ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 36
Information Technology for
Learning, Education, and Training

September 2025

ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 36 is a standardization subcommittee (SC), within the Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1 of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), which develops and facilitates standards within the field of information technology (IT) for learning, education and training (LET). ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 36 was established at the November 1999 ISO/IEC JTC 1 plenary in Seoul, Korea. The subcommittee held its first plenary meeting in March 2000 in London, United Kingdom. Since then, SC 36 has held forty-three plenary meetings.

A central objective of SC 36 is to enable interoperability among diverse and distributed IT systems, tools, and services used in learning, education, and training. Since UNESCO articulated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, and in particular SDG 4 (quality education for all by 2030), this focus on interoperability has been closely linked to sustainable development. SC 36 therefore develops standards that not only support technological compatibility but also promote accessibility, privacy protection, and adaptability across different contexts and cultures.

The rapid evolution of digital technologies such as generative AI, cloud computing, and big data is reshaping the global education landscape. These innovations create opportunities for more inclusive and effective education, but also raise new challenges such as safeguarding privacy, managing cross-border data flows, and ensuring ethical use of data. SC 36 responds to these challenges by emphasizing agile and relevant standardization processes that can adapt to market needs and technological frontiers.

Guided by UNESCO’s recommendations on Open Science, SC 36 also develops frameworks that encourage open access to scientific knowledge, open infrastructures, and open engagement with society. This includes alignment with practices such as sharing open educational resources (OER) and promoting intercultural collaboration, while ensuring that procurement and implementation of technologies reflect requirements for interoperability, accessibility, and privacy.

With over one trillion Euros spent annually worldwide in the education sector, stakeholders ranging from schools and universities to companies, governments, and professional organizations depend on technologies that work together seamlessly. SC 36 supports this global ecosystem by providing standards that ensure quality, flexibility, and reliability — from curriculum development to delivery and assessment. Quality assurance methodologies are central to this work, ensuring that systems are effective and that learners, instructors, and institutions alike benefit from a trustworthy and inclusive digital learning environment.

Secretariat Reports of Plenary Meetings

SC 36 Structures

WG/AG Title Convenor
SC36/AG1 Business planning and communications Sung-Wook SHIN (KR)
SC36/AG2 Emerging Technologies (AGET) Jon Mason (SA)
SC36/TCG Terminology Coordination Group Jaeho LEE (KR)
SC36/WG3 Learner information Rosa Maria Gomez de Regil (FR) Romuald Verrier(FR, secretary)
SC36/WG4 Management and delivery Yong-Sang CHO (KR)
Yuntao YU(CN, secretary)
SC36/WG7 Culture, language and individual needs Pierre-Julien Guay(CA)
SC36/WG8 Learning Analytics Interoperability Yong-Sang CHO (KR)
SC36/WG9 Online Course Information Model Jing Du (CN)
SC36/AHG5 Blockchain in Education Frederic Andres (JP)
SC36/AHG6 Artificial Intelligence for Education Jaeho LEE (KR)

SC 36 Highlights and milestones:

2025

  • Forty second Plenary held via Zoom 2025-03
  • Forty third Plenary held in Tianjin, China 2025-09
  • New O-membership (Cyprus, Uzbekistan)
  • 9 projects using the OSD tool
  • 1 new projects initiated

JTC 1/SC 36 2025 September Plenary

2024

  • Fortieth Plenary held via Zoom 2024-03
  • Forty first Plenary held via Zoom 2024-09
  • 1 standard to be published

JTC 1/SC 36 2023 March Plenary

2023

  • Thirty eighth Plenary held via Zoom 2023-03
  • Thirty ninth Plenary held via Zoom 2023-09
  • New P-membership(the US and Zimbabwe)
  • 2 standards published

2022

  • Thirty seventh Plenary held in Oslo, Norway 2022-09
  • Thirty sixth Plenary held via Zoom 2022-03
  • 1 new projects initiated
  • 1 standards published
  • 1 WG(WG9), 1 ad-hoc group(AHG6), and 1 joint WG(JWG12) established
  • External liaison(1EdTech Consortium) established

2021

  • Thirty fourth Plenary held via Zoom 2021-03
  • Thirty fifth Plenary held via Zoom 2021-09
  • 2 new projects initiated
  • 5 standards published
  • Endorsement of Dr Jon Mason as Chair of SC 36 (2022-2024)

2020

  • Thirty third Plenary held via Zoom 2020-09
  • 3 standards published
  • 1 Advisory group (AG3) and 1 Working group (WG1) disbanded
  • Endorsement of Dr. Jon Mason as Chair-elect of SC 36 for 2021

