Academic Standardisation Education in Europe

Standardisation is a strategic asset at the level of companies, industry sectors, countries and regions. To excel in standardisation, proper education is needed. This is well understood in several Asian countries, where they are increasingly implementing standardisation education programmes. Europe is lagging behind. The governments of the member countries of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have decided to implement standardisation education in their countries 2006 – 2010. Such a decision has not yet been taken at the European level, although there is recognition of the importance of the topic. In Europe there is a great discrepancy between policy and practice. It is the official policy of the EC and European Parliament to promote the European standardisation system, of which it has high expectations. However, current practice shows no more than fragmented standardisation education activities in the EU and hardly any programmes at the academic level. This White Paper addresses this issue. It proposes European initiatives to escape from the present situation of only some fragmented initiatives. A common European strategy is needed and support from Europe to get education implemented at the national level. This paper details measures to be taken at the European level. To make this possible, a European Standardisation Education Agency is needed. A small group of staff should carry out the necessary activities or coordinate activities that are outsourced to experts within and outside universities in the member states. This agency needs a steering group at the European level in which member countries as well as a variety of European stakeholders are represented. At the national level there should be parallel structures.