Version 1.0 of the MortarCAPS Data Standard Is Here: Built for the Sector, Delivered by the Experts
- Kyle Dunsire
- Oct 1, 2025
- 2 min read
We’re proud to announce that Version 1.0 of the MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard (MCDS) is now live.
This milestone represents far more than a technical achievement. For the higher education sector, it’s the release of a robust, vendor-neutral data model that simplifies interoperability, accelerates digital transformation, and unlocks more meaningful student experiences.
And at Ingenuity Partners, it’s personal. We didn’t just contribute to the standard, we built it and we implement it.
As a leading MortarCAPS Consultancy, we are uniquely positioned to help institutions not just understand the standard, but realise its full potential.
A Sector-Wide Solution to a Sector-Wide Challenge
Developed in close collaboration with CAUDIT, the MCDS defines a unified data structure for the Australian and APAC higher education sector. It addresses long-standing issues of fragmentation, complexity, and inconsistency across platforms and institutions.
With the release of Version 1.0, the standard provides a foundation for:
Designing new architectures that align with national initiatives like the Skills Passport
Reducing rework and complexity across student administration platforms
Enabling faster, cleaner platform migrations
Improving alignment between institutions and edtech vendors
Enhancing data governance and TCSI reporting
Supporting student experience initiatives through better master data management
Developed by the Sector, For the Sector
The MortarCAPS standard was not created in isolation. It has been shaped through a working group of committed institutions and education leaders.
Meet our MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard Australian Working Group
The standard was built through genuine collaboration and built with both institutional reality and implementation practicality in mind.
Our foundational Australian institution working group is comprised of representatives from UTS, University of Sydney, UNSW, UNSW College, University of Western Australia, University of Tasmania, University of Newcastle, Swinburne University, Murdoch University, Macquarie University, La Trobe University, James Cook University, Flinders University, Deakin University, Victoria University, University of Melbourne, TAFE NSW, Navitas, Charles Sturt University and Curtin University.
From Creators to Implementation Partners
As the original creators of the MCDS, Ingenuity Partners is now the leading MortarCAPS Consultancy helping institutions implement the standard effectively. We bring deep expertise in higher education strategy, enterprise architecture, and platform delivery.
We don’t just understand the MCDS, we built it and we deliver it.
We help institutions with:
Designing data strategies aligned to the emerging standard
Aligning architecture roadmaps with future regulatory requirements
Planning implementations that reduce risk and avoid duplication
Coordinating with platform vendors and government agencies to prepare for change
Your MortarCAPS Consulting Partner
We’re already working with institutions on MCDS planning, adoption, and integration. If you want to understand what this standard means for your environment, or how to get moving quickly and safely, we’d love to talk.
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