
• Student information systems
• Credential verification platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Vendor Licence Fees: Software vendors and EdTech companies pay tiered annual licence fees (AUD $5,190 to $51,900/year based on company size) for worldwide territory to embed MCDS in their products, use the MCDS Logo, and access the institutional market. Founding Vendor add-on available for AUD $50,000 additional fee.
2. Implementation Partner Licence Fees: Consultancies and systems integrators pay tiered annual fees (AUD $2,500 to $15,570/year based on territory headcount) for region-scoped licences to deliver MCDS-aligned implementations, with MCDS Logo usage rights with clients.
3. Education Partner Licence Fees: Educational service providers operating alongside institutional infrastructure pay tiered annual fees (AUD $10,000 to $30,000/year) to align their data layer with MCDS.
4. Institutional Access (Free): Institutions access MCDS free through peak-body membership (CAUDIT, CUCCIO, and aligned bodies). This zero-revenue stream is by design — the not-for-profit is funded entirely by commercial partner fees to preserve neutrality.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

MortarCAPS develops and stewards the MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard (MCDS), a sector-owned, HERM-aligned data standard that provides a unified schema for the higher and vocational education sector. The standard covers students, courses, credentials, finances, HR, research, locations, and regulatory reporting across 24 domains and 5,400+ entities, with JSON-API native contracts and polymorphic reference data support (ABS, ISO, Statistics Canada, PESC). Revenue is generated through tiered annual licensing fees paid by software vendors, implementation partners, and education partners, while institutions access MCDS free through peak-body membership.

Product overview

MortarCAPS operates as a not-for-profit standards body, offering the MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard (MCDS) as its core product — a sector-owned, HERM-aligned data standard enabling interoperability across higher education institutions, vendors, and governments. Supporting the standard are InfoCAPS (a visual exploration interface developed by AWS), the Human Capability Record (HCR — a learner-held, AI-ready capability credential layer), and the Capability Cloud/ANZ Credit Management System (the sector-owned exchange rails for credit and institutional data). The MortarCAPS Accelerator, powered by Workato, adds an AI-enabled data utility and standardised API layer for rapid MCDS adoption. Institutions access MCDS free through peak-body membership; commercial partners licence the standard.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MCDS (MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard): The data standard powering the Capability Economy — a sector-owned data standard for higher and vocational education built on CAUDIT HERM.
• InfoCAPS
• Human Capability Record (HCR)
• Capability Cloud / ANZ CrMS
• MortarCAPS Accelerator

Products and services

• MCDS (MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard) The foundational data standard for the higher and vocational education sector — a CAUDIT HERM-aligned schema defining entities, semantics, exchange formats, and reference data for interoperability across institutions, vendors, and governments. Spans 24 domains and more than 5,400 entities covering curriculum, student management, finance, HR, research administration, and government reporting. Licensed to vendors and implementation partners worldwide.
• InfoCAPS A live visual interface (developed by AWS) that allows institutions and vendors to explore the MCDS framework in action — making data relationships visible and navigable, supporting governance, auditability, and understanding of data flow across domains.
• Human Capability Record (HCR) A portable, consent-driven digital record of formal qualifications, micro-credentials, work experience, and informal learning — built on MCDS schemas and the HCS25 capability framework. The learner holds and controls the record; institutions, employers, and governments verify it; AI agents can reason over it. Currently in the Discovery phase.
• Capability Cloud / ANZ Credit Management System (CrMS) The sector-owned exchange layer (rails) for credit, capability, and institutional data movement across ANZ. The ANZ Credit Management System (CrMS), under My eQuals, provides a shared precedent database, AI-assisted maintenance, and governance for credit recognition across Australia and New Zealand, enabling institutions to share data without giving up ownership.
• MortarCAPS Accelerator An initiative providing institutions a rapid path to MCDS compliance and a launchpad for automation and AI innovation. Includes an AI-enabled MCDS Data Utility, a Standardised API Layer (pre-built managed APIs for Salesforce and Workday), and a Common Data Model — co-created with leading institutions. Delivered in partnership with Workato and AWS.

