Definition

In education and training, statement approved and formalised by a recognised body, which defines the rules to follow in a given context or the results to be achieved.

Comment

• A standard may be expressed in quantitative terms, stating absolute or relative figures or using indicators, or in qualitative terms, using specific and accurate wording;
• a further distinction can be made between input, process, and output standards (Pollitt and Bouckaert, 2004):
  
  
• input standard: resources – for example staff, students, materials – which must be available to achieve the defined educational goal;
• process standard: activities which need to be implemented by the provider to generate output;
• output standard: level of performance to be attained;

• another distinction can be made between the different standards applicable to programmes and curricula:
  
  
• occupational standard: statement of activities and tasks related to a specific job and to its practice;
• competence standard: knowledge, know-how, information, values, skills and competences linked to practising a job;
• educational standard: statement of learning objectives, content of curricula, entry requirements and resources required to meet learning objectives;
• assessment standard: statement of learning outcomes to be assessed and methodology used;
• validation standard: statement of level of achievement to be reached by the individual assessed, and the methodology used;
• certification standard: statement of rules applicable to obtaining a certificate or diploma as well as the rights conferred.