(ANSI: New York) -- National governments and companies around the world have recognized the strategic and economic value of a workforce that is well-versed on standardization principles. Many industry sectors, associations, and countries have already begun to introduce standards and conformity assessment-related educational tools and techniques that will develop the knowledge and skillsets of working professionals and the emerging workforce. The International Committee for Education about Standardization (www.standards-education.org) will build upon these resources—reinforcing the need for comprehensive standards-related education initiatives—during a February 2008 workshop at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The event, Global Perspectives and Strategies for Education about Standardization, will be hosted by NIST at its Gaithersburg, Maryland, campus on Feb. 21-22, 2008.

The American National Standards Institute and its Committee on Education (CoE) join with ICES, NIST, and ASTM International as co-sponsors of the event; ANSI will host a networking reception for attendees on Feb. 21.

Richard J. Forselius, Ph.D., manager of engineering records at United Technologies Corp., will speak on behalf of the ANSI CoE; the committee’s members have also been invited to assist in planning the event.

According to a preliminary program, the first session of the two-day workshop will provide an overview of activities and programs that are currently training standards professionals and users throughout the world. Representatives from standards bodies and universities in the Americas, Asia, and Europe will discuss the approach to standardization education taken in their respective country or region.

On day two, Mary Saunders of NIST will lead participants through a strategic planning discussion to identify key issues, needs, and challenges facing those who are engaged in standards education. Participants will be invited to provide input on the present and future scenario of education about standardization as well as make suggestions and discuss plans for potential workshops.

For more information, please visit www.ansi.org/news_publications/news_story.aspx?menuid=7&articleid=1672