Solution: Quality Management Certification for Learning Services in Initial and Continuing Education (ISO 29993)
Solution: Quality Management Certification for Learning Services in Initial and Continuing Education (ISO 29993)
Anita Austerer, M.A.
TÜV AUSTRIA CERT GMBH
TÜV AUSTRIA-Platz 1
2345 Brunn am Gebirge
Tel: +43 (0)504 54-6048
Fax: +43 (0)504 54-8145
E-Mail: cert@tuv.at
tuv.at/cert
Quality Management Certification for Education and Training
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Quality Management Certification for Education and Training
Information, Target Audience & Prerequisites
ISO 29993 is a globally uniform quality standard for educational services focused on the private education and training market. Certification can optimize processes and thereby increase the efficiency of the service. It also provides support in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of existing and new programs.
For certification, the following requirements of the educational service are assessed:
- Concept
- Information
- Method of Implementation
- Evaluation of Continuing Education and Training
The target group for this certification includes all providers of training and continuing education services outside the school and university systems, although in practice the standard is often aimed at companies that do not operate educational services as their primary activity, but rather as a support or supplement to their core business. Companies thus receive proof that their educational services are planned, implemented, and evaluated according to established criteria.
The certificate is valid for three years and may be used for promotional purposes in accordance with the certification regulations. The certification logo may be used, for example, on letterhead or the website (in connection with the organization). For legal reasons, the intended use must be approved or confirmed by the certification body.
Benefits of ISO 29993 Certification
- ISO 29993 certification helps you make your processes and requirements transparent. Boost confidence in your training and continuing education programs and gain a competitive edge!
- Present yourself as a responsible and reliable learning service provider.
- By following defined processes, you ensure legal compliance within your organization.
- With ISO 29993 certification, you drive the systematic development of your company.
- Finding the right balance – with the experts at TÜV AUSTRIA. Documentation for documentation’s sake? A management system only works effectively if it serves the company. Our auditors help you derive the greatest possible benefit from auditing and certification.
- By clearly aligning with the standard, you support your employees and management with clear information and a basis for action.
ISO 29993 Certification Process
The certification process typically takes between three and five weeks. We take your individual requirements and the urgency of your certification into account right from the planning stage. We work with you to determine the exact scope, duration, and costs before the certification process begins.
1. Informational Meeting
During a non-binding and free consultation, we will inform you about the procedure for obtaining your certificate. Additionally, the following points, among others, will be clarified:
- Basic requirements for certification
- Objectives and benefits of certification
- Verification of company data and definition of the scope of certification
- Discussion of your specific requirements and wishes
- Determination of the next necessary steps toward certification
Based on this informational meeting, you will receive a customized offer tailored to your organization.
2. Engagement
If you are satisfied with the offer, the certification body is engaged. After you receive a confirmation of engagement, the certification process begins with a joint scheduling of appointments with the responsible auditor.
3. Pre-audit (optional)
A pre-audit can be conducted upon request. Based on a jointly defined framework, either specific areas or processes, or the overall situation of your organization, will be audited. This process identifies any weaknesses in the documentation and implementation of the system. Upon request, a pre-audit can provide you with a status report regarding your basic eligibility for certification, a detailed assessment of individual processes, or compliance with specific requirements of the relevant standard. The audit methodology corresponds to that of the certification audit.
4. Stage 1 Certification Audit
The Stage 1 audit serves to determine your eligibility for certification. Site-specific conditions are assessed, and necessary information regarding the scope of application is gathered. The following main points are primarily addressed in Stage 1:
- Review of documentation for compliance and completeness in comparison with the respective standard requirements.
- Status of the management system’s implementation within the company: Does the existing management structure and the degree of implementation of the management system in the organization generally allow for certification, or are critical details still missing?
Before conducting Stage 2 of the audit, an audit plan for the actual certification audit is developed based on the knowledge gained about your organization and the management system, and this plan is coordinated with you.
5. Stage 2 Certification Audit
During Stage 2, the effectiveness of the management system implemented in your organization is assessed. This involves conducting spot checks against all requirements across departments or organizational units and along the process chains.
The fundamentals of the audit are:
- Audit planning
- the respective certification standard or the individual standard requirements specified therein
- Organization-specific documents
- General and industry-specific principles (laws, additional industry-specific standards, etc.)
After the results have been analyzed and evaluated, the audit findings as well as any deficiencies or nonconformities will be communicated to you during the closing meeting. In the event of nonconformities, corrective actions will be defined.
6. TÜV AUSTRIA Certificate
Actual certification is granted by the TÜV AUSTRIA certification body following the completion and successful conclusion of the audit and reporting based on the audit report. The certificate is issued provided the following certification requirements are met:
- Documentation and implementation of the management system
- Certification agreement (confirmation of the certification offer, the certification regulations, and the General Terms and Conditions)
- Successful completion of the audit and a corresponding recommendation from your audit team to the certification body
A certificate is issued for a term of three years. To maintain the validity of the certificate throughout its entire term, an annual surveillance audit must be conducted and successfully completed (12 months and 24 months after the certificate is issued).
7. Surveillance Audits
During the annual surveillance audit, the effectiveness and further development of the management system are reviewed on a random basis. Surveillance audits are shorter in scope and cover topics specified by accrediting bodies, key areas outlined in the audit plan, and address deficiencies identified in the previous audit.
8. Recertification Audit
This must be conducted before the certificate expires (typically after three years). In a recertification audit (often also called a renewal audit), all requirements are reviewed on a random basis, just as in a certification audit. The time required for this recertification process is shorter than that of an initial certification process (approximately two-thirds of the audit time of an initial certification process).
Following a positive certification decision, a new certificate with a validity of three years is issued.
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