Open UI Initiative

NASWA, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, is collaborating with state workforce agencies and other groups to strengthen the unemployment insurance (UI) system with a focus on how modern technology and digital practices can make state systems more accessible, resilient and secure.

The Open UI Initiative will change how we create and purchase technology. It involves forming new collaborations and partnerships to make a wider range of open and modular solutions available.

What is Open UI Initiative?

• The Open UI Initiative seeks to create a framework system based on the structure of UI systems across the U.S. called the Open UI Initiative Framework. States and vendors can use framework as a guide to develop their own UI software or to modernize existing system with the flexibility to fit their policies and workflows. 

• The initiative will flow a modularized approach, or one where the system is sectioned by key functionalities. This will allow for the ability to update, change, or replace parts of the system as needed rather than overhauling the entire system. The framework will describe how the modules will communicate with each other, or be interoperable, as well as how they will communicate with other external systems.

• The Open UI Initiative Framework will be built with the collaboration and input of the UI community of states, vendors, subject matter expert advocates and federal partners. We are committed to maintaining an open and transparent development process with Initiative material being kept in an easy-to-access digital repository.