Since the beginning of the nineties, there have been increased certifications after ISO 9001 and/or ISO 9002. This applies however to the area of education in a very limited way only. Because the ISO 9000 standard was originally generated for processing business, it is no surprise that educational institutions see themselves confronted with difficulties again and again, if they want to become certified. With the certificate after ISO 9000 fol is documented that the organization is able to plan and supervise the needs and demands of their customers. However it is not guaranteed that the products or performances of the institutions are of high standard. Therefore a certification after ISO 9000 ff can be no guarantee that a certain educational offer (seminar, studying material etc.) corresponds to a certain quality standard. Primarily ISO certification refers to the general principles and the inspection of proceedings within the business. Whereas the EUC standard in the first place refers to an inspection of the proceedings as well as the creation, protection and improvement of a high quality and the guarantee that the desired educational goal can be met.

Lacking relevance of certain standard elements, high administrational expenditure as well as high costs are the most frequent criticisms in the conversion of a certification process after ISO 9000ff. Simultaneously standard elements are missing that would lead and/or obligate the institutions to a higher standard.

These points of criticism have led to numerous representatives of different EU countries merging in order to create a standard based on the philosophy of the ISO 9000 fol . This new standard exceeds the volume of the ISO by far and simultaneously only contains the standard elements relevant for the educational area.

Simultaneously the EUC has taken into account the demands of many educational institutions, to make their educational offers accessible to a wide range of people throughout Europe and to cooperate with other educational institutions in certain areas.