FOREWORD: This article is meant for those who are concerned about ISO Certification, Quality, and Training process in their organizations (Institutions). Basic understanding of ISO will be useful to read this article rather than Highly Technical and Scientific terms which might have little impact on Quality Management as well as achieving the objectives.
Background: Training and education has become an integral part of the IT industry today, due to which a large number of organizations have been established. In spite of the establishment of a large number of training institutes offering various technical as well as non-technical courses, there is no uniformity in Quality Management and standards followed by these institutions (training institutes). This has resulted in an increase in the number of organizations and institutions established without any idea about Quality Management or ISO standards. A lot many such organizations and institutions which have a basic understanding of how to make money by deceiving candidates/clients are operating in this industry due to a lack of a proper system that should be designed for ensuring Quality.
ISO Certification for Training Institute
1) ISO 9001-2015- Quality Management System is a generic standard that can be used for certification of Training Institutions. The requirements of ISO 9001-2015 are generic in nature and hence can be applied to any type of organization. In fact, many schools, colleges including medical and engineering colleges have been certified to the ISO 9001 standard.
ISO9001:2015 standard for delivery of systems and procedures to ensure effective management of its operations. It addresses quality, safety, environmental protection, and business ethics.ISO 9001:2015 for training provider certification is audited as per the ISO 19011:2018 – auditing guideline standard.
2) ISO 21001:2018 Educational organizations — Management systems for educational organizations — Requirements with guidance for use
ISO 21001 is intended to meet this challenge by defining the requirements of a management system that will help education providers better meet the needs and expectations of their learners and other beneficiaries, and demonstrate greater credibility and impact. This is the most opted ISO Certification for Training Institution recently.
As per ISO.org, ISO 21001:2018 specifies requirements for a management system for educational organizations (EOMS) when such an organization:
- a) needs to demonstrate its ability to support the acquisition and development of competence through teaching, learning or research;
- b) aims to enhance the satisfaction of learners, other beneficiaries, and staff through the effective application of its EOMS, including processes for improvement of the system and assurance of conformity to the requirements of learners and other beneficiaries.
All requirements of ISO 21001:2018 are generic and intended to be applicable to any organization that uses a curriculum to support the development of competence through teaching, learning, or research, regardless of the type, size, or method of delivery.
ISO 21001 for Training Institutions can be applied to educational organizations within larger organizations whose core business is not education, such as professional training departments.
ISO 21001:2018 does not apply to organizations that only produce or manufacture educational products.
What does this Educational Management System cover?
A high-level structure is followed to create uniformity and make compliance with other standards easier.
- Scope 2. Normative References 3. Terms and Definitions 4. Context of the Organization 5. Leadership 6. Planning 7. Support 8. Operation 9. Performance Evaluation 10.Improvement
ISO 21001 Principles
- Focus on the needs of learners and other beneficiaries -that Educational Organizations should actively engage learners in their own learning.
- Visionary Leadership
- Engagement of People
- Process Approach
- Improvement
- Evidence-Based Decisions
- relationship management
- Social Responsibility
- Accessibility & Equity
- Ethical Conduct
- Data Security & Protection
ISO 21001 explained in simple terms:
As being more specific ISO Certification for training Institutions, it covers the training organization requirements in the follows ways:
Teaching Staff Organization must analyze its staff needs and show how it uses recruitment to reach them – determine competence standards for all staff – check that staff meet those competence standards (both at recruitment and during employment) – Provide training for ongoing competence development – Provide ongoing performance review of all staff
Student Admission, Progression, Recognition & Certification: ISO 21001 provides specific sections with detailed requirements for each of these processes such as the admission of learners, identification and traceability of learners throughout the organization and award of certificates for assessed learning
Learning Resources: ISO 21001 considers resources for Learner engagement & satisfaction, Staff engagement & satisfaction
Other beneficiary satisfaction: The following resources should be determined and provided as necessary: – Human resources -Facilities -Buildings -Equipment -Organizational Knowledge & Learning materials -All resources should be Monitored & Measured.
Documents and Records – which policies, processes and procedures to document and maintain – which records to retain
- ISO 21001 has over 50 references to documented information that must be maintained or retained
- It further has a section on how to maintain/retain this information and a further section on data privacy
- Additionally, an entire informative annexe gives examples of measures and tools which can be used in collecting and managing information
Monitoring & Review in ISO 21001
- Monitoring of satisfaction of stakeholders – Handling of complaints & appeals – Collecting feedback on the effectiveness of programmes, the organization’s over the impact on the community
- The review includes: – Internal Audit (which includes a review of programmes) – Annual Management Review of the organization’s management system to address deficiencies.
ISO 21001 Operational Requirements
- Programme design & development
- Learning outcome design & development
- Curriculum design & development
- Assessment design & development
Public Information
Communications have the purpose of:
- Obtaining the opinion or consent of stakeholders (consultation)
- Conveying information (marketing)
- Coordinating processes within an organization (management)
The institution must communicate:
- Institutional policy and strategy
- Design, content and delivery of
- Leaners’ performance data
- Learner and other feedback, including satisfaction surveys & complaints
Cyclical External Quality Assurance
The organization can implement and benefit from an ISO 21001 management system in accordance with the neutrality principle, meaning that it is designed to be used for:
- First-party Certification (self-assessment)
- Second-party certification (external assessment by consultants)
- Third-party certification (by an approved accreditation body)
To obtain ISO 9001/ ISO 21001, and for any of your ISO Certification for Training Institution, Contact us now.E- mail.: enquiry@eascertification.com
