Edu4Standards has taken a major step forward with the development of the draft CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA) entitled "Guideline for education and training on standards and standardisation". The document was drafted in accordance with CEN-CENELEC Guide 29 and officially approved on 16 December 2025 by the workshop of the same name, the secretariat of which is held by the German Institute for Standardisation (DIN).
The guidelines are primarily aimed at educators and trainers, whether they operate in an academic environment at universities and higher education institutes, or are involved in vocational, in-company or lifelong training, offering structured support to help students and professionals acquire key competences in the field of technical standardisation and its processes.
The main aspect that makes this document unique is, probably, the attempt to shift from purely technical approaches and integrate the fundamental principles of the European Union such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, human rights and the rule of law into four clear European strategic interests: competitiveness, innovation, sustainability, and resilience. In fact, the text makes it abundantly clear that standardisation is not a value-neutral process at all, as it directly affects technologies, markets and social infrastructure and becomes the primary means to ensure green and digital transformation and increase industrial competitiveness within the single market.
To translate this approach into practice, the draft proposes a model involving five competence domains, including standardisation literacy and the integration of values and interests, promoting active teaching methods such as educational games (serious games) to make the subject more engaging. In the last part, the draft mentions the future Pan-European Certificate of Knowledge in Standardisation, which has been created jointly by CEN, CENELEC and ETSI and whose official launch is planned for the second half of 2027. This certificate will be an important added value for the careers of young specialists, making it a perfect addition to one's CV within the European job market.
As this is currently a draft, your perspective is vital to shaping the final text.
Contribute to the drafting of the CWA by leaving your comments, and consult the full text