2019

  • Thirty second Plenary held in Beijing, China 2019-06
  • 5 standards published
  • 1 Ad-hoc group(AHG5) created
  • Eighteenth International Forum on LET supported by SC 36 held in Beijing, China

2018

  • Thirty first Plenary held in Daegu, Korea 2018-06
  • 7 new projects initiated
  • 1 standards published
  • A terminology Coordination Group (TCG) created
  • 1 working group(WG 5) disbanded
  • Endorsement of Mr Erlend Øverby for third term as Chair of SC 36
  • Seventeenth International Forum on LET supported by SC 36 held in Daegu, Korea

2017

  • Thirtieth Plenary held in Melbourne, Australia 2017-06
  • 5 new projects initiated
  • 3 standards published
  • 2 liaisons created
  • 2 working groups(WG 2, 6) disbanded
  • Sixteenth International Forum on LET supported by SC 36 held in Melbourne, Australia

2016

  • Twenty ninth Plenary held in Prague, Czech Republic 2016-06
  • 4 standards published

2015

  • Twenty eighth Plenary held in Rouen, France 2015-06
  • 1 new project initiated
  • 8 standards published
  • WG 8, Learning analytics interoperability, created
  • Endorsement of Mr Erlend Øverby for second term as Chair of SC 36

2014

  • Twenty seventh Plenary held in Oslo, Norway 2014-06
  • 2 new projects initiated
  • 3 standards published
  • 1 liaison created
  • Fourteenth International Forum on LET supported by SC 36 held in Montreal, Canada

2013

  • Twenty sixth Plenary held in Moscow, Russia 2013-09
  • 2 standards published
  • 2 liaisons created

 

JTC 1/SC 36 2013 Plenary in Moscow

2012

  • Twenty fifth Plenary held in Busan, Korea 2012-09
  • Appointment of Mr Erlend Øverby as Chair of SC 36

2011

  • Twenty third Plenary held in Strasbourg, France 2011-03
  • Twenty fourth Plenary held in Shanghai, China 2011-09
  • Thirteenth International Forum on LET supported by SC 36 held in Shanghai, China

2010

  • Twenty first Plenary held in Osaka, Japan 2010-03
  • Twenty second Plenary held in State College, USA 2010-09
  • Five new Liaisons created
  • Twelfth International Forum on LET supported by SC 36 held in Tokyo, Japan.

2009

  • Nineteenth Plenary held in Wellington, New Zealand 2009-03
  • Twentieth Plenary held in Umeå, Sweden 2009-09
  • Change of WG6 title from “International Standardized Profiles” to “Supportive Technology and Specification Integration”
  • Change of WG 7 title from “Culture, Language and Human Functioning activities” to “ITLET – Culture, language, and individual needs”
  • SWG Business Planning and Marketing Rapporteur Group merged; New title: SWG Business Planning and Communication  
  • SC 36 Marketing Web Site launched http://www.sc36.org  
  • One new Liaison created
  • Five new projects initiated  
  • Six standards published 
  • Tenth International Forum on LET supported by SC 36 held in Wellington, New Zealand
  • Eleventh International Forum on LET supported by SC 36 held in Umeå, Sweden

2008

  • Seventeenth Plenary held in JeJu Island, Korea 2008-03
  • Eighteenth Plenary held in Stuttgart, Germany 2008-09
  • Mr. Channy Lee, KATS, new SC 36 Secretariat
  • Four new Liaisons created
  • Eleven new projects initiated
  • Eight standards published
  • Eighth International Forum on LET supported by SC 36 held in Seoul, Korea
  • Ninth International Forum on LET supported by SC 36 held in Stuttgart, Germany

2007

  • Fifteenth Plenary held in London, United Kingdom 2007-03
  • Sixteenth Plenary held in Toronto, Canada 2007-09
  • Change of WG 2 title from “Collaborative technology” to “Collaborative and Intelligent Technology”
  • Four new Liaisons created
  • Four new projects initiated
  • One standard published
  • Endorsement of Mr. Bruce E. Peoples for second term as Chair of SC 36.
  • Sixth International Forum on LET (Global Governance Conference) supported by SC 36 held at London, United Kingdom
  • Seventh International Forum on LET supported by SC 36 held in Toronto, Canada

