ISO 21001:2018 is newly launched internationally standard for Education Organizations Management. ISO 21001:2018 “Educational organizations — Management systems for educational organizations — Requirements with guidance for use”. 

This Standard specifies requirements for a management system for educational organizations (EOMS) when such an organization:

• needs to demonstrate its ability to support the acquisition and development of competence through teaching, learning or research;
• 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 but does not apply to organizations that only produce or manufacture educational products.

This standard published in the 2018 as the first international standards focuses on Education Organizations; ISO 21001:2018 structure is like other standards based on new High Level Structure (HLS) that brings a common framework to all management system standards. 

This helps to keep consistency, alignment different management system standards, offer matching sub-clauses against the top-level structure and apply common language across all standards.

What is ISO 21001:2018 ?

ISO 21001 provides a common management tool for organizations providing educational products and services capable of meeting the needs and requirements of learners and other customers.

This standards is a stand-alone management system standard, aligned with other ISO management system standards (such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, etc.) through the application of the high level structure. 

ISO 21001 focuses on the specific interaction between an educational organization, the learner, customers and other relevant interested parties. It specifies requirements for an Educational Organization Management System (EOMS) when such an organization:

• Needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide, share and facilitate the construction of knowledge while conforming with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements
• Aims to enhance the satisfaction of learners, other customers and personnel through the effective application of its EOMS, including processes for improvement of the system

Benefits of ISO 21001

• Better alignment of objectives and activities with policy
• Enhanced social responsibility by providing inclusive and equitable quality education for all
• More personalized learning and effective response to all learners, in particular those with special education needs and distance learners
• Consistent processes and evaluation tools to demonstrate and increase effectiveness and efficiencyIncreased credibility of the educational organization
• Ability to demonstrate commitment to effective quality management practices
• Development of a culture for organizational improvement
• Harmonization of regional, national, open and proprietary standards within an international framework
• Widened participation of interested parties
• Stimulation of excellence and innovation

To whom does this standard apply

All requirements of ISO 21001 are generic and intended to be applicable to educational organizations that provide, share and facilitate the construction of knowledge through teaching, training or research, regardless of type, size and the product and service provided. 

The standard therefore applies to the management system of any organization utilizing a curriculum to provide, share and transfer knowledge.