Professionalism: how it has changed in 10 years, thanks to UNI

The input came from Law 4/2013 "Provisions concerning unorganised professions", whose art. 6 refers to UNI standards defining the principles and criteria governing the self-regulated exercise of any professional activity (provided it is not ruled by a professional association or in the healthcare sector).

In the 10 years since then, UNI has been involved in a series of activities that gave birth to:

• 1 dedicated technical committee
• 95 standards and 35 reference practices
• 1 conformity mark for certification

These results demonstrate the ability of standardization to identify, collect and satisfy market needs.

The standards developed by UNI have helped professionals to qualify and develop their markets, at the same time protecting the interests of customers and consumers. In doing so, they managed to bring people from many sectors closer to standardization (such as mystery auditors, cooks, carers and babysitters, HR managers, criminologists, wedding planners, and many others).

Law 4/2013 is the perfect example of synergy between legislation and standardization, since it has depended on collaboration between the Government and UNI. This represents a model that may also have a future in Europe, depending on the revision of CEN Guide 14 “Common policy guidance for addressing standardization on qualification of professions and personnel” and following the example of CEN/TC 428 on ICT professionalism and digital competences.

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