GEO CODE is a 'look-up' service offered and operated by PESC and directly managed by PESC Members. The foundation of the service is a directory 'look up' server listing active and inactive institutions, including historical data, additional demographic and identifier data. Countries currently listed:
- 125+ countries as of April 22, 2019.
>> How did GEO CODE start?
GEO CODE began as a project of PESC's Global Data Mobility User Group, launched at the Spring 2016 Data Summit. At this meeting, the need for a single institution code set surfaced as one of the highest priorities. Agreement was reached that such a code set is not only needed, but now impacts data quality, cost and fraud, all contributing to the conclusion that such a list is now a necessity.
>> Who is involved with GEO CODE?
GEO CODE is currently live in production with an online directory. PESC has partnered with AACRAO, Educational Credential Evaluators, the Groningen Declaration Network, the University of Southern California and CanPESC.
>> How is GEO CODE governed?
The GEO CODE User Group established a Steering Committee at the Spring 2017 Data Summit to administer more direct management, oversight and strategic planning. The Steering Committee is made up of nine (9) PESC Member representatives, is diverse, representing the various sectors across education, is semi-autonomous, and is responsible for the overall management of GEO CODE.
>> The current status of GEO CODE?
GEO CODE is live in production with an online directory. The original pilot by the University of Southern California and IERF is also still in production. The GEO Code is seven (7) digits:
- Two (2) digit ISO country code, plus
- Five (5) digit automated, alphanumeric code
To test this approach and underlying methodology, the User Group is assigning this unique Global Institution Code to institutions as it adds and enters them into the directory.
>> How much does GEO CODE cost?
As a driving principle and in alignment with PESC’s mission, basic use of the Global Education Code will be free and open to the education community.
Guiding Principles of
PESC GEO CODE
1. INTENT & USE
To provide a unique value, number or code THE GEO CODE for all known postsecondary (tertiary) colleges and universities for use by organizations that require a trusted and reliable source value (number or code) when exchanging or transmitting electronic student data.
2. GOVERNANCE
PESC and the GEO CODE Steering Committee & User Group have full control over which institutions are added and listed in the GEO CODE directory service. Users within the education community exchanging digital records and using the GEO CODE may request additions and corrections to GEO CODE data.
3. PHASE IMPLEMENTATION
Phase 1 focuses on colleges and universities and GEO CODE assignment is made country by country as prioritized by the User Group and Steering Committee until all colleges and universities are assigned a GEO CODE. Phase 2 expands to all education organizations within a country.
4. MINIMUM GEO CODE REQUIREMENTS
For a college or university to be assigned a GEO CODE in the directory, the minimum data required are a unique institution name and location.
Institution location can be a city, state, province, postal code, or a fully articulated address.
Institution Name must be listed in both the native language (for non-English speaking countries) and in English. Additional data may also be included, such as URL, former name, native indices within the country of origin, and other information that may be provided by ministries of education for the country of reference, or other sources deemed reliable.
5. GEO CODE FORMAT
The format of the GEO CODE is seven (7) digits:
- two (2) character ISO country code, followed by a
- five (5) digit alpha numeric value
(e.g., #US12345)
6. INSTITUTION STATUS
Each college and university within a country is indicated as either active or inactive. A reason code and explanation is provided for those with an inactive status.
7. NOT ACCREDITATION
There is no implied validity, accreditation, legal status or other official standing for institutions included in the GEO CODE service. The GEO CODE represents only the existence of the institution and provides the ability to identify that institution within an electronic data exchange transaction set. Sending and receiving parties utilizing GEO CODEs acknowledge the mutually agreed upon index assignments.
8. DIPLOMA MILLS
In addressing diploma mills and/or institutions that may be known as such, the GEO CODE directory may include diploma mills, if those diploma mills are known.
9. SOURCES OF DATA
Various sources have been used to list institutions in the GEO CODE directory. In collaboration with AACRAO, EMREX and Erasmus Without Paper, many trusted additions have been made to the GEO CODE directory. The GEO CODE Steering Committee & User Group also target countries in which institution lists may not exist or be readily available; and in these instances, Wikipedia is used. For the countries in which Wikipedia is used, manual review verifies the existence of each institution, including the address, and the URL and Wikipedia has demonstrated, with validation, to be an extremely reliable source of data. Sharing these ‘wiki-lists’ with informed parties is the last step to final inclusion in the GEO CODE directory and in the absence of other reliable data, Wikipedia will continue to be used.
