IJCA - Volume 3 - Flipbook - Page 41
2024 | Volume 3, Issue 1
39
Exploring Globalization’s Effect on Accreditation
and Certi昀椀cation Practices Through Time
By Dimitrios Katsieris, MSc. IAS Senior Global Manager – Testing Laboratories and Food Accreditation Programs
DOI: 10.55459/IJCA/v3i1/DK
-ABSTRACTThis article provides a comprehensive
exploration of globalization’s impact
on accreditation and certification
practices—from their inception to the
present day. It digs into the historical
context of the first known accreditation
and certification systems, tracing
their evolution in response to the
globalizing world. The study further
investigates how globalization has
influenced these practices, affecting
their standards, procedures, and overall
significance in various professional
fields. Through critical analysis of
data, the article presents a detailed
overview of the current state of
global accreditation and certification
practices. It also projects potential
future trends in this area, considering
the ongoing dynamics of globalization.
The article aims to provide a valuable
resource for those interested in
the intersection of globalization,
accreditation, and certification.
Keywords: Globalization, Impact, Accreditation,
Certi昀椀cation Practices, Inception, First Known
Accreditation, First Known Certi昀椀cation
Introduction
In recent years, the winds of globalization have swept through
not only economies and political systems but also the domains
of accreditation and certification. As a reader, you might have
observed this trend and pondered the driving forces behind it, or
perhaps considered how it could impact you as a professional,
employer, or policymaker. In this article, the aim is to demystify
the topic by putting all the relevant aspects of globalization in
accreditation and certification under the microscope and linking
them to different perspectives.
Before venturing into the contemporary trends, it’s essential to set
the historical stage. The practice of certification can be traced
back to the guilds of medieval Europe, which implemented a system
of checks and evaluations to ensure their members possessed
adequate skills for their trades. On the other hand, accreditation,
specifically in the field of education, originated in the United States
during the late 19th century. Accrediting bodies were formed to
establish standards and ensure that individual institutions adhered
to them.
Globalization has introduced a new dynamic to the fields
of accreditation and certification, significantly altering their
landscape. It fosters the universalization of standards, integration
of economies, and a global approach to assurance in professional
practices. As an example, you can now be granted a certificate
for compliance of your management system in the Middle East,
recognized by an authorized accreditation body in the United States.
Such practices were unthinkable before globalization took root.
Examining the roots of these practices, the first known endeavors
in certification and accreditation can be traced back to early
professional societies of engineers and doctors in Europe and
