TechnologyOne and MortarCAPS to develop and deploy a standard data model for the higher education sector in Australia, Canada and the UK.
The MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard (MCDS) and TechnologyOne will jointly develop and deploy a standard data model for the higher education sector in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The landmark agreement signals a transformative shift for the future of the post-secondary sector, saving money for education institutions and creating opportunities for students to transfer their studies.
Developed in collaboration with the Council of Australasian University Directors of Information Technology (CAUDIT) and multiple institutions, including University of Melbourne, University of Western Australia, and University of Sydney, MCDS is pitched as having the potential to revolutionise how institutions manage and share information across Australia’s education sector and internationally.
Higher Education providers presently use a range of software with limited integrations across their IT infrastructure, creating significant operating costs and data silos.
This limits students’ ability to move between providers or get recognition for past learning. In turn, qualifications frameworks have not been able to keep up to date with modern learning needs like micro credentials or short courses.
This initiative will create an integrated way to record and share learning data between systems, enabling students to take their learning history with them wherever they go. It will help to automate administrative work like reporting, credit transfers, and allow students to own their data and choose who sees it.
TechnologyOne is the founding vendor and will be the first to apply the principles for data standards in its student management solution.
The principles were developed by the IT representative bodies for the higher education sectors in Australia and Canada, including the Council of Australasian University Directors of Information Technology (CAUDIT) in Australia.
This collaboration brings together two Australian-born innovators in a shared mission: to reshape how institutions enhance student experiences at scale, connect systems, and improve educational outcomes.
By aligning its products with MCDS, TechnologyOne will help universities, TAFEs and vocational institutions improve data quality, streamline government reporting, and achieve true interoperability across systems, unlocking benefits not just for institutions but also for policymakers and public accountability.
With 37 years of experience in Australian R&D , TechnologyOne brings deep sector expertise and a focus on simplifying the complex through its integrated enterprise SaaS solutions.
MortarCAPS CEO Charlsey Pearce said: “TechnologyOne’s partnership with MCDS represents a united vision for the future of education, one where connected systems, data integrity and student-centred design go hand-in-hand. Together, we’re laying the groundwork for a sector-wide transformation, one that empowers institutions to lead with both innovation and integrity, without compromise.”
TechnologyOne Executive Vice President for Education David Cope said:“This agreement means Australian innovation is leading the charge worldwide in uplifting the post-secondary Education industry’s capability and enabling institutions to provide the exceptional user experiences students have come to expect. We reinvest 20-25 % of our revenue in R&D annually in continually improving our products for the markets we serve. Working hand-in-hand with the sector to reduce the administrative burden so educators can focus on student success”.
Central Queensland University Chief Digital Officer Roy Pidgeon said: “Our sector faces escalating demand for data insight, reporting, sharing, and security. The CAUDIT MortarCAPS Data Standard is an innovative design to equip our institution to navigate these challenges effectively. By partnering with TechnologyOne, a leader in vendor adoption of this standard, we are confident in our ability to enhance student experiences, improve interoperability, and ensure robust data security across our digital systems.”
University of Melbourne Enterprise Architect Sean Turner said: “The University of Melbourne is pleased that TechnologyOne has become a founding partner of the MortarCAPS higher learning data standard. This will enhance University’s ability to participate in the ongoing development and enhancement of the standard in advancing data transparency and collaboration across the education sector.”
MortarCAPS Technical Principal Andrew Mulcahy said: “This is a global data revolution, and it’s being led by the sector itself. Built by the sector, for the sector, MCDS is the foundation stone for better student experiences, smarter service delivery, and sustainable transformation. With TechnologyOne on board, we’re proving that the sector can lead its own future, on its own terms.”