Quantifiable outcome

• Integration speeds 5-10x faster than traditional methods — Navitas achieved this using Workato and AWS aligned to MCDS
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026Discovery coalition member for Human Capability Record (July 2026). Australia's largest employer participating in HCR discovery alongside KPMG, ACS, VTAC, USyd, UTS, WSU. Executive General Manager Jane Adams stated CBA is exploring how capability records 'could be designed in a way that is practical, trusted and useful for both individuals and organisations.'
• Australian Computer Society (ACS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026Discovery coalition member for Human Capability Record (July 2026). The professional association for Australia's technology workforce (140,000+ members) strongly endorses a sovereign, learner-owned approach to recognising capability in the AI economy. President Beau Tydd stated 'For too long, the value of someone's skills has been locked inside the institution that first recognised them.'
• CevocoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 July 2026Delivery Partner leading HCR Discovery alongside Ingenuity Partners (July 2026). James Lewis (Head of Public Sector) stated Cevo is 'proud to help contribute to the build of critical digital infrastructure Australia will need for the capability economy.' Brings public sector technology delivery expertise.
• WorkatocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2025Foundation Member and Founding Vendor. Workato is developing the MortarCAPS Accelerator — an enterprise-grade integration layer including a MCDS Data Utility (AI-enabled data parsing), a Standardised API Layer (pre-built, managed APIs), and a Common Data Model (pre-packaged data structures for core higher ed domains). Navitas achieved 5-10x faster integration speeds using Workato and AWS aligned to MCDS. Workato aims to become the default integration layer for the sector, targeting Salesforce and Workday connectivity.
• Australian Access Federation (AAF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2025Sector Partner (November 2025). AAF is the trusted provider of federated identity and access management for Australia's education and research community. Partnership aims to strengthen interoperability and secure access across education and research systems, align national approaches to digital identity and data standards, and support a trusted and scalable framework for cross-sector collaboration. CEO Charlsey Pearce stated 'Trust and interoperability sit at the heart of everything we're building.'
• SalesforcecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2025Collaboration to support ongoing development of MCDS and bring AI and unified data to higher education student experience. Salesforce provides expertise and support into the development of the new data standard, with Education Cloud aligning to MCDS. MortarCAPS CEO Charlsey Pearce stated the collaboration 'creates a single, trusted view of each student'. MCDS release into Salesforce Education Cloud ecosystem planned for October 2026. Salesforce reaffirms commitment to connected learner journey through Education Cloud, analytics, and AI.
• My eQuals / ANZ Credit Management InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2025MortarCAPS selected to deliver the sector-wide Data Service for the ANZ Credit Management Initiative under the auspices of My eQuals. This will deliver a smarter, scalable Credit Management System (CrMS) for faster, consistent, learner-centric credit outcomes through a shared precedent database, AI-assisted maintenance, and strong governance. The ANZ CrMS is Layer 02 of the Capability Economy architecture.
• KPMG AustraliacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 22 September 2025Implementation Partner. Global professional services firm delivering MCDS-aligned implementations for institutions and government across Australia. National Managing Partner Dorothy Hisgrove endorsed the HCR as infrastructure for workforce mobility and the capability economy. Joining MCDS community announced at November 2025 Town Hall.
• Deloitte CanadacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 22 September 2025Implementation Partner for Canada. Digital strategy and data analytics for Canadian higher education, contributing to the CUCCIO stream of MCDS development and Canadian institutional adoption.
• EvinactminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 22 September 2025Implementation Partner. Digital and data advisory specialising in AI and information governance for higher education institutions.
• Vantage ForwardminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 22 September 2025Implementation Partner. Enterprise architecture and transformation services for MCDS-aligned implementations.
• Iteration InsightsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 22 September 2025Implementation Partner. Canadian data analytics consultancy focused on BI and governance for higher education.
• PortableminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 22 September 2025Implementation Partner. Service design and user experience consultancy for the public good, contributing to MCDS implementation with a human-centred design focus.
• Digital Governance Council of Canada (DGC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2025Sector Partner. Canada's national standards body for digital governance. Co-labs on cross-border capability standards alignment with MCDS.
• Higher Ed Services (HES)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2025Sector Partner. Not-for-profit owned by Universities Australia. Runs My eQuals (international tertiary credential verification) and HES Analytics. MortarCAPS selected to deliver the sector-wide Data Service for the ANZ Credit Management Initiative under My eQuals. HES is a supporting partner in the HCR Discovery coalition.
• ACODEminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2025Sector Partner. Australasian Council on Open, Distance and e-Learning — peak body for university teaching and learning leadership across Australia and New Zealand.
• HoSAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2025Sector Partner. Heads of Student Administration (Australia & New Zealand) — peak body for student admin and academic services leadership across 150+ ANZ universities.
• Capability.CocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2025Sector Partner. Stewards the Human Capability Standards underpinning the HCR. Contributing partner in the HCR Discovery coalition (July 2026).
• The Institute for Working FuturescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2025Sector Partner. Co-lab partner on the HCS25 human-capability framework (Head, Heart, Hands, Lead) that the Human Capability Record is built on. This framework provides the structured taxonomy for human capabilities in the HCR layer.
• Engineers AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2025Sector Partner. National engineering professional body with 140,000+ members. Stewards the Engineers Australia accreditation standards used across the sector. CEO Charlsey Pearce participated in CDR Workshop alongside Engineers Australia GM Jamie Burrage.
