1. History of ISO Certification Training
The International Organization for Standardization, hugely known as ISO, is an international standard-
setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. The
organization promulgates worldwide proprietary, industrial, and commercial standards. ISO is the world's
largest developer and publisher of International Standards. It is also a network of the national standards
institutes of 163 countries, with a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, coordinating the system.
ISO is a non-governmental organization that forms a bridge between the public and private sectors. On
the one hand, many of its member institutes are part of the governmental structure of their countries, or
are mandated by their government. On the other hand, other members have their roots uniquely in the
private sector, having been set up by national partnerships of industry associations. Therefore, ISO
enables a consensus to be reached on solutions that meet both the requirements of business and the
broader needs of society.
Both developed and developing country members of ISO need to keep up to speed with new
developments in the areas of international standardization. This is not only valid for the staff of national
standards bodies but also for all their experts (internal and external) and stakeholders who contribute in
the development of standards or who use and implement them. ISO has therefore developed a suite of
technical assistance and training packages, tailored to the variety of needs of its members. These
packages are described in the Catalog of ISO technical assistance and training programs for its members.
ISO members from developing countries benefit mostly from technical assistance activities delivered by
ISO in the context of the implementation of the ISO Action Plan for developing countries 2011-2015
thanks to financial support provided by donors and other ISO members.
On the other hand, ISO members from both developed and developing countries, who have the
resources and who participate fully in the technical work of ISO, make the most of the various training
courses that are provided in order to operate efficiently and effectively, using the most relevant IT tools
and e-Services. This ensures timely release of much-needed ISO deliverable.
The technical assistance and training provided by ISO is absolutely critical for keeping the ISO system
primed and operating to the maximum efficiency. We owe this not only to our members but also to the
international community who expects us to provide quick, credible and consensus-based solutions to an
ever-increasing complex world.
In the area of education, it is clear that innovation and new technologies depend more than ever on
International Standards that create a world market for them and which act as vehicles for their
dissemination. Knowledge of the economic, technical and social importance and benefits of standards
therefore become imperative in the curricula of future managers, scientists and technologists. ISO is
keen to support universities and other higher education institutions in their efforts to introduce the
subject of standardization in their curricula. Among other initiatives, ISO has established the ISO Award

2. for Higher Education in Standardization. The ISO Award aims to raise awareness of the importance of
standardization worldwide by supporting institutions of higher education that have developed and
implemented successful programmes of ISO 9001 consultant related to standardization as a tool to
access world markets, transfer technology and promote good business practice and sustainable
development.