The Groningen Declaration Network (The GDN Network) proudly announces its formal signing of the Paris Declaration on the Equality of Recognitions during the ePIC 2024 conference on November 8. This significant milestone underscores the GDN’s ongoing commitment to fostering global collaboration and innovation in the field of digital credentialing and recognition.
The Paris Declaration, championed by Reconnaître-Open Recognition Alliance, advocates for equitable recognition of individuals’ competencies, skills, and learning achievements across boundaries, systems, and sectors. The declaration aligns seamlessly with the GDN’s mission to promote trust, transparency, and interoperability in digital learner records and credential ecosystems worldwide.
Melanie Gottlieb, president of the GDN Executive Board, highlighted the importance of the partnership:
“The GDN Network has a long standing tradition of advancing recognition conventions as a support to credential portability. Today, the growing prominence and utility of microcredentials and badges and the need to continue digitizing documents and credentials in a trusted ecosystem require the recognition of all forms of learning to enable rapid access for learners to education and work. The GDN is pleased to support the Paris Declaration as we work in partnership across the world to enable a transformative network of networks and affect real change.”
Joanne Duklas, Executive Director of the GDN, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership:
“The signing of the Paris Declaration reflects the GDN’s unwavering commitment to global collaboration for a more inclusive and equitable future of recognition. By aligning with the Paris Declaration, we strengthen our shared mission of creating innovative frameworks that empower individuals through recognition of their diverse learning journeys.”
Reconnaître—Open Recognition Alliance, as a signatory of the Groningen Declaration, expressed strong support for this development. The alliance has been instrumental in advocating for open recognition practices that prioritise inclusivity and empowerment of individuals and their communities.
Serge Ravet, President, from Reconnaître-Open Recognition Alliance, remarked:
“The alignment between the Groningen Declaration and the Paris Declaration is a powerful testament to the growing movement toward open recognition. This partnership amplifies the collective voice advocating for systemic change to ensure that everyone’s learning and skills are valued on equal terms.”
Don Presant Co-director of ePIC 2024 and co-author of the Declaration, remarked:
“The Paris Declaration on the Equality of Recognitions builds on the foundation laid in 2016 by the Bologna Open Recognition Declaration, consolidating its call for inclusivity and equity in recognizing diverse learning pathways. Together, these declarations are shaping a transformative global framework that will empower individuals by valuing their unique skills and achievements, regardless of where or how they are acquired. I am thrilled to see this alignment with the GDN driving momentum for systemic change in recognition practices worldwide.”
The signing of the Paris Declaration at the ePIC 2024 conference, a leading event in open education and digital credentialing, highlights the significance of this milestone and the shared vision of both organizations to advance global recognition frameworks.
About
About the Groningen Declaration Network (The GDN Network): The GDN Network is an international, non-profit federated trust located in the Netherlands. It represents a voluntary network of like-minded organizations and individuals that seek to make digital student data portability happen. Its network of thought leaders from around the globe are collaborators who seek to support, advise, and offer innovative changes in the ways we share artifacts of academic learning. The GDN Network seeks common ground in best serving the academic and professional mobility needs of citizens worldwide by bringing together stakeholders in the digital student data ecosystem. It seeks to develop and support best practices and globally accepted standards for safe and citizen-oriented convenings and information exchanges. Learn more about the GDN Network at: groningendeclaration.org.
About Reconnaître-Open Recognition Alliance: Reconnaître Open Recognition Alliance advocates for open recognition practices that prioritize inclusivity, equity, and empowerment. Through initiatives like the Paris Declaration, the alliance works to transform how learning, skills, and achievements are recognized globally.
About ePIC 2024: ePIC 2024 marks the 22nd edition of this internationally renowned conference, dedicated to advancing open recognition practices, technologies, and policies. As a key gathering for educators, policymakers, technologists, and advocates, ePIC serves as a vibrant platform for collaboration and exploration, driving global progress in the equitable recognition of learning, skills, and competencies across diverse contexts.