• Keypath EducationminorOthers · 22 September 2025Education Partner. Educational services organisation bringing global program delivery expertise into the MCDS ecosystem, aligning data layer for interoperability across institutions.
• Online Education Services (OES)minorOthers · 22 September 2025Education Partner. Educational provider aligned with MCDS, advancing learner engagement and data-driven student support.
• TechnologyOnecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2025Inaugural vendor partner for MCDS. TechnologyOne is aligning its market-leading OneEducation SaaS ERP platform to MCDS, enabling universities, TAFEs, and vocational providers to reduce duplication, improve compliance, and unlock real-time interoperability. TechnologyOne is Australia’s largest enterprise SaaS provider and a top 50 ASX-listed company, supporting more than 90% of universities and over 60% of TAFE/VET institutions in ANZ. Active roadmap development to embed MCDS capability in upcoming releases.
• AlkemizcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 13 May 2025Official Implementation Partner of MCDS. Brings experience in data strategy, integration, and modernisation across higher education. Supports institutions implementing the MCDS framework with strategic guidance, architecture expertise, and practical delivery support. Delivered transformative digital initiatives for institutions across Australia.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)coreTechnology or Integration · 19 December 2024Founding cloud partner and Founding Vendor. AWS developed reference architectures for MCDS adoption using AWS services, with initial focus on inter-organisational data transfers. AWS introduced InfoCAPS as a live visual interface for exploring the MCDS framework. AWS hosts the CDR Workshop and supports the MortarCAPS Accelerator with cloud infrastructure. Joint work includes the MCDS Activation Program to help institutions assess data-governance maturity and deploy reference architectures.
• ElluciancoreTechnology or Integration · 27 November 2024Global higher-education software leader. Founding Vendor. Ellucian's Banner, Colleague, and broader Ellucian platform serve more than 2,900 institutions worldwide, providing a major channel for MCDS adoption globally.
• Ingenuity PartnerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 27 November 2024Founding partner and lead architect of the Data Standard. Decades of enterprise architecture and systems integration experience. Developed Ingenuity's Playbook — a practical guide to implementing MCDS with clear steps, readiness insights, and frameworks. Co-leads HCR Discovery with Cevo. Architectural Principal Kyle Dunsire serves on the MortarCAPS Board.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or Integration · 27 November 2024Founding Vendor. Provides cloud, AI, data, security, and education solutions for higher learning. Contributes to the MCDS ecosystem alongside AWS and other founding partners.
• CAUDITcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2024Sector Partner and co-developer. Council of Australasian University Directors of IT. Supports digital leadership across Australia and New Zealand. CAUDIT members access MCDS free through peak-body membership. CEO Greg Sawyer serves on the MortarCAPS governance structure. CAUDIT Working Group led by Warwick Calkin drove the original development of MCDS with 20+ institutional members.
• CUCCIOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 January 2024Sector Partner and Canadian governance body. Canadian University Council of CIOs drives national collaboration across Canada's higher-education digital landscape. Brian Stewart (CIO, Simon Fraser University) chairs the Canadian arm of the data standard. Community launch held January 10th. CUCCIO institutions access MCDS free through membership.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Credential Engine: Credential Engines maintains the Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) — a standard for describing credentials and competencies. It overlaps with MortarCAPS's HCR layer and shares the credential-portability mission.
• Ed-Fi Alliance: Ed-Fi provides a unified data standard and API layer for K-12 and increasingly postsecondary education in the US. It is directly comparable to MortarCAPS as a sector-wide data standard with reference data, schema, and adoption tooling.
• Open Skills Network: Open Skills Network stewards the Open Skills Project, a not-for-profit initiative to standardise skills and competency data. It is comparable to MortarCAPS in operating as a sector-owned, vendor-neutral standards body for capability/skills interoperability.
• 1EdTech Consortium (formerly IMS Global): 1EdTech is the leading international standards body for education technology, governing LTI, Caliper, and CASE standards. It is comparable to MortarCAPS as a member-driven consortium developing interoperability specifications adopted by EdTech vendors and institutions globally.
• PESC (Postsecondary Electronic Standards Council): PESC develops data exchange standards for the postsecondary education sector in North America, including transcripts, admissions, and learner records. MortarCAPS aligns to PESC via the upcoming V2.2 crosswalk, making PESC the most direct comparable as both steward sector-owned education data standards.
• Lixi Data Standard: Lixi is an Australian not-for-profit that stewards data standards for the mortgage and lending sector. Its CEO sits on the MortarCAPS Board. Comparable as a sector-owned Australian NFP data standards body with a similar governance and funding model.

Broad incumbents

• Workday: Workday is a major SaaS vendor for higher education and HR, and a named integration target for the MortarCAPS Accelerator. Comparable as a dominant higher-ed technology platform whose product strategy influences MCDS adoption paths.
• CEN (European Committee for Standardization): CEN develops European standards across many sectors including education. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder standards body whose outputs are embedded into policy and procurement across member states.
• W3C (World Wide Web Consortium): W3C stewards web standards (e.g., JSON-LD, RDF) that underpin semantic data exchange. Comparable as a vendor-neutral standards body producing widely-adopted technical specifications used across industries including education.
• CAUDIT (Council of Australasian University Directors of IT): CAUDIT is the peak-body that co-developed the HERM foundation underpinning MCDS and now provides free institutional access to the standard. Comparable as a sector convenor for digital leadership across ANZ higher education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MortarCAPS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mortarcaps-higher-learning-data-standard

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mortarcaps Higher Learning Data Standard