Urgent policy questions to advance flexible and alternative learning pathways
12-01, 12:30–13:30 (Europe/Berlin), Stage 1, Leibniz-Saal, BBAW

How can globally interoperable digital credentials in education be achieved and which policy actions are necessary to achieve international standards and recognition?


Policy recommendations on digital credentialing must take the local, national, European and international as well as institutional frameworks into account and consider potential applications for flexible and alternative learning pathways. The recognition of qualifications between regions is crucial for learner exchange, the progression of individuals and global understanding. This panel will examine current policy frameworks pertaining to national identity management, recognition, data privacy and academic autonomy and pose the question: How do we overcome fragmentation within the digital credentials field to reflect alternative learning pathways?

Kathleen Clancy is currently researching interoperable digital credentials for Higher Education and corresponding policy developments for the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as part of the research project DiBiHo and hosts the monthly Digital Credentials Regulars. An experienced project manager, she has previously developed a digital archive for the renowned Berliner Künstlerprogramm and worked with high-ranking international delegations from the education sector within Berlin's political landscape.

Margaret Wenger has worked at Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., a non-profit credential evaluation agency located in the US, since 1990, currently holding the position of Senior Director of Evaluation. As SDE, Meg leads evaluation policy development, new evaluator training, and coordinates quality assurance efforts. She is the author of ECE Presents: The Educational System of Tunisia and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Its Educational System and Methods of Evaluation, as well as contributing to the NAFSA Guide to Educational Systems Around the World (1998 and 2009) and other publications. She has given workshops at number of international conferences including NAFSA, NAGAP, CGS, and EAIE. She chairs TAICEP’s (The Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals) task force on Digital Student Data and serves on the board of directors of the Groningen Declaration Network.

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Thomas Weko is the head of the Higher Education Policy team, and has worked with many of the OECD's higher education systems. Before joining the OECD he served in the US Department of Education, first as Associate Commissioner for Postsecondary Education at the National Center for Education Statistics, and then as Director of the Policy and Program Studies Service. Prior to serving in the US Department of Education he held positions with the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board, the US Government Accountability Office, the UK Higher Education Policy Institute, and as a university professor.

Udbhav Tiwari is a public policy professional who works towards keeping the internet open, secure, and accessible by advocating for progressive regulations in the technology sector.

He is a public policy advisor for Mozilla, where he primarily focuses on data governance, content regulation, and connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. He was previously with the public policy team at Google and was a program manger at the Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) in India.

Tiwari was a co-rapporteur at the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and participated actively at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ (IEEE) work on Ethically Aligned Design (EAD). His work on mass surveillance was cited by the Justice BN Sri Krishna Committee’s Report on India’s Data Protection Law. He has been quoted as an expert in various international and domestic outlets, including the Guardian, Wired UK, BBC, Reuters, and the Times of India.

(Mr) Koen Nomden is currently Team Leader for “Transparency and Recognition of Skills and Qualifications”, within the Skills Agenda Unit of the European Commission (DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion). Before that he was a policy officer in charge of the validation of non-formal and informal learning and career guidance. Other positions he held within the European Commission were that of Erasmus Mundus Programme Manager and of policy officer in charge of setting up a European Executive Agency in charge of implementing programmes in education, training, culture and media.

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Rolf works for LinkedIn at the intersection of government, education and organisational learning. He is also an active member of the International Council on Badges and Credentials e.V. [ICoBC] to ensure a systemic view of badges and credentials for individuals, organisations and societies. Rolf also serves as a Council Member to the Union of International Associations, as a Council Member to the OEB Global and as a Certified Supporter to the Corporate Social Responsibility community of ZiviZ at Stifterverband (W.I.E.)."