Training on building a quality management system according to ISO standards.

On October 17, 2012, leaders and staff from various departments participated in a training session on building and applying a quality management system according to ISO 9001:2008 standards at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. The presenter was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Thi Phung - Head of the Department of Archival Studies and Office Management.The training session provided useful knowledge revolving around the main contents: understanding the ISO quality management system and the benefits of applying ISO; the ISO application process at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities; conditions for ensuring ISO application; the implementation roadmap and necessary tasks to build an ISO-compliant management system. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the International Organization for Standardization, established in 1947, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ISO has issued more than 120,000 standards, including technical and management standards. The ISO 9000 series of standards was first issued in 1987 and is applied by more than 120 countries, including Vietnam. ISO 9000 encompasses several standards, including ISO 9001:2008, a quality management system based on requirements that organizations must meet to build scientific work processes and methods, helping organizations to be proactive, creative, and highly effective in their operations. Associate Professor Dr. Vu Thi Phung affirmed: "The application of ISO contributes to the professionalization of management activities of each specialist, department, and the entire school." Specifically, applying ISO helps the entire school identify and visualize the main activities of the school and its departments, helping departments understand their functions and tasks to perform and coordinate effectively; standardize and publicize necessary processes and procedures in the process of handling work in each department; prevent many errors because specialists have a basis to self-monitor their work; and serve as a basis for inspection and supervision. This facilitates the work of specialists in creating and collecting documents to build files after completing their tasks… Currently, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is developing a project and plan to apply ISO quality standards to its management activities. It is expected that in early 2013, the quality management system documents will be compiled and disseminated; by the end of 2013, the quality management system will be implemented; and in early 2014, the quality management system will be certified to ISO 9001:2008 standards. Speaking at the training session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Minh Hoa – Vice Rector – highly appreciated the significance of the meeting, which helped leaders and specialists in functional departments raise their awareness of the nature of ISO and the necessity of applying ISO standards to management activities. Associate Professor and Vice Rector also expressed his delight at seeing the enthusiasm and high determination of the staff and faculty members who are ready to participate and contribute actively to the implementation of this important task of the University in the coming time.