European and International
Standardisation and why
education is needed
ITU-GISFI-DS-CTIF Standards Education Workshop
Aalborg University 8th October 2012
Jesper Jerlang, Director for Standardisation, DS
Vision 2020
DS is known as the driver which, through
standardization, enhances quality in Danish
society and strengthens growth in Danish
industry
Dansk Standard (Danish Standards) is the offical
Danish national standardisation organisation
 Annual income of DKK 214 mio. (EUR 29 mill.)
 210 employees
 Founded in 1926
 A commercial foundation
 One subsidiary: DS Certificering A/S
We ensure the link in the value creation for our
customers
Sales of
publications
Development
of standards
Consulting
Training
Certification
Standardisation operates on both national (DS),
European (CEN, CENELEC and ETSI) and
international level (ISO, IEC and ITU)
Internationally ISO and IEC constitute a network with more
than 3,000 working groups and 100,000 participants
Accessibility
Cloud Computing
Information security
eHealth
JTC1
RFID
Graphic technology
Geographic information
Document standards
The European Standardisation System – a
coherent system for harmonization
EU/EFTA
Policy
New
Approach
New EU regulation to be in force 2013





Re-enforce importance of standardisation
Will also include services
Focus on the access to standardisation for all stakeholders
Procedure for recognition of ICT standards for public procurement
New high level ICT platform established
We develop standards that create value for our
customers - together with our customers
 The key is the national mirror
committees
 The committees function as technical
based networks with focus on influence
 More than 200 committees with more
than 1,900 members
 13 international TC and 38 WG
secretariats
So why is education on standardisation important?
”When newly qualified engineers start with us many of them lack basic knowledge
about standardisation. This means that we have to spend time and resources
teaching them the relevant skills. When I studied at the Technical University of
Denmark, an employee from Danish Standards and a librarian taught us about
standards and standardisation. We acquired basic knowledge about standards and
their importance to society and not least their relevance to our specific
professions. We were taught about the relation between standards and directives,
where to find the relevant standards and how the various standards are interrelated. We were also taught how to acquire help and advice from Danish
Standards. In that way we were geared for the business community and industry
where standards play an important role. Although you cannot expect a newly
qualified engineer to know everything I think that it is vital to prioritise education
in standards and standardisation, as many engineers will need that knowledge in
their career. “
Jan Roald Rasmussen, Babcock & Wilcox Vølund A/S
Standardisation is important for economic growth,
innovation and global cooperation
Effect of using standards
70.0%
Effective increase
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
Value creation
Employees
30.0%
Export
20.0%
Productivity (TFP)
10.0%
0.0%




Knowledge and best practice sharing
Market penetration / global availability
Quality/cost optimization
Certainty and trust
Standardisation is important and people should know!
 Students and graduates should know the importance of standards
 Insight in standards and how to use them is a requirement to today’s
engineers and tomorrow’s business leaders
 Insight in how standards influence business and society
 Understand the effect of specific standards
 Standards are never neutral – they reflect the aims of those who write
them
 Important to know possibility for participation and influence
 Standardisation must be regarded as a strategic opportunity and a
policy tool
Thank you for your attention!