AICTEC - Australian Information & Communications Technology in Education Committee

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Learner Identity Management Framework Project 

In April 2005, the Australian Education Systems Officials Committee (AESOC) endorsed AICTEC's proposal to examine the desirability, nature and options for the development of a national, cross-sectoral Learner Identity Management Framework (LIMF) for the education and training sectors. Specifically, the project was about developing protocols for a reliable and accountable system for jurisdictions and sectors to access and exchange the records, progress and characteristics of individual learners.

Convergence e-Business Solutions Pty Limited was engaged by AICTEC in October 2005 to develop a Learner Identity Management Framework (LIMF). The project involved widespread consultation with stakeholders across jurisdictions and education and training sectors, and intensive data gathering and research.

A final report of the Learner Identity Management Framework Project was submitted to AICTEC in March 2006. It identifies the key objectives of a LIMF as:

• addressing issues associated with learner mobility and smoothing learner transitions
• assisting in the detection learners of risk of disengagement
• supporting enhanced longitudinal research
• supporting evaluation of targeted programs, and
• supporting ePortfolios/Learner-controlled personal data.

The report proposes a framework comprising five elements to guide the sharing and exchange of learner data across jurisdictions and sectors:

• A 'Trust Scheme'
  This involves establishing ground-rules such that the owners of information can be confident that any data they transfer will be handled appropriately by the recipient.

• Identity Resolution
  The development of agreed approaches for establishing and verifying the identity of each learner.

• Data Management
  Consistent definitions of learner information types and meanings across sectors and jurisdictions.

• Data Exchange Protocols
  A common technical framework and language for transferring information across data repositories.

• Policy Enforcement
  Systems for protecting the privacy of learners and for recording their consents.

To bring the Framework into being, the report advocates a 'Learner Identity Management Architecture' ( LIMA). The Architecture identifies and expands each element of the Framework.

For example, the LIMA specifies that the establishment of a Trust Scheme will require action on the following fronts:

• Policy standardisation;
• Process integrity;
• Governance and audit;
• An 'enabling' legal environment;
• Scheme Terms of Agreement;
• Contracts, legislation and regulations; and
• Dispute resolution procedures.

The report also suggests that, as the LIMF is operationalised, learner information is either transferred directly between providers (who would acquire or develop a technical capacity to support connections with every other provider) or is transmitted via a central 'brokering' service, which would function as a national data clearing-house.