ISO 29990:2010 Learning Services for non-formal education and training – basic requirements for service providers //special information//
Introduction
For the very first time, a quality level for learning services has been universally agreed on. Representatives of all countries voted unanimously in favor of this ISO standard in the final vote. The agreement is a milestone since it marks the transition to further globalization of the education market. Notably Asian countries estimate very high the efficiency and significance of ISO 29990:2010 (see: symposium on international norms and standards in non-formal education and training, held in Tokyo/Japan on 10 September 2010). A list of all known certifications in accordance with ISO 29990:2010 is available on the internet at www.iso29990.biz.
In June 2010 the international organization related to ISO 29990:2010 was founded in Tokyo/Japan: IFCES – THE INTERNATIONAL FORUM FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES. DeuZert was the only certification body of the world to have been a founding member.
Market Significance/Benefit
This standard serves as the evidence for international marketability of education services. The confusion which was due to uncountable quality models and quality approaches in the field of non-formal education and training has been stopped. Now there are clear processes as well as a clear process orientation. This standard is becoming a sustainable tool to evaluate and ensure quality capability in the international education market as it offers a customized management system to both tutors and learning service providers.
Transparency and comparability between learning service providers all over the world are now possible.
ISO 29990:2010 provides a basis for the implementation of further standards in the education sector. In this respect, works regarding the design of a potential ISO 29991 are in progress.
DeuZert
… is an accredited certification body in accordance with ISO 29990 and can make recourse to the highest personnel competence from the responsible Technical Committee ISO/TC 232. It is therefore able to realize a value-adding, sustainable and accepted certification procedure. This is evidenced by our customers, amongst others the renowned Health Service Academy CHARITÉ (Berlin). As the world’s first organization, CHARITÉ has already had one year of experience with the certification standard concerned. Rely on DeuZert as the trustworthy partner for demanding certifications!
Since January 2011, DeuZert has been recommended as a competent certification body for certifications in accordance with DIN ISO 29990:2010 by the Forum Distance-Learning (FDL) and by the European Association for Distance Learning (EADL).
On September 23 2011, DeuZert certified the world’s first five (international) educational managers according to ISO 29990.
Content/Structure
The title of the English original version of the standard reads: "Learning services for non-formal education and training – Basic requirements for service providers." What does “non-formal” mean in that context?
UNESCO differentiates between “formal” and “non-formal” education, a definition we adopted regarding ISO 29990:2010. In chapter 2.15 of the International Standard, it goes as follows:
"Non-formal education
<learning services> organized educational activity outside established recognized formal systems of elementary, secondary or higher education.
Example: Vocational training; life-long learning; in-company training (either outsourced or in-house)."
The structure of DIN ISO 2999:2010
| | Foreword | |
| | Introduction | Objective: Providing a generic model for quality professional practice and performace, and a common reference for learning service providers and their clients
|
| 1. | Scope | This International Standard specifies basic requirements for providers of learning services in non-formal education and training. |
| 2. | Terms and definition | Introduction of 18 specific terms, e.g. amongst others competency, curriculum or transfer of learning |
| 3. | Learning services | Including five subitems relating to the process chain of learning services |
| 4. | Management of the learning service provider | Including ten subitems which ensure a certifiable management system in accordance with ISO criteria. |
| | Annex | A to E |
The correspondence between ISO 29990:2010 and ISO 9001:2008 is elaborated on in appendix E of the standard.
History
| 07/02/2006 | DIN (Germany) submits a proposal for a new field of service standardization concerning learning services to ISO concerning |
| 26-27/03/2007 | First meeting of the newly-established Technical Committee ISO/TC 232 in Berlin/ Germany |
| 09-11/04/2008 | Meeting of Technical Committee ISO/TC 232 together with its working group no 1 in Philadelphia/ US: Agreement on the field of application and the main structure of the standard |
| 19-21/11/2008 | Meeting of Technical Committee ISO/TC 232 together with its working group no 1 in Sydney/ Australia: Completion of the initial draft of the standard |
| 18-20/03/2009 | Meeting of Technical Committee ISO/TC 232 together with its working group no 1 in Tokyo/ Japan: Completion of the draft of the standard in its capacity as an International Standard |
| 07/07/2009 | ISO/DIS 29990:2009 published |
| 14-15/01/2010 | Meeting of Technical Committee ISO/TC 232 together with its working group no 1 in London/ UK: Completion of the final draft of the standard in its capacity as an International Standard. Unanimous vote in favor of the new standard through all members. |
| 09/08/2010 | Approval of ISO 29990:2010 through all involved national standard bodies in the final vote. |
| 01/09/2010 | Publication of ISO 29990:2010 in English and French |
| 01/09/2010 | The German Health Service Academy CHARITÉ (Berlin) receives the world’s first certification in accordance with ISO 29990:2010. |
Current status: 24/04/2012