2006

  • Thirteenth Plenary held in Turku, Finland 2006-03
  • Fourteenth Plenary held in Wuhan, China 2006-09
  • Mr. David Hyde, BSI, new SC 36 Secretariat
  • SWG Business Planning created
  • One new Liaison created
  • Thirteen new projects initiated
  • Fifth International Forum on LET supported by SC 36 held in Wuhan, China

2005

  • Eleventh Plenary held in Tokyo, Japan 2005-03
  • Twelfth Plenary held in Durham, USA 2005-09
  • Four new projects initiated
  • One new Liaison created
  • One standard published
  • Fourth International Forum on LET (WSIS Open Forum) supported by SC 36 held in Tunis, Tunisia

2004

  • Ninth Plenary held in Montréal, Canada 2004-03
  • Tenth Plenary held in Dublin, Ireland 2004-09
  • Four new projects initiated
  • Working Group 6 on International Standardized Profiles created
  • Working Group 7 on Culture, Language and Human Functioning activities created
  • One standard published
  • Third International Forum on LET supported by SC 36 held in Montréal, Canada
  • Mr. Bruce E. Peoples endorsed as Chair of SC 36.

2003

  • Seventh Plenary held in Paris, France 2003-03
  • Eighth Plenary held in Seoul, Korea 2003-09
  • Six new projects initiated
  • Four new Liaisons created
  • First International Forum on LET supported by SC 36 held at Versailles, France
  • Second International Forum on LET supported by SC 36 held in Seoul, South Korea
  • Endorsement of Mr. Frank Farance for second term as Chair of SC 36.

2002

  • Fifth Plenary held in Adelaide, Australia 2002-03
  • Sixth Plenary held in Lawrence, USA 2002-09
  • Working Group 4 on Management and Delivery of Learning, Education and Training created
  • Working Group 5 on Quality Assurance and Descriptive Frameworks created
  • Eight new liaisons created
  • Four new projects initiated

2001

  • Third Plenary held 2001-03 in New York City, USA 2001-03
  • Fourth Plenary canceled due to 9/11 attack
  • Working Group 1 on Vocabulary created
  • Working Group 2 on Collaborative Technology created
  • Working Group 3 on Learner Information created
  • Two projects initiated

2000

  • First Plenary meeting held in London, United Kingdom 2000-03
  • Second Plenary meeting held in Sedona, USA 2000-09
  • Tony Monaco, ANSI, initial SC 36 Secretariat.
  • Mr. Frank Farance endorsed as first Chair of SC 36
  • Twelve projects initiated
  • Ten new liaisons created
  • Marketing Rapporteur Group created

Meeting history

#

Date

Location

Total Attendance

43

2025-09

 Tianjin, China

57

42

2025-03

Zoom(virtual)

54

41

2024-09

Zoom(virtual)

57

40

2024-03

Zoom(virtual)

57

39

2023-09

Zoom(virtual)

58

38

2023-03

Zoom(virtual)

69

37

2022-09

Oslo, Norway (hybrid)

58

36

2022-03

Zoom(virtual)

53

35

2020-9

Zoom(virtual)

55

34

2021-03

Zoom(virtual)

62

33

2020-9

Zoom(virtual)

46

32

2019-6

Beijing, China

58

31

2018-6

Daegu, Korea

66

30

2017-6

Melbourne, Australia

58

29

2016-6

Prague, Czech Republic

53(2)

28

2015-6

Rouen, France

53(5)

27

2014-6

Oslo, Norway

50

26

2013-09

Moscow, Russia

53(2)

25

2012-09

Busan, Korea

78

24

2011-09

Shanghai, China

67

23

2011-03

Strasbourg, France

62

22

2010-09

State College, US

58

21

2010-03

Osaka, Japan

68

20

2009-09

Umeå, Sweden

64

19

2009-03

Wellington, New Zealand

62

18

2008-09

Stuttgart, Germany

68

17

2008-03

Jeju Island, Korea

73

16

2007-09

Toronto, Canada

70

15

2007-03

London, UK

73

14

2006-09

Wuhan, China

75

13

2006-03

Turku, Finland

81

12

2005-09

Durham, US

79

11

2005-03

Tokyo, Japan

78

10

2004-09

Dublin, Ireland

61

9

2004-03

Montreal, Canada

75

8

2003-09

Seoul, Korea

50

7

2003-03

Paris, France

85

6

2002-09

Lawrence, Kansas, US

50

5

2002-03

Adelaide, Australia

40

4

2001-09

Copenhagen, Denmark

Cancelled

3

2001-03

New York City, US

35

2

2000-09

Sedona, US

25

1

2000-03

London, UK

35