Refers to an individual’s full ownership, control, and authority over their own learning and work records, including academic achievements, skills, credentials, and employment history. In this model, individuals—not institutions or platforms—manage, share, and verify their data, deciding who can access it and under what conditions. Self-sovereignty enables portability, interoperability, and verification of learning and work achievements across educational institutions, employers, and digital platforms.

This concept underpins emerging technologies such as Learning and Employment Records (LERs), digital wallets, and decentralized identity systems, where records are portable, verifiable, and interoperable across education and workforce settings.

Related Terms

• Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI): Digital identity framework where the individual controls their personal and professional credentials.
• Learner-Owned Records: Records of learning and skill attainment managed directly by the learner.
• Digital Wallets for Learning & Work: Tools for storing and managing verifiable credentials, badges, and Learning & Employment Records (LERs).
• Personal Data Ownership: The principle that individuals control access to and use of their personal data.
• Learning & Employment Records (LERs): Standardized, verifiable records of an individual’s skills, credentials, and work experience.