What is XCRI-CAP?
XCRI-CAP stands for eXchanging Course Related Information, Course Advertising Profile. XCRI-CAP is the UK standard for describing course marketing information. It shows how to structure the information, defines and names the data components and specifies the types of data permitted within each component.
Its purpose is to enable information about courses and other kinds of learning opportunity to be shared efficiently between the computerised information systems used by learning providers and organisations collecting, aggregating and publishing information about courses. It is recommended by the UK government and is generally applicable across all sectors of UK education and training.
Why is XCRI-CAP important?
XCRI-CAP is a standard that makes it easier to move data about courses around. It is used to improve the way staff do things within their own organisation and in partnership with other organisations. It gives organisations the capability to offer new and enhanced services to users of course related information. Its standard format and common definitions make it possible for information in different systems to be shared and updated without having to re-enter data. Joining systems together in this way is commonly called 'interoperability'.
The course information lifecycle
Learning providers use information about courses in a variety of different contexts, from internal validation and approval through applications and admissions to student record systems.
Course information lifecycle in a higher education institution
XCRI-CAP can help at many of the stages in the course information lifecycle:
Course advertising function within the lifecycle
The XCRI Knowledge Base can help you to think about any problems that your institution may have in the areas of creating, collecting, publishing and using information about courses. These problems could be at various levels in the organisation. Some questions might be:
"How do we attract more learners?"
"How do we make sure that potential students have the right information so they can make the right choices?"
"How can I let other people - learners, students, staff, other organisations - know about our course offerings more efficiently and more effectively?"
"Can I make it easier for our staff to collect and publish information about our courses and avoid re-keying it?"
"How do I make a better course marketing system?"
"Can I output the data in a standard format for consumption by anyone who wants to use it?"
This Knowledge Base can help with information about improvement of processes involving courses information, technical implementation by developers and analysts, and case studies describing how other institutions have done it.
