Global Networking on Secure Academic Credentials

The chapter highlights the question of the role of digital credentials in global learner mobility and the network structures that are necessary to achieve interoperability – not only technically but also in terms of everyday practice and politics in the context of academic integrity. The question is discussed in three steps. In the introductory part (1), digital credentials are presented in the context of competence acquisition and their digital verification as well as in terms of their relevance for international (academic) mobility. A working definition of academic integrity concludes this section and lays the foundation for the examination of trust networks to promote academic integrity (2). For this purpose, the perspective of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as the world’s largest funding organization for academic mobility and exchange as well as the Groningen Declaration Network (GDN) is presented, which can be used to illustrate the need for the development and anchoring of digital credentials and interoperable exchange infrastructures. The third part (3) summarizes the results and formulates policy recommendations for integrity and global learner data portability and presents the practical example of the Digital Credentials Initiatives Monitor and poses the question to what extent such knowledge resources are able to close the gap between policy and practice in a community-driven and evidence-based way.