OUR RESEARCH
Real-world impact driven by rigorous, ethical research and human potential
Research Projects
Education and work depend on knowing which skills matter. By working closely with education systems and employers worldwide, our research builds the foundation for defining and articulating competencies that are clear, reliable, and meaningful. By defining competencies in consistent and trustworthy ways, we help create fairer recognition, stronger pathways between education and work, and better opportunities for learners and professionals alike.
RESEARCH PROJECT 1: The Nature of Competencies
Competencies link learning, work, and professional identity. Our science-based model helps experts describe them with clarity and precision, capturing both what makes individuals unique and what enables them to succeed across contexts. This foundation ensures competencies can serve as a reliable bridge between education and employment.RESEARCH PROJECT 2: The Sea of Competencies
Professions worldwide define skills in many different ways. Our database brings these diverse frameworks together, allowing comparative analysis, insight into real-world definitions of ability, and a foundation for developing new, contextually relevant frameworks. It is both a reference point and a springboard for innovation.At Ripltec, our research explores how learning and development unfold across the lifespan. We are committed to bridging the gap between theory and practice, ensuring that our work is both rigorous and relevant. By investigating the evolving dynamics of education, we generate evidence-based insights that not only advance understanding but also support lifelong learning in real-world contexts. Through this approach, our research empowers educators and learners alike, shaping the future of education with impact and purpose.
RESEARCH PROJECT 3: BETR: Bloom's Extended Taxonomy (Revised)
Designing high-quality learning objectives and assessment tasks is a vital skill for modern educators. BETR extends existing taxonomies of educational objectives to capture the metacognitive and epistemic skills required in the modern age, and links learning objectives and competencies to appropriate assessment types.RESEARCH PROJECT 4: The Sea of Competencies
Professions worldwide define skills in many different ways. Our database brings these diverse frameworks together, allowing comparative analysis, insight into real-world definitions of ability, and a foundation for developing new, contextually relevant frameworks. It is both a reference point and a springboard for innovation.Where technology provides scale, human expertise provides meaning; where data and AI offer speed and scope, human expertise brings context, judgment, and vision. The best results come from empowering subject matter experts to do what technology cannot. Through our research, we explore new ways to support experts in shaping competency frameworks, predicting the future of professions, and identifying skills gaps—affirming the vital role of human insight in a data-driven world.
RESEARCH PROJECT 5: Facilitating Expert Framework Development
Developing a competency framework is a complex process best undertaken by subject matter experts. Our proven methodology supports experts to navigate the sea of competencies, identify those most relevant to real-world practice, and develop competency statements that can be effectively operationalised by educators, employers, and professional associations.
RESEARCH PROJECT 6: Vector Embedding to Support Expert Decision-Making
Professions worldwide define skills in many different ways. Our database brings these diverse frameworks together, allowing comparative analysis, insight into real-world definitions of ability, and a foundation for developing new, contextually relevant frameworks. It is both a reference point and a springboard for innovation.RESEARCH PROJECT 7: Multidimensional Graph Structures for Similarity and Prediction
Much real-world data has a graph structure, with objects linked through multiple types of relationships. Many of the datasets we work with contain multidimensional graph structures, with several semantically distinct graphs connecting the same items. By incorporating this information into machine learning models, we are developing new approaches to similarity and prediction that are broadly applicable across domains.
Ethics is not optional—it is the foundation of trust in education and work. At ripltec, we look beyond compliance to ask harder questions: How do we safeguard privacy? How do we give people true control over their data? How do we prevent misuse while enabling fair and ethical sharing? Drawing on healthcare ethics, research ethics, data science, and AI safety, our work defends the human values that must guide learning and employment in a data-driven world.
RESEARCH PROJECT 8: Law, Regulation, Standards, and Guidelines
Data ethics legislation varies widely across jurisdictions and continues to evolve with shifting threats and technologies. This ongoing stream of work maintains a database of legislation, regulation, standards, and guidelines to ensure that all of Ripltec’s activities meet the highest standards of data ethics.
RESEARCH PROJECT 9: Personal Data Control and Verifiable Credentials
Ensuring that individuals retain control of their own data—through ownership, fine-grained access management, and portability—is key to personal data security. One promising approach is the use of Verifiable Credentials and Presentations, though current tools remain fragmented and complex. Our research investigates practical methods to strengthen personal data management and maximise user engagement.
Education today depends on a complex web of systems, platforms, and services—yet too often they remain disconnected. Fragmentation creates duplication, data loss, and missed opportunities for learners and educators alike. At Ripltec, our research reduces these barriers by enabling systems to integrate seamlessly, ensuring that data flows with accuracy, clarity, and minimal loss of fidelity. This work builds the foundation for more connected, transparent, and efficient education ecosystems.
RESEARCH PROJECT 10: Evidence Ontology
Trust in education and work depends on trust in evidence. The Evidence Ontology, now in development, makes the sources behind a claim transparent and accessible. By linking claims to supporting evidence, it promotes accountability, reproducibility, and more informed decision-making.
RESEARCH PROJECT 11: Mapping International Education Systems
Education systems differ widely, creating barriers to mobility and recognition. Our work uses the Simple Knowledge Organization System (SKOS) to align terminology across jurisdictions, supporting mutual recognition of qualifications, smoother learner mobility, and clearer pathways for global employers.
Advancing Lifelong Learning
We’re not here to tweak the edges of the system. Our research interrogates how people learn, how expertise is built, and how data - used ethically - can reshape the future of education and work.
From redefining competencies and improving learning design to supporting subject matter experts and integrating systems, our projects fuse rigorous science with real-world application. We don’t separate theory from impact - we insist on both.
Every initiative reflects our commitment to lifelong learning and to the human values that technology must serve. Because progress isn’t just about innovation. It’s about integrity, inclusion, and outcomes that matter.
What can we solve together?