The second session of the 2026 CDGA (Certified Data Governance Associate) and CDGP (Certified Data Governance Professional) certification exams, organized by DAMA (China) Data Management Association, was held simultaneously across 24 cities nationwide on June 14, 2026. Notably, Harbin City in Heilongjiang Province was included as an exam center city for the first time. This move is a significant step by DAMA Greater China to optimize its national exam center network and support the revitalization of Northeast China. It marks the official establishment of the DAMA Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK) in the Longjiang region, injecting new professional talent momentum into the "Digital Longjiang" initiative.
The International Data Management Association (DAMA), founded in 1980, is the most influential global professional organization in the field of data management. Its "DAMA Data Management Body of Knowledge Guide" systematically defines 11 core areas, including data governance, data architecture, data quality, data security, and metadata management, earning it the reputation as the "encyclopedia" of data management.
Currently, as a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation deepens, data management has become a critical element of core competitiveness. At the national level, policies such as the "Data Elements ×" three-year action plan, the financial sector's "Five Major Articles," the "Action Plan for Promoting High-Quality Development of Digital Finance," and the 2026 "Implementation Opinions on 'Artificial Intelligence + Finance'" have all explicitly called for "consolidating the data foundation, improving the data governance system, and strengthening digital talent development," aiming to build a comprehensive data management framework covering data strategy, standards, quality, and security.
These policy requirements align closely with the DAMA data management knowledge system. The data governance, data quality management, and data security frameworks advocated by DAMA-DMBok provide the methodological foundation for implementing national strategies and realizing the value of data elements.
Against this backdrop, the establishment of a DAMA exam center in Harbin not only creates a convenient international certification pathway for data management professionals in Longjiang but also represents a concrete action in response to the "Digital Longjiang" strategy. The inaugural exam in Harbin received an enthusiastic response, with a total of 344 candidates registered from various sectors including banking, government agencies, and technology companies.
This figure fully demonstrates that with the deepening advancement of the "Digital Longjiang" initiative and the Northeast China revitalization strategy, the awareness of data management professionalism in Heilongjiang Province has been further strengthened, and the recognition of DAMA certification as an industry "passport" continues to rise.
It is worth mentioning that within the HARBIN BANK group, a total of 318 employees registered for the exam, highlighting the bank's strong emphasis on cultivating data governance talent. As a local bank deeply rooted in and serving the Longjiang community, HARBIN BANK actively undertakes social responsibility by generously providing its headquarters building to serve as the venue for the DAMA Harbin exam center. This action empowers regional digital economic development with tangible steps, contributing the bank's strength to the "Digital Longjiang" construction.
From the comprehensive deployment of national "AI + Finance" policies to the deepening implementation of the "Digital Longjiang" strategy, data management capability is becoming a key benchmark for measuring regional competitiveness. The establishment of the DAMA (China) Harbin exam center is both a pragmatic measure for the DAMA certification system to serve Northeast China's revitalization and a significant milestone in building the data governance talent ecosystem in Longjiang. It is hoped that this exam will serve as a catalyst, propelling more data management professionals in Longjiang towards specialization and internationalization, thereby continuously infusing the "Digital Longjiang" initiative with a steady stream of talent-driven momentum.