A MOOC for training in voluntary standardization

Students are not immune to preconceived notions: initially, when they hear the word "standards," they think of a series of constraints. But they quickly understand that these constraints are rules of the game, that they accompany markets and promote the dissemination of innovation. For Xavier Daran, secretary general of the Assembly of IUT Directors (ADIUT), voluntary standards have a rightful place in university bachelor's degrees in technology (formerly known as DUTs). He has now achieved his goal: since mid-November 2025, this higher education program, like all others, has access to a MOOC that explains standardization, developed by AFNOR on the FUN platform here. It is essential that students are familiar with these reference texts in the workplace. And I think it's important that they know, once they're in the job, that the standards are written by their peers! Some of them want to innovate and help shape the market. They are very sensitive to environmental issues, for example. They are also interested in the international scope of ISO standards and their digital evolution, with the arrival of smart standards. , continues Xavier Daran.

A long-standing partnership with IUTs

Renewed in 2024, the first agreement between AFNOR and university institutes of technology dates back to 2008. On the AFNOR side, Bernadette Ruetsch acts as the link between the world of voluntary standards and that of education, primarily at the bachelor's degree level and above. In charge of this mission since 2023, she is building bridges between schools and businesses. She also teaches courses herself, for example at engineering schools. "Construction materials, cosmetics, railways, water, aeronautics... For each of their specialties, there are several standards that are applied on a daily basis in companies. And when I talk to them about collective intelligence, they get hooked. The same goes for the international scope of standards," she says. Click here to see all our resources on teaching standards. To reach an even wider audience than its existing partner schools, AFNOR has developed an introductory MOOC to overcome structural obstacles: The approximately 3,000 schools and universities in France are autonomous, so we would have to convince each teacher individually to teach standardization," says Bernadette Ruetsch. The MOOC therefore offers universal and free access in the form of videos, testimonials, illustrations, and role-playing scenarios with virtual teachers, "Alexis" and "Rosa," accompanied by students (Tom and Emma). The content of the four modules has been validated by AFNOR's major members, in other words, by the professionals themselves:

• The strategic role of standardization: what is a standard and what is it used for?
• Interactions between standards and regulation, certification, innovation, and research
• Behind the scenes of voluntary standards development
• Deciphering a standard and monitoring standards

The MOOC provides a solid foundation for understanding the interactions between standards, regulations, certification, innovation, and research. A certificate of completion for the MOOC and a badge of achievement to share on social media are awarded after a quiz to validate what has been learned.

Training teachers (too): a multiplier effect

Bernadette Ruetsch's mission also targets teachers. "Their interest is growing, particularly in the areas of quality and the environment. For example, 250 teachers of biotechnology and bio-quality BTS courses logged on to our first webinar on standardization awareness, co-organized with the education authority and two companies," she says. In 2026, face-to-face training should be offered to 60 lead teachers in these BTS programs. In schools and businesses alike, standardization is emerging as a skill in its own right, one that is sought after but still undervalued. Contributing to standardization is not always valued in France, concludes Bernadette Ruetsch. However, several Asian countries, notably South Korea and China, organize standardization Olympiads starting in high school! The discipline is gaining recognition. Europe has also decided to follow suit, with several countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy offering training courses at their universities. Training tomorrow's workforce in standardization will enable them to represent their employers' interests in the standards of tomorrow.