View source for Standard Classification of Educational Fields

==Rational==

When sharing course contents from one person or site to another, labelling or classifying the content can make it easier to find later.

There are two ways to classify content:
# via tagging, which relies on the "wisdom of the crowds" to produce useful links between content on the fly.  This can be fairly successful with large numbers of people but also has problems when people don't know what tags already exist, so one often ends up with large numbers of very similar tags, diluting the effectiveness.  There is no structure either, tagging is flat.
* via a taxonomy, in the which the set of hierarchically-organised tags seeks to bring order to chaos.  It's more time-consuming though, and by definition restricted to a fixed set of labels, which may not be perfectly suited to a particular piece of content.

To get the advantages of both Moodle can use both in the metadata for its content.   

So what do we use for a taxonomy?


==Standards==

The best thing about standards is there are so many to choose from.   Unfortunately there is no clear leader in this space and they all vary (and many of them have flaws).

We tried to develop something based on the [http://www.unesco.org/education/information/nfsunesco/doc/isced_1997.htm UNESCO ISCED 1997] list (see history for this page), but the coding in use is arbitrary and messy (eg see the codes on [http://www.iaeste.fi/dman/Document.phx?documentId=ev22808143925094&cmd=download www.iaeste.fi] or [http://www.p-ng.si/public/doc/mednarodni/ISCED_Code.pdf www.p-ng.si] or [http://www.nscb.gov.ph/activestats/psced/browseRes.asp www.nscb.gov.ph])  No actualy official UNESCO codes seem to exist.

By contrast, the classification codes in ASCED 2001 seem a lot better organised and coded, and time is short for Moodle 2.0, so we're going to use ASCED.  If this turns out to be a problem we can map this data to just about anything else we need to.

