XCRI (eXchanging Course Related Information) is a JISC funded, UK orientated initiative to establish a specification to support the exchange of course related information. XCRI has a Course Advertising Profile strand (XCRI-CAP), which is compatible with the Metadata for Learning Opportunities (MLO) European Norm approved in 2011. XCRI-CAP was initially developed to provide a way to share information about a course profile, primarily for course advertising and marketing purposes. However, the rapid adoption of the XCRI-CAP specification has led to a growing set of requirements to include more teaching and learning related information. Even though XCRI-CAP has the relatively limited scope of course advertising and marketing, there is increasing interest in the applicability of the same principles and approach in wider courses information management. 

XCRI-CAP is a standard for describing the curriculum, developed through a study of curriculum production and advertising workflows in UK HEIs and the components of curriculum-related documents. The XCRI-CAP standard is intended to support transparent and informed choice for learners, but also highlights the potential for major institutional efficiencies in the management of course-related information. Pilots have typically found a lack of articulation between course review, approval, advertising and enrolment/reporting, and between quality assurance, marketing and student records. There is still work to do in developing authoritative programme specification documents, analysing pathways taken by learners, and defining competences. However, the XCRI specification is being widely used in the JISC curriculum design and delivery programmes.

More information including quick start guides, community areas and links to other projects implementing XCRI can be found at the XCRI Knowledge Base website.