This standard aims to be useful in any educational service entity and seeks to improve the quality of university education, training centers and E-Learning services. The workshops will be replicated to cover a greater number of professionals.

With the purpose of training leaders in Quality Process Management, the leading implementer workshop of the Educational Organization Management System -SGOE- ISO 21001:2018 was held, organized by the Rector's Office and the Directorate of Strategic Development and Quality.

On the occasion, where 30 professionals from different units of the University participated, the aim was to instruct in such important aspects as aligning activities effectively with the mission and vision of the institution and in the processes that must be carried out in different strategies.

The Rector of the ULS, Dr. Nibaldo Avilés, specified in his opening words to the workshop that “the University moves in a very dynamic environment and, therefore, cannot be immune to this challenge; It is already a reality that universities necessarily have to implement quality management systems, a dimension from the accreditation point of view that is already required in the new criteria. It is a fact that universities must account for advances in quality management. We have been advancing for quite some time and given this new context it is necessary to reinforce these strategies and systematize them, although there is progress, these should not be isolated."

The University of La Serena, in its Strategic Development Plan, established the strengthening of quality process units and that has meant structural changes in the organization, and these changes imply reaching the different levels of the institution with a methodological framework quality. This was stated by the Director of Strategic Development and Quality, Dr. César Espíndola, at the opening of the workshop, who together with his team and the Rector Avilés have been constantly searching for options to begin implementing these changes.

“A recent methodology is the ISO 21001:2018 standard that is especially suitable for educational institutions, therefore, we have found in this framework a space for quality improvement, so that it allows us to advance in the installation of a quality system. comprehensive quality management. This has meant today that there is a course for 30 people and that has allowed 30 professionals to be certified as leading implementers of this standard, both managers and collaborators of the units that are going to assume this first stage, and who are going to be the multipliers of this first stage,” said Dr. Espíndola.

ISO 21001 provides a common management tool for organizations that provide education, products and services capable of meeting the needs and requirements of learners and other customers and interested parties. This standard applies to education organizations that wish to demonstrate their capabilities in developing and transmitting competencies.

Written by Patricia Castro, DirCom