Engaging students in standards and conformity assessment at the UN

The IEC Director of Communications, Gabriela Ehrlich, with the students after presenting IEC's work in international standardization and conformity assessment at WFUNA.

IEC presented its work and the impact of international standards and conformity assessment in a recent series of training sessions held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. WFUNA, the World Federation of United Nations Associations, curated the sessions for university and high school students from different countries.

The WFUNA programme aimed to raise awareness about the role and impact of international organizations based in Geneva.

In addition to the IEC, other organizations taking part included the World Health Organization (WHO), the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Speakers provided the students with practical examples of how the different bodies work and how they collaborate to tackle global challenges.

IEC Academy and communications experts raised awareness about how standards and conformity assessment remove barriers to trade, ensure the safety and reliability of the devices we use every day, and address the quality and security of the infrastructure around us. The students were surprised and delighted to learn that the universal charging cables in their pockets and bags are based on IEC standards and that interoperability is a key concern of the IEC.

Head of IEC Academy and Capacity Building, Ian Gardner delivering the session

Engaging the next generation is a core part of the IEC strategy towards fostering inclusivity across regions, gender and generations. Through the IEC Young Professionals Programme, the organization encourages emerging experts to find out more about the work of the IEC and to participate in international standardization and contribute to the decisions that will impact their world.

The WFUNA event offers an important learning and networking opportunity for young students who are poised to become the leaders of tomorrow. Events such as this help give the students a better understanding of how international, regional and national bodies collaborate to address the concerns of our global society, and how they can get involved. IEC looks forward to future collaboration in such events.