GDN Network Regional Meeting – Manchester, UK
Skills Without Limits: Developing the Future Skills Ecosystem
2–3 June 2026 | Manchester Metropolitan University | Manchester, UK
Welcome to the Future of Skills Readiness—In the Heart of Manchester
The Groningen Declaration Network (GDN) United Kingdom Regional Meeting brings together leaders from government, education, skills bodies, employers, and technology organisations to address one of the UK’s most pressing priorities: ensuring skills readiness for the future.
As the UK transitions toward a more skills-led economy, education systems, employers, and government must work together to ensure that learning—wherever and however it takes place—can be understood, trusted, recognised, and translated into opportunity. This meeting provides a focused forum to explore how policy, practice, techniques and technology can align to support workforce development, productivity, and lifelong learning.
Why Skills Readiness Matters
The future workforce will depend on:
- Broader recognition of skills, beyond traditional qualifications (e.g. via badging and microcredentialing)
- Employer trust in education and training outcomes (e.g. via standards, registers and accreditation)
- Data and digital systems that enable portability and verification (e.g. via learner-earner wallets and learner employment records)
- Policy coherence across education, workforce, and economic development (e.g. via government and regional industrial strategies)
This meeting focuses on how the UK can strengthen its skills ecosystem by connecting education institutions, employers, and government through shared frameworks, trusted data, and collaborative approaches to skills recognition.
Venue
The GDN UK Regional Meeting will take place on the campus of Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), located in the heart of Manchester and easily accessible by public transport.
MMU offers modern conference facilities suitable for plenary sessions, breakout discussions, and informal networking, providing an ideal setting for focused dialogue and collaboration.
Detailed room locations and maps will be provided to registered participants in advance of the event.
Silver Event Sponsor
Event Co-hosted By:
Who Should Join Us?
Ministers, senior officials, and national skills leaders
University, college, and awarding body leadership
Employers and workforce development organisations
Policy, data, and technology leaders working in skills assessment and recognition
About our Co-Hosts
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: www.groningendeclaration.org.
About Manchester Metropolitan University: Manchester Metropolitan University is a leading UK institution with a strong focus on employability, innovation, and civic engagement. With deep connections to employers and the city-region, MMU plays a critical role in advancing workforce-aligned education and skills development. Learn more: www.mmu.ac.uk
About Prospects HEDD (Higher Education Degree Datacheck) of Jisc: Prospects HEDD, part of Jisc, is the UK’s trusted provider of degree verification and student data services. HEDD supports secure, reliable credential verification and plays a key role in enabling trust across education, government, and employers. Learn more: www.hedd.ac.uk