Concepts and requirements for building an effective QMS
In order to respond to the massive demand for training, particularly in developing countries, we have had to consider new solutions. In this context, the MOOC format has enabled us to respond to this problem by offering a large number of participants a regular training course.
In partnership with AFNOR and the Pasteur Institute, the Mérieux Foundation’s MOOC offers 3 different courses:
- a free “customizable” course, aimed at participants who simply wish to access resources and take part in certain activities without aiming for attestation or certification;
- a knowledge path leading to a certificate of knowledge: “playing a part in the quality initiative”, which validates the theoretical knowledge acquired;
- a skills path to acquire technical and practice-oriented competences through a skills certificate: “being responsible for the quality initiative”.
The diversity of the educational content and the course units aim to provide a macroscopic, complete and clear vision of the deployment of a quality initiative in the laboratory. From session 1 to 5, MOOC participants can discover the requirements of the ISO 15189 standard as part of a process-based approach, focusing on the professions and laboratory support processes.
In addition to introducing the general issues and concepts, the aim is to give a practical interpretation of the standard and the tools and methods available for quality managers, and for other key positions, for the day-to-day implementation of their quality management system.
- Session 1: Quality basics
- Session 2: ISO 15189 Standard and Quality Management System
- Session 3: Quality of laboratory processes
- Session 4: Quality of support processes
- Session 5: Managing Quality
By the end of the session of this MOOC, from October to December 2019, the number of people considering their level of knowledge as “Advanced” had quadrupled*. The training is therefore thought to have led to an increase in skills.
*According to the start and end surveys provided by the France Université Numérique platform.
In parallel with this MOOC, a community based around Quality was created on Linkedin and through the discussion forum. To date, it has over 500 members. This group shows that there is a real desire to bring laboratory staff together on a global scale to share this common theme. The objective is to enable members to talk about the obstacles they encounter, and above all to share best practice.
In addition to providing training, the Quality MOOC has a broader vocation which is to launch a movement based around quality as a vector for improving access to diagnosis based on reliable laboratory results.
To complement the training activities, YouTube Lives were organized to create links and interactions between the learners and the training team. Find out more about the latest Lives:
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