The GDN Network and two Canadian signatory organizations, the Pan-Canadian Consortium on Admissions and Transfer (PCCAT) and the Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment (CAPLA), will co-host the global event in Whistler, Canada.
September 2, 2026 – The Groningen Declaration Network (The GDN Network) is pleased to announce that its 2027 Annual Meeting will take place in the famous mountain resort town: Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, from October 26-28, 2027 at the Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa. The event will be co-hosted by the GDN Network and two Canadian GDN signatory organizations and MOU partners, the Pan-Canadian Consortium on Admissions and Transfer (PCCAT) and the Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment (CAPLA), both recognized leaders in advancing learner mobility, transfer credit, and prior learning recognition within Canada’s higher education sector.
The theme of the GDN Annual Meeting 2027, “Unlocking Global Talent Recognition”, reflects a shared ambition to ensure that people’s knowledge, skills, qualifications, and experience can be understood, trusted, and valued—wherever they were acquired and wherever people choose to learn, work, and contribute. As economies respond to changing workforce needs, increased mobility, new forms of learning, and rapid technological change, recognition systems must become more connected, transparent, inclusive, and responsive. Unlocking global talent means moving beyond barriers that leave skills and credentials unseen or underused and creating pathways that allow individuals to translate what they know and can do into meaningful opportunities.
The GDN Annual Meeting 2027 will bring together the global GDN community with CAPLA and PCCAT for a world congress focused on turning that ambition into action. The congress will connect leaders and practitioners across credential evaluation, prior learning assessment and recognition, credit transfer and mobility, education, workforce development, government, and technology. Together, these communities can explore how recognition practices, policy, partnerships, data, and technology can work across institutional and national boundaries—helping create a future in which talent is not limited by where learning happened, but unlocked by our collective ability to recognize its value.
“We are delighted to join forces with PCCAT and CAPLA to host our 2027 GDN Annual Meeting in Whistler, a beautiful destination surrounded by breathtaking mountain landscapes,” says Melanie Gottlieb, GDN Board President and Executive Director of AACRAO. “The 2027 theme, Unlocking Global Talent Recognition, will spark thoughtful conversations, highlight emerging trends, and encourage the sharing of best practices.”
“PCCAT is honoured to co-host the 2027 GDN Annual Meeting alongside CAPLA and the GDN Network,” said Ann Marie Lyseng, Chair of PCCAT. “Unlocking Global Talent Recognition reflects the importance of collaboration in advancing learner mobility and recognition across jurisdictions and borders. As an organization dedicated to supporting pathways and credit transfer across Canada, PCCAT looks forward to welcoming participants from around the world to share knowledge, explore innovative practices, and strengthen the connections that help learners access opportunities wherever their educational journeys take them.”
“CAPLA is delighted to welcome the global GDN Network community to Canada for the 2027 Annual Meeting,” said Andy Brown, Chair and Interim Executive Director of CAPLA. “Recognition is at the heart of learner success, and the 2027 theme highlights the growing need to value learning in all its forms. We look forward to contributing our expertise in prior learning assessment and recognition while engaging with international colleagues to explore new ideas, build partnerships, and advance more inclusive approaches to recognizing learning and achievement worldwide.”
Located in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Whistler is internationally recognized for its stunning natural landscapes, vibrant village atmosphere, and year-round outdoor activities. The Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa, located in the heart of Whistler Village and at the base of Whistler Mountain, will serve as the venue for the GDN Annual Meeting 2027, providing an inspiring setting for global dialogue, collaboration and networking that will help advance the theme of “Unlocking Global Talent Recognition”.
Whistler is located approximately 135 kilometres (84 miles) north of Vancouver and is easily accessible via the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway. Delegates can fly into Vancouver International Airport (YVR), which offers direct connections to major cities worldwide. Ground transportation between the Vancouver airport and Whistler will be arranged for attendees.
Further details about the GDN Annual Meeting 2027, including travel guidance, accommodations, visa requirements, and registration will be published soon and made available at the GDN official website. Save the date!
About
About 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 the Pan-Canadian Consortium on Admissions & Transfer (PCCAT): PCCAT is a national not-for-profit organization in Canada that facilitates the implementation of policies and practices that support learner mobility and transfer credit across Canada. PCCAT achieves this goal through collaboration, connecting institutions, transfer organizations, and stakeholders dedicated to advancing learner mobility in Canada. Through collaborative research, knowledge sharing, and policy support, PCCAT helps develop and connect jurisdictional tools and effective practices that enhance institutional and organizational capacity for learner pathways and mobility. By promoting the recognition of learner mobility and transfer credit nationwide, PCCAT works to improve learner access to pathways in post-secondary education, supporting a more connected and accessible education system across Canada. Learn more about PCCAT at pccat.ca.
About the Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment (CAPLA): CAPLA provides support, expertise, and advocacy for the development of PLAR/RPL in Canada. Practitioners, policy makers and other stakeholders working together, can improve access and reduce barriers for non-traditional learners seeking recognition and workers looking for new opportunities in the labour force. Learn more about CAPLA at: capla.ca.
Media Contacts
The GDN Network – Joanne Duklas, Executive Director, execdir@groningendeclaration.org
Maya Hardy, Outreach Lead, GDN Network, outreach@groningendeclaration.org