I am looking for information / guidance on application of ISo 9000 requirements to Educational Institutions.

I know quite a few are registered but I haven't seen any substancial discussion here (or anywhere, really) by anyone actually doing (or having done / gone through) such a registration.

Comments, anyone?

You Might want to look at the ANSI/ASQ(C) Z1.11-1996 Guidlines for the Application of (ISO900x) to Education and Training Institutions.

Available for purchase from ASQ: ttp://qualitypress.asq.org
or download (for a fee)
http://e-standards.asq.org

Thanks for the response.
I have gone through some interesting articles published in various Management Journals and the Journals on Quality Assurance - Education.
My further questions:
1. Any institution when started undergoes rigorous inspection and verification by competent authorities before permission is given to run the Institution. If that be the case, what additional help is expected to be derived out of a ISO 900X:1994 / 2000 system?
2.While auditing such a system for an Educational Institution, what is the approach of the Auditors?
Thanks

> ...1. Any institution when started undergoes rigorous inspection and
> verification by competent authorities before permission is given to
> run the Institution. If that be the case, what additional help is
> expected to be derived out of a ISO 900X:1994 / 2000 system?

If the inspection items in "rigorous inspection and verification by competent authorities" are the same as the ISO requirements, probably none. But I doubt they are the same inspections and verifications.

> 2.While auditing such a system for an Educational Institution, what is the
> approach of the Auditors?

They focus on the ISO part of the equation.

Interesting - I was just told today by our registrar that we as an ISO registered company will be REQUIRED to evaluate and control any external training source Including accreddited educational institutions under the guise of "external service provider"...

Wondering if this is due to some type of background "push" to include educational institutions in the external audit registration scheme of things??

[This message has been edited by Jim Biz (edited 29 August 2000).]

lots of activity in the "effectivity of training" topics as far as registrars and dod .....and ford/gm/chrysler...i suspect that is at the bottom of it.

Seeing it more and more...and getting asked about my little training company and its plans for getting registered......my answer is still "not yet, i am compliant, but not registered"

Go to the ASQ.org site and select the koality kid division links. they specialize in education/schools

[This message has been edited by barb butrym (edited 29 August 2000).]

[This message has been edited by barb butrym (edited 29 August 2000).]

Originally posted by Jim Biz:
Interesting - I was just told today by our registrar that we as an ISO registered company will be REQUIRED to evaluate and control any external training source Including accreddited educational institutions under the guise of "external service provider"...

Wondering if this is due to some type of background "push" to include educational institutions in the external audit registration scheme of things??While this isn't really the direction of the original post in this thread, some comments...

This is overflow from QS to some degree. They have required a company to evaluate sub-contractors including those supplying services for some time. It has also been an ISO fringe aspect. I first ran into it in 1996 in ISO so it's not 'totally' new. A company I was consulting for had to justify for the auditor that they had evaluated me (my service). And then the question was "What criteria did you use?" The company responded that their criteria was "...prior successful implementation(s) of ISO 9001..." They cited a reference they contacted, my web site and my lead auditor course certificate as 'acceptable' evidence that I was (am?) qualified to provide them with implementation services. Yes - I was on their Approved Supplier list.

Like with aspects of calibration, the requirement has evolved. It was enough that you calibrated equipment to a NIST traceable satandard 10 years ago. Auditors did not take you to task to show your consideration of aspects such as uncertainty. Heck, few auditors knew (know) what uncertainty is other than in theory. Now measurement analyysis is a 'big' topic.

Another evolution example is the requirement for 4.7 control of customer supplied product which originally was really only addressed in the sense of materials and/or assemblies utilized in the product. Now it includes containers and about everything else.

Wondering what major/minor differences there are in accrediation criteria vs. ISO ?

Would want to believe that accredidation would cover - effeciency analysis - customer satisfaction issyes etc. - but then again - maybe not..

Also see: ISO 9001 and Educational Institutions (Service Provider) (http://elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=13040) Wondering what major/minor differences there are in accrediation criteria vs. ISO ?

Would want to believe that accredidation would cover - effeciency analysis - customer satisfaction issyes etc. - but then again - maybe not..Any new / continuing thoughts on this?

My further questions:
1. Any institution when started undergoes rigorous inspection and verification by competent authorities before permission is given to run the Institution. If that be the case, what additional help is expected to be derived out of a ISO 900X:1994 / 2000 system?
Thanks

Thank you Dr Madhvan for raising this It is the question (even Marc opined ) people shirk to deliberate upon.
In India AICTE ( all India council of Science and technology), and ABET in USA etc are trying to reinforce Quality Assurance in (technical) education; but with what success?

Similar is the endeavour made by ISO 9000 series accreditation service.
On ther other side how far is the generic Intenational Quality Management System satandard potent in assuraing Quality of education?
Infact there is lot of subjectivity in assessment process, in competency (alleniation) of auditors and the technical experts (if any, ). Another moot question for latter is that are they really convinced of their roleas quality assessors? A level of competency, professionalism and Quality training is what is solicited for both the parties, at different places, so that it closely serves the needs.

The modusoperandi needs to be honed.

p thareja

.While auditing such a system for an Educational Institution, what is the approach of the Auditors?
Thanks

In QMS audits,the approach is not oriented to academics is because of following two reasons:

1. Mostly the auditors are not aligned with academics. 'Teaching and learning' is a complex process,and the ISO 9001:2000 standard doe not react to the mandates of education, so alignment will not come until the involement of auditor in education is total

2. The clause 6 and 7 are not deep enough to ensure all aspects of product realisation. Validation and calibration are not fully translated while applying the ISO 9001:2000 standard to education.

It implies that conscientious inputs are sesired to make the ISO 9000 series accreditation a worthy exercise for education

p thareja

Dear Dr.Madhavan,
I recommend you to use ISO/IWA 2: Quality management systems - Guidelines for the application of ISO 9001:2000 in education.This contains the full text of ISO 9001:2000, clause-by-clause, followed by specific text making the standard easier to understand and implement by the education sector.
You could also look at integrating AICTE/NABC/NAC/University guidelines when designing your ISO 9000 QMS.
Regards
Mohan