Careerspan is pioneering an industry-wide initiative to establish an Open Career Data Foundation that would create standardized protocols for career information exchange between platforms. While we've developed innovative technology for career data representation, we face a strategic challenge: establishing multi-stakeholder governance and adoption frameworks requires expertise beyond our core technical capabilities. 

The career technology landscape currently operates as disconnected silos, forcing professionals to repeatedly rebuild their narratives across platforms. This foundation would establish open standards enabling seamless data portability—similar to how email protocols allow communication between different providers. 

As a startup with focused resources, we need comprehensive research on successful foundation models, governance structures, and adoption strategies that would position Careerspan as a central contributor while maintaining appropriate independence. The graduate research team would provide crucial insights we currently lack internal bandwidth to develop.

The research team would undertake the following key activities: 

Each activity would produce specific deliverables (reports, frameworks, roadmaps) during the 6-8 week engagement, building toward a comprehensive blueprint for foundation establishment.

Success for this project includes five measurable outcomes: 

These deliverables will directly inform our 2025 strategic initiatives, providing targeted, actionable recommendations that would otherwise require significant internal resources or expensive consulting engagements.