The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) created ISO 21001, a global standard that gives organizations that sell educational goods and services management tools. It aims to support educational providers in meeting the needs and requirements of students.
While ISO 21001 is based on ISO 9001, or quality management systems, which offers educational institutions a framework specifically designed to improve student satisfaction through process improvements and standards compliance. Any organization that offers a curriculum for the development of information, skills, and attitudes through various lecture techniques can use the standard. The ISO 21001 awareness training will also instruct attendees on how to successfully implement and obtain ISO 21001:2018 certification.
List of Facing Difficulties to Overcome Challenges by ISO 21001
Because of the ongoing pandemic, the educational sector is dealing with several difficulties worldwide. All establishments aim to ensure their continued existence and expansion. Human Resources, Technology, Infrastructure, Brand Value, and so on are the prerequisites for any kind of educational institution. A list of the difficulties we are now facing is provided.
Digital Transformation: Any educational institution must overcome the significant issue of digital transformation—the move from onsite to online learning. In a few months, it is not possible to complete the laborious task of developing an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software or application. All of the team members must plan, develop, and adopt it. This demand is exactly what's needed at this precise moment.
Requirements for Human Resource Competence: Teaching and non-teaching (administrative) staff members are present at every institution. Since they are accustomed to the conventional method of managing operations, the team members find the digital transformation itself to be challenging. The pressure to quickly upgrade or accept new technologies causes team members to leave and become demotivated. In addition to the other external problems the institute is facing, this is one of its internal problems.
Infrastructure: These difficult times caused by the pandemic have a significant effect on the institutions' financial standing. Trustees and other well-meaning organizations typically provide funding for the majority of institutes. Fees collected from students are used to handle regular expenses like salaries, infrastructure development, other costs, etc. The maintenance of the intake capacity (number of students) and the student fee collection provide significant challenges. This results in a budget that is insufficient for handling regular expenses and future infrastructure development.
Brand Value: The number of educational institutions, both public and private, that can accept more students than there are applicants. Therefore, to acquire a 100% admission status, each institute works hard to uphold its reputation. These days, a variety of elements, such as the institution's infrastructure, affiliations, and educational quality, all contribute to its increased brand value. Additionally, international certifications like ISO 9001 and ISO 21001 enhance an institute's brand value. This type of accreditation focuses on the institute's operational management system to provide high-quality educational services that meet the needs of all of its stakeholders, including parents, industry, students, and society at large.
Every educational institution that provides services on location or even online faces the aforementioned obstacles. An institute that practices good operational management can become a model institute and ensure its sustainability in the years to come. Numerous institutions have benefited from the implementation of ISO 21001:2018, the Educational Organization Management System, which has helped them overcome obstacles and succeed in this cutthroat environment.
