From pre-school to university, to vocational training and coaching, the world of learning is constantly changing and evolving. As the trend to move away from the traditional customer-supplier relationship towards a collaborative partnership grows, so too, do learners’ expectations. Learning providers now need to adapt to these new ways of working, while at the same time providing a high level of service.

ISO 21001, Educational organizations – Management systems for educational organizations – Requirements with guidance for use, 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.

Developed by project committee ISO/PC 288¹⁾, the new International Standard focuses on the specific interaction between an educational institution, the learner and other customers.

Educational organizations will benefit through delivering a more impactful and relevant learning experience that is aligned with the organization’s own mission and vision. Learners will benefit even more because the education service they receive can be more personalized and suited to their needs, ultimately leading to better learning outcomes.

By making available a comprehensive set of practices that are applicable to learning service providers across the board, ISO 21001 will help build a stronger education sector and provide positive knock-on effects in terms of stimulating innovation and the economy.

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 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 21001:2018 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.

Source: ISO.org