Current news

At the meeting of the International Standards Organisation's (ISO) Technical Committee on Learning Services for Non-formal Education and Training, held in London on 15th January, the final draft of the standard for providers of learning services, ISO 29990, was approved for circulation. It is expected to be available internationally by late 2010. In addition, the meeting, attended by Mihai Ganj (IH Bucharest) on behalf of EAQUALS, which has liaison status with the committee, and Richard Rossner representing the UK, approved a proposal from China to begin work on a new standard for language training services. The first meeting of the new working group will be held in Beijing in May 2010. EAQUALS declared its willingness to share its expertise in standard development for the field, as it has done in the development of the ‘umbrella' standard for learning services providers just approved.

Members of EAQUALS interested in this project are urged to contact the national standards body in their country and to offer their services on the national mirror committee for education services which ought to have been established. A list of national standards bodies that are members of ISO is to be found at http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_members (individual links in second column). Of the 162 members of ISO, only 13 have so far declared an intention to participate in developing the new standard. Among EAQUALS countries only France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Russia and the UK are so far involved.

Richard Rossner