10. MATCHING AND DUPLICATION
Once a GEO CODE has been assigned to an institution, that GEO CODE is not be available for reuse. For duplicates, a new entry will be considered duplicate if the institution name, city and country are identical to a GEO CODE already listed in the directory.
11. USAGE IN PESC APPROVED STANDARDS
To facilitate adoption, implementation and usage of GEO CODE and promote its benefits, GEO CODE is being added by PESC through the Standards Development Forum for Education as TransmissionData.Source.Organization.ID to all PESC APPROVED STANDARDS. PESC encourages all institutions, service providers, government agencies and vendors to adopt, implement and use the GEO CODE.
12. AACRAO & GRONINGEN DECLARATION NETWORK
PESC, the GEO CODE Steering Committee & User Group include participation and representatives from both AACRAO & the Groningen Declaration Network; and through open discussion, collaboration, webinars and presentations, these guiding principles are presented and vetted to both communities to ensure broad applicability and acceptance.
13. MAINTENANCE
To address the critical need for accuracy and maintenance of GEO CODEs, the Steering Committee & User Group have planned a rolling 5-year review process for each entry in the GEO CODE directory. To accelerate updating of information, users can also submit UPDATES and/or CORRECTIONS to PESC for the GEO CODE directory listings.
PESC GEO CODE
Improves Data Quality & Integrity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Decreases Risk of Fraud & Abuse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Streamlines Processing & Faster
Delivery of Student Data & Results
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As a Best Practice,
Makes Transfer and Articulation
Processes More Efficient
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Service is Free,
Unlike Other Services Which Are Provided
on a Subscription-Paid Basis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Service is Designed
with an Open Architecture Using
Standardized Web Services
& Protocols
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Service is Proven and Trusted
As Institutions & Organizations
Are Already Using the
PESC GEO Code in Production
Processing Tens of Thousands of Files
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Provides Developers a Trusted Solution
As Institution or Source Code is Needed
in Nearly Every Application and System
A Unique, Voluntary, Master Code
What is PESC GEO Code?
Global Education Organization
(GEO) Code is
>> Seven (7) Digits <<
Two (2) digits
ISO country code
+
Five (5) digits
automated, alphanumeric code
PESC GEO CODE
is the primary project initiated by
PESC's Global Data Mobility
Task Force and operates as a
USER GROUP.
Participation in the User Group is
encouraged & open to
PESC Members, CanPESC and
in collaborative partnership, to
AACRAO & the GDN
Signatories & Delegates.
GEO CODE
CO-CHAIRS
Matt Bemis
Associate Registrar
University of Southern California
STEERING COMMITTEE
Matt Bemis
Associate Registrar
University of Southern California
Jillian Feist
Director
EducationPlannerBC
Lois Ferguson
Acting Manager, Undergraduate Programs
OUAC - Ontario Universities' Application Centre
Melanie Gottlieb
Deputy Executive Director
AACRAO
Dave Landry
Director of Data Exchange Services
National Student Clearinghouse
Herman de Leeuw
Executive Director
Groningen Declaration Network
David Moldoff
CEO & Founder
AcademyOne
Jason Weaver
Senior Director, Products
Parchment
USER GROUP
AACRAO
AcademyOne
ApplyAlberta
Arizona State University
Bardic Systems
Brigham Young University
California Community Colleges
College Board
CollegeNET
Credentials Solutions
Educational Credential Evaluators
Ellucian
Elon University
Florida International University
Georgetown University
Groningen Declaration Network
International Education Research Foundation
National Student Clearinghouse
Ontario College Application Service
Ontario Universities’ Application Centre
Oracle
Paradigm
Parchment
San Francisco State University
Smart Catalog
Stanford University
Student Connections
University of Málaga
University of Maryland University College
University of Phoenix
University of Southern California
How do I get involved with GEO CODE?
The GEO CODE User Group, now in partnership with AACRAO and the Groningen Declaration Network, is open to its Signatories and delegates free of charge (previously the User Group was limited to PESC Members).
There are three main ways to participate:
Please join the User Group's Community calls held every quarter. For more information, please contact the PESC office.
GEO Code User Group
Global Education Organization Code User Group