Hi, my name is Ángel González and I am part of the Technology Delivery team
of Pearson publishing group for Western Europe. At the same time, I'm also part of the technical committee that has developed
the UNE 71362 legislation.
In Pearson we are experts in Education at all levels. We are especially focused in
in the materials used in educational centers. Textbooks for Primary and High schools
or more specialized materials that can be used in Universities, business centers or language schools.
When we talk about books published in digital format and digital invoicing, we found confronted information.
On one hand, when we talk about books published in digital format, we can ensure that the market that does not stop growing, we are already talking about more than 14,000 titles
only in Spain published in digital format. This digital books represents 30% of the
total book published by the publishing sector.
On the other hand, when we talk about billing we see that the data does not fit. Today's digital invoicing
does not even reach 10% of the total turnover of the publishing market here in Spain.
The data are contradictory
and align Spain unfortunately with a sad reality
that also happens in other countries such as Germany or United States and take us to a situation
where the investment is not justified
for digital books.
However, participating in this UNE 71362 gives the feeling,
as an editorial, that we can change this bad things thanks to this legislation.
Why? I point 5 positive reasons
to participate as an editorial in this
legislation development.
The first one is a "Complete Evaluation"
The UNE 71362 includes many criteria, many values. An editorial
company (with all its huge departments behind) could achieve it easier that an individual digital content developer.
This norm also gives a distinctive seal of quality,
positively differentiates the educational materials developed by a publishing company.
The reason number 2 is that "Help our client".
We do not know why, the arguments are confusing
but in educational centers the prescription of materials in digital format is not being the most appropriate of the possible ones.
Unfortunately, the teachers are using subjective and unhelpful arguments like "If I have used materials
on paper from a specific publisher, let's try the digital materials
of that same publishing company"
This is something very contradictory because a company that is an expert in paper books is not always an expert in digital books
The third reason is the "Equilibrium between Technology and Education" provided by UNE 71362.
The norm not only think of Technology. Often in this changing world, technology comes before everything and "blinds"
the decision about the materials to use.
The UNE 71362, on the other hand, gives value to the contents and, in addition, it also support the editorial teams
for the development of digital materials.
The number 4 reason would be the "Quality and copyright".
From the first moment, the UNE 71362 takes into account the copyright.
Do not forget that this right is safeguarded even in the
Universal Human Rights declaration and is something that always has to be maintained to develop an educational material in whatever format.
And finally, for the "Participation of the publishing sector".
Evidence of it is me,
that Pearson had participated in this technical committee
shows that UNE 71362 has the voice of a sector that is always open to collaborate, as also other agreements that
we have with CERMI / Grupo ONCE or also with digital educational platforms such as eScholarium.
In conclusion, books published in digital format and digital invoicing
need support to change the
contradictory situation,
to achieve a stable market where the the investment in digital was justified.
The UNE 71362, fortunately, we believe is a right step in that positive direction