Task Forces play an increasingly important role in advancing the goals of the Groningen Declaration Network. Task Forces are initiated by the Executive Committee, and are led by a Groningen Declaration signatory, who may recruit Task Force volunteers from among the invited participants to the Annual Meetings. Here are just a few recent developments:

Task Force on Verification Policies and Best Practices

We continue to work on developing a global database of recognized institutions and corresponding contact information, ultimately mapping country-specific digital links for checking student records. We envision this as being posted and maintained at GroningenDeclaration.org. We are starting with the Task Force member countries (Australia, China, India, Latvia, Russia, South Africa, and the United States) and expanding from there as we gather information, and hope to collaborate with the PESC Task Force on Global Data Mobility. In early 2017, we will be providing guidelines on digitization via a webinar. This will include best practices in finding, sharing, and using databases; ideas for convincing university administrators to become part of digital data transfer networks; technical issues that might arise and how to address them; and best practices for sharing information.

At the GDN meeting in April, we plan on sharing the initial database, and discuss the way forward, including plans to produce an inventory of available tools for connecting learners' records and for online verification of diplomas and qualifications.

Empowering Cross Border Enrollment and Student Loan Portability

The Task Force has been preparing a pilot for enrollment verification with Scandinavian partners. In October 2016, a Task Force delegation visited the Nordforum meeting in Oslo to speak with Nordforum members about the different options for the pilot. Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian members were very interested in participating, suggesting the Emrex network as one promising technical option for enrollment verification. This network is currently used only to exchange data on results attained by students. The Task Force will explore the possibility of expanding the dataset to include enrollment status. The Scandinavian partners also recognized a business case for this option. The next meeting is scheduled in January 2017 in Stockholm to explore this route, and make practical plans for a data exchange later in the year. Alternative technical options will also be discussed, to keep options open.