International standardization and education

Standards are a vehicle for the sharing of knowledge, technology and good practices: an essential component of the world-wide industrial and post-industrial infrastructure supporting economic activities, societal needs and more equitable opportunities – in other words, sustainable development.

The key role of standards has been implicitly recognized, since a long time, in the education programmes covering a broad variety of technical fields.

However, it is a more recent trend the increased awareness of educational institutions all over the world of the importance of standardization activities in a more general sense: for the contribution that they can give to trade of products and services, to promoting good business practices and to fostering technological innovation.

ISO considers this trend of utmost importance and believes in the fundamental contribution that educational institutions can give on teaching what international standardization is and what can be achieved through it.

ISO is keen to support these institutions in their efforts and to encourage them to share their knowledge, experience and expertise. Also, considering that education and research are often linked, ISO wishes to promote studies and surveys relating to the macro- and micro-economic benefits of standardization.