The CEN-CENELEC-ETSI Joint Presidents Group recently endorsed a new Masterplan on Education about Standardization. This Masterplan defines a strategy for education about standardization for the coming years. In order to support the implementation of the Masterplan, 3 Task-Forces will be set-up under the umbrella of the CEN-CENELEC-ETSI Joint Working-Group on Education about standardization:
-A Task-Force ‘Consultation and Partnering’, which will define and implement tailored approaches to key targets and intermediaries (business, educators and trainers);
-A Task-Force ‘Repository’, which will look at further developing our online repository of education materials in order to tailor it to users' needs;
-A Task-Force ‘National Structures’, which will exchange best practices and define an approach to promote the establishment of EaS structures at national level, which is a key element of the Masterplan.
The Joint-Working Group on Education about Standardization (JWG-EaS)
Following the publication of the European 'Council conclusions on standardisation and innovation' (Brussels, 25 September 2008), CEN and CENELEC, together with ETSI, have taken action and created a Joint Working Group at European level to improve overall awareness and exchange best practices on the topic.
The aim is simple, to get standardization into national education systems across Europe. Concretely, this boils down to educating not only the young, but also workers, government officials, politicians (beyond education ministries) and current standard makers, convincing them of the many advantages standardization offers and how standards act as a vehicle for sharing knowledge, technology and good practices.
The Working Group hopes to professionalise education in standardization and increase the number of people who have a fair and positive knowledge of standardization, its characteristics and its added value.
The JWG-EaS is pleased to have observers from the European Commission and the EFTA Secretariat as well as ISO and IEC.
The JWG-EaS has drafted a policy for the European Standards Organisations and their members and will continue to contribute toward its implementation.
The Working Group wants to provide a forum to foster best practice in education about standardization in Europe by:
- Creating a network of national members interested in education about standardization;
- Providing a concerted policy on education about standardization in order to maximise the benefits amongst the National Standards Bodies in Europe and abroad;
- Gathering best practice to convince governments and regions, academia, companies etc. of the value of education about standardization and propose appropriate actions;
- Establishing and maintaining appropriate contact with other activities relevant to education about standards, for example the European Academy for Standardization (EURAS) and the International Cooperation for Education about Standardization (ICES)
- Setting up a 'repository' of tools and materials concerning education about standards and standardization.
The JWG-EaS has also developed model curricula to be used by higher education and vocational training organisations: