From October 7 to 9, 2024, Groningen Declaration Network (GDN) joined forces with the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) to host the GDN Annual Meeting at UC San Diego Park & Market.
Melanie Gottlieb, President, GDN | Executive Director, AACRAO USA Kicks off the 2024 GDN Annual Meeting
This year’s event brought together stakeholders from over 100 organizations across 29 countries, all focused on enhancing global data sharing for students and professionals and advancing digital credential portability.
Park & Market provided an ideal venue for the event, capitalizing on modern, flexible spaces to support both networking and professional dialogue. Presenters and attendees from renowned organizations across the world, including UNESCO, US Chamber of Commerce Foundation, 1EdTech Consortium, the Norwegian Directorate, National African Students Association and the University of Johannesburg, among many others, gathered in a collaborative atmosphere, underscoring the venue’s ability to host large-scale, impactful gatherings. Park & Market’s state-of-the-art amenities encouraged productive interactions and facilitated the meeting’s hybrid format, which combined in-person and virtual participation for increased accessibility.
Cindy Lyons, UC San Diego’s University Registrar, opened the event, welcoming participants to three days of sessions covering data privacy, digital credential compatibility, and emerging innovations in data systems. The event’s hybrid model, launched recently by the GDN, allowed for broader international engagement, welcoming both local and remote participants.
Founded in 2012, the Groningen Declaration Network has grown into a leading international nonprofit coalition, championing the cause of credential portability worldwide. At its core, the GDN envisions a world where students and professionals can securely access and share their educational data wherever they are. The organization’s annual meetings serve as a vital platform for discussing the policies, technologies, and standards that make this vision possible, with a focus on privacy, interoperability, and autonomy.
This year’s Annual Meeting at Park & Market highlighted the venue’s role in fostering critical dialogue and collaboration. By hosting this influential gathering, Park & Market reinforces its status as a premier location for global events that drive progress in education, innovation and civic engagement.