A GDN Conversation Series: Exploring the Dimensions of Trust

Five Part Webinar Series developed in partnership with the Velocity Network Foundation

Catalyzing Network of Networks Thinking for Digital Ecosystems

Discover the future of digital recognition through the GDN Network and Velocity Network Foundation’s knowledge building series on trusted ecosystems. These sessions will focus on creating Networks of Networks thinking and capacity as we dive into the foundations of trust, elements of robust digital ecosystems, trust frameworks and typologies, insights into transformative case studies, and the essentials for adopting change. We encourage you to register for as many or all of the sessions as you would like.

Creating Scalable Networks

Join us and learn new ways to create trusted digital ecosystems from thought leaders in the field!

Help shape the future of recognition ecosystems.

Session 1. Building Foundations: Trust in Recognition Ecosystems

Tuesday, March 11th, 2025 – 11am ET 

Having a digital document is not enough to indicate trust. Explore the critical dimensions of trust within recognition ecosystems so we can learn together what more is needed.

This session breaks down trust into its core components and emphasizes its role in solving major challenges for learners through digital innovation. Learn how trust and trust frameworks act as the foundation for creating and sustaining a digital credential ecosystem.

Topics covered during the session:

  • Defining “Trust” and exploring its role in the context of digital recognition and digital credential ecosystems
  • Differentiating “Trust” from “Quality”
  • Breaking down “Trust” as a multidimensional concept:
    • Trust in the issuer
    • Trust in the person
    • Trust in the relying party
    • Survivability of credentials even when the issuer no longer exists
    • Trust as it relates to credential compliance with relevant regulatory requirements
Registration Open

Presenters

Jason Hadaway

Jason Hadaway, COO, Paradigm Inc.

Naomi Szekeres

Head of Global Education Ecosystem Strategy, Velocity Network Foundation

Stefan Liström

Project Manager, Vetenskapsrådet / Swedish Research
Stefan Liström works for the Swedish Research Council and Swedish university network (Sunet). He has worked in the trust and identity field for over a decade and has worked for a secure and functional Internet his whole career. Currently working with trust service such as e-signature and e-sealing services and lately focusing on both Internet and different sectors in society to prepare for and understand the advantages and shift in information flows introduced by the Digital Identity wallet.

Session 2. Paving the Way: Roadmaps for Digital Ecosystem Capacity

Discover strategies for building effective digital ecosystems with a focus on trust assurance and why this topic matters to policy developers, government, academic leaders, and employers. How do we ensure that when a person moves their credential portfolio from one geography to another, compliance such as privacy regulation is still preserved? How do we handle when a credential says the same words but represents different things? How do we address when an industry sector requires their credentials to look and function differently from a more general academic credential? This session covers the five layers of interoperability—technical, structural, semantic, compliance, and business—and offers a roadmap to unlock opportunities in digital recognition.

Topics covered during the session:

  • Key elements of an effective digital recognition ecosystem
  • Five layers of interoperability explained:
    • Technical: Technology and standards
    • Structural: Data schemas and system architecture
    • Semantic: Ensuring mutual understanding and equivalency
    • Compliance: Navigating regulatory frameworks
    • Business: Sustainable financial and access models
  • Addressing gaps and challenges when it comes to incorporating the five layers of interoperability
Registration coming soon

Session 3. Deep Dive: Frameworks for a Trust-Based Ecosystem

Delve into trust frameworks critical for a healthy recognition ecosystem with a particular focus on the “envelope” carrying the actual credential and information about the artifact of learning, as opposed to the content within the artifact of learning. This session explores various typologies, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and considerations, and features examples that outline essential roles in creating effective digital ecosystems.

Topics covered during the session:

  • Trust frameworks: What they are and why they matter
  • Considering principles to guide interoperability frameworks to enable trust
  • Evaluating approach typologies: Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and considerations
  • Challenges and opportunities in building trust networks
  • Considerations in selecting and implementing a trust framework.
  • Insights from featured examples:
    • Roles and responsibilities in building ecosystems
    • Lessons learned and scalable practices

Panelists:

Melanie Gottlieb, Board president, The GDN Network

Registration coming soon

Session 4. Innovation in Action: Case Study in Healthcare Recognition

Gain practical insights from a case study on driving digital innovation adoption within a healthcare recognition ecosystem. Learn how digital tools and strategies address specific industry challenges, paving the way for broader applications.

Topics covered during the session:

  • Case study overview: Healthcare recognition challenges and solutions.
  • Identifying key stakeholders and their roles.
  • Digital innovation tools: Implementation and results.
  • Building an ecosystem that fosters trust and collaboration.
  • Lessons for applying these strategies in other industries
Registration coming soon

Session 5. Adopting Change: Driving Education and Innovation

Understand the dynamics of change management in the recognition ecosystem. Highlighting exemplars, this session unpacks key elements for a successful ecosystem and adoption strategies. This session focuses on building “atomic networks” and solving the “chicken, egg, and rooster” dilemma.

Topics covered during the session:

  • Change management fundamentals in the digital ecosystem
  • Key elements common to a successful ecosystem:
    • Narrow scope (geographic and industry)
    • Brave leadership
    • Agile, experimental approach
    • Collaborative community
  • Exemplars: Successful adoption case studies
  • Designing atomic networks for scalable growth
  • Addressing the “chicken, egg, and rooster” challenge:
    • Sequencing ecosystem development for maximum impact
  • Strategies for sustaining momentum post-adoption
Registration coming soon

Moderator for the Sessions

Joanne Duklas

Executive Director, The GDN Network
Joanne Duklas is an award-winning leader in higher education who serves as the executive director of the GDN Network while also leading scholarly research projects and her own consulting firm in higher education providing research and consulting support to governments, institutions, and sector organizations. She most recently served as one of the co-founders and executive lead for the MyCreds™ | MesCertif™ National Network in Canada. She is an expert in the higher education field and has authored several publications, presentations, and keynote addresses to advance best practice, standards, transfer, and student mobility including recent chapter contributions on digitization, trust, privacy, and fraud in the Second Handbook on Academic Integrity and Fake Degrees and Fraudulent Credentials in Higher Education.