ANSI works with members of the U.S. academic community to promote the incorporation of standards-related information into the curriculum of U.S. colleges and universities. Incorporating standards into a university curriculum provides an excellent introduction to the impact of standardization on the marketplace and gives students a competitive edge when entering the workforce. A new graduate who is familiar with the standards relevant to their industry and how the standards system works is a strategic asset to their future employer.
It is estimated that in the U.S. alone, there are more than 95,000 recognized standards. These make applications, communications, and connection compatibility and interoperability possible. Standards also advance global trade in products and services; promote quality assurance of products, personnel and systems; and enhance consumer and environmental protection. Upon request, ANSI can provide faculty with complimentary access to selected international standards for use in curricula. The objective is to raise the awareness and impact of standards in their field of study.
“Education programs covering the development and implementation of standards need to become a high priority within the United States. These programs must focus on the needs of leaders and top executives, those who participate in the development of standards, university and college students, and other interested parties.” - United States Standards Strategy, Strategic Initiative 10
In pursuit of its commitment to implementation of the United States Standards Strategy, ANSI’s University Outreach program works to help bring information on globally recognized and adopted standards into relevant higher-education courses. ANSI collaborates with faculty from U.S. colleges and universities to incorporate information about standards and conformity assessment – and the system and organizations that develop them – into their curricula. The program is open to all disciplines.
Participants in the program have access to members of the U.S. standardization community who are available to provide case studies, model tutorials, and other educational resources that can be used by professors in the classroom.
As the U.S. member body of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ANSI has been authorized to provide, upon request, complimentary access for students and faculty to selected standards currently available in the ISO collection. Certain standards from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) may also be made available upon request. These collections are comprised of nearly 20,000 standards, which can be made available to U.S. faculty and students in all disciplines in institutions of higher learning throughout the United States.
The American Dental Association (ADA) has also authorized access to a collection of dental standards upon request.
A key component of ANSI's University Outreach initiative is the pooling of existing resources that will facilitate the ability of faculty to bring standards into their classrooms. Standards developers can help by:
Interested standards developers are encouraged to email this information to [email protected]
ANSI compiles and updates a directory of college and university courses that cover standardization and/or utilize standards in the classroom.
