Support for the next generation of standards developers

Standardization is facing an upheaval. Many stakeholders face declining resources. In addition, many long-serving experts are leaving the committees for reasons of age, and replacements must be found. The standards organizations are seeking to support this transition in a number of ways.

Over 35,000 experts are currently working on standards and other standardization documents at DINand DKE. Their work is crucial, since they provide the expertise for the content of these documents. Participation in standardization activity offers advantages, but also comes at a cost in terms of money and human resources. Demographic change and other factors are creating a shortage of skilled personnel that is also affecting standardization. In the coming years, thousands of experts will retire. At the same time, recruiting new experts is becoming increasingly difficult, in particular because the seconding bodies, e.g. companies, themselves have less and less capacity to participate in standardization activity. This makes it increasingly difficult for them to take part in the numerous committees, particularly at the important European and international levels. Finally, the situation also jeopardizes Europe’s pioneering role in standardization, one which the European Commission committed to in 2022 in its Standardisation Strategy.

This topic also affects the world of occupational safety and health. Numerous representatives of the German Social Accident Insurance and other stakeholders are engaged in establishing the topics of safety and health in standards. To maintain the high level of protection in the long term, it must be ensured that when participants in standardization leave, others move in to fill the gap.

The standards organizations, both in Germany and at European and international level, make provision in a number of ways for new experts to be recruited to standardization activity and given the best possible support during their induction period.

Are you new to standardization? This is where you can find support.

Getting started in standardization may be difficult. Imagine that your company has decided that you should join a standards committee in order to advocate there for its interests. But how does standardization activity actually work? What actually happens at a meeting of a standards committee, and what rights and obligations do its members have? Standards organizations both in Germany and at European and international level offer support. This ranges from e-learning programmes and seminars to various formats for dialogue and networking.

The Next Generation DKE

The German Commission for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies (DKE) is the platform for standardization in this sector in Germany. With its Next Generation DKE network, it offers support on all topics relating to standardization. Next Generation DKE was created to enhance the influence of young people in the DKE and to provide them with information and support. The community offers an opportunity for people to create their own personal network in which they can pool ideas and support each other directly. Examples of Next Generation DKE’s provision are a one-day boot camp where participants learn how a standard is created, and a mentoring programme.