<pre>
$string['01']='NATURAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES';
$string['0101']='MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES';
$string['010101']='Mathematics';
$string['010103']='Statistics';
$string['010199']='Mathematical Sciences (other)';
$string['0103']='PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY';
$string['010301']='Physics';
$string['010303']='Astronomy';
$string['0105']='CHEMICAL SCIENCES';
$string['010501']='Organic Chemistry';
$string['010503']='Inorganic Chemistry';
$string['010599']='Chemical Sciences (other)';
$string['0107']='EARTH SCIENCES';
$string['010701']='Atmospheric Sciences';
$string['010703']='Geology';
$string['010705']='Geophysics';
$string['010707']='Geochemistry';
$string['010709']='Soil Science';
$string['010711']='Hydrology';
$string['010713']='Oceanography';
$string['010799']='Earth Sciences (other)';
$string['0109']='BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES';
$string['010901']='Biochemistry and Cell Biology';
$string['010903']='Botany';
$string['010905']='Ecology and Evolution';
$string['010907']='Marine Science';
$string['010909']='Genetics';
$string['010911']='Microbiology';
$string['010913']='Human Biology';
$string['010915']='Zoology';
$string['010999']='Biological Sciences (other)';
$string['0199']='OTHER NATURAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES';
$string['019901']='Medical Science';
$string['019903']='Forensic Science';
$string['019905']='Food Science and Biotechnology';
$string['019907']='Pharmacology';
$string['019909']='Laboratory Technology';
$string['019999']='Natural and Physical Sciences (other)';
$string['02']='INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY';
$string['0201']='COMPUTER SCIENCE';
$string['020101']='Formal Language Theory';
$string['020103']='Programming';
$string['020105']='Computational Theory';
$string['020107']='Compiler Construction';
$string['020109']='Algorithms';
$string['020111']='Data Structures';
$string['020113']='Networks and Communications';
$string['020115']='Computer Graphics';
$string['020117']='Operating Systems';
$string['020119']='Artificial Intelligence';
$string['020199']='Computer Science (other)';
$string['0203']='INFORMATION SYSTEMS';
$string['020301']='Conceptual Modelling';
$string['020303']='Database Management';
$string['020305']='Systems Analysis and Design';
$string['020307']='Decision Support Systems';
$string['020399']='Information Systems (other)';
$string['0299']='OTHER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY';
$string['029901']='Security Science';
$string['029999']='Information Technology (other)';
$string['03']='ENGINEERING AND RELATED TECHNOLOGIES';
$string['0301']='MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY';
$string['030101']='Manufacturing Engineering';
$string['030103']='Printing';
$string['030105']='Textile Making';
$string['030107']='Garment Making';
$string['030109']='Footwear Making';
$string['030111']='Wood Machining and Turning';
$string['030113']='Cabinet Making';
$string['030115']='Furniture Upholstery and Renovation';
$string['030117']='Furniture Polishing';
$string['030199']='Manufacturing Engineering and Technology (other)';
$string['0303']='PROCESS AND RESOURCES ENGINEERING';
$string['030301']='Chemical Engineering';
$string['030303']='Mining Engineering';
$string['030305']='Materials Engineering';
$string['030307']='Food Processing Technology';
$string['030399']='Process and Resources Engineering (other)';
$string['030399']='Process and Resources Engineering (other)';
$string['0305']='AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY';
$string['030501']='Automotive Engineering';
$string['030503']='Vehicle Mechanics';
$string['030505']='Automotive Electrics and Electronics';
$string['030507']='Automotive Vehicle Refinishing';
$string['030509']='Automotive Body Construction';
$string['030511']='Panel Beating';
$string['030513']='Upholstery and Vehicle Trimming';
$string['030515']='Automotive Vehicle Operations';
$string['030599']='Automotive Engineering and Technology (other)';
$string['0307']='MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY';
$string['030701']='Mechanical Engineering';
$string['030703']='Industrial Engineering';
$string['030705']='Toolmaking';
$string['030707']='Metal Fitting, Turning and Machining';
$string['030709']='Sheetmetal Working';
$string['030711']='Boilermaking and Welding';
$string['030713']='Metal Casting and Patternmaking';
$string['030715']='Precision Metalworking';
$string['030717']='Plant and Machine Operations';
$string['030799']='Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and Technology (other)';
$string['0309']='CIVIL ENGINEERING';
$string['030901']='Construction Engineering';
$string['030903']='Structural Engineering';
$string['030905']='Building Services Engineering';
$string['030907']='Water and Sanitary Engineering';
$string['030909']='Transport Engineering';
$string['030911']='Geotechnical Engineering';
$string['030913']='Ocean Engineering';
$string['030999']='Civil Engineering (other)';
$string['0311']='GEOMATIC ENGINEERING';
$string['031101']='Surveying';
$string['031103']='Mapping Science';
$string['031199']='Geomatic Engineering (other)';
$string['0313']='ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY';
$string['031301']='Electrical Engineering';
$string['031303']='Electronic Engineering';
$string['031305']='Computer Engineering';
$string['031307']='Communications Technologies';
$string['031309']='Communications Equipment Installation and Maintenance';
$string['031311']='Powerline Installation and Maintenance';
$string['031313']='Electrical Fitting, Electrical Mechanics';
$string['031315']='Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics';
$string['031317']='Electronic Equipment Servicing';
$string['031399']='Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Technology (other)';
$string['0315']='AEROSPACE ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY';
$string['031501']='Aerospace Engineering';
$string['031503']='Aircraft Maintenance Engineering';
$string['031505']='Aircraft Operation';
$string['031507']='Air Traffic Control';
$string['031599']='Aerospace Engineering and Technology (other)';
$string['0317']='MARITIME ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY';
$string['031701']='Maritime Engineering';
$string['031703']='Marine Construction';
$string['031705']='Marine Craft Operation';
$string['031799']='Maritime Engineering and Technology (other)';
$string['0399']='OTHER ENGINEERING AND RELATED TECHNOLOGIES';
$string['039901']='Environmental Engineering';
$string['039903']='Biomedical Engineering';
$string['039905']='Fire Technology';
$string['039907']='Rail Operations';
$string['039909']='Cleaning';
$string['039999']='Engineering and Related Technologies (other)';
$string['04']='ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING';
$string['0401']='ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN ENVIRONMENT';
$string['040101']='Architecture';
$string['040103']='Urban Design and Regional Planning';
$string['040105']='Landscape Architecture';
$string['040107']='Interior and Environmental Design';
$string['040199']='Architecture and Urban Environment (other)';
$string['0403']='BUILDING';
$string['040301']='Building Science and Technology';
$string['040303']='Building Construction Management';
$string['040305']='Building Surveying';
$string['040307']='Building Construction Economics';
$string['040309']='Bricklaying and Stonemasonry';
$string['040311']='Carpentry and Joinery';
$string['040313']='Ceiling, Wall and Floor Fixing';
$string['040315']='Roof Fixing';
$string['040317']='Plastering';
$string['040319']='Furnishing Installation';
$string['040321']='Floor Coverings';
$string['040323']='Glazing';
$string['040325']='Painting, Decorating and Sign Writing';
$string['040327']='Plumbing';
$string['040329']='Scaffolding and Rigging';
$string['040399']='Building (other)';
$string['05']='AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL AND RELATED STUDIES';
$string['0501']='AGRICULTURE';
$string['050101']='Agricultural Science';
$string['050103']='Wool Science';
$string['050105']='Animal Husbandry';
$string['050199']='Agriculture (other)';
$string['0503']='HORTICULTURE AND VITICULTURE';
$string['050301']='Horticulture';
$string['050303']='Viticulture';
$string['0505']='FORESTRY STUDIES';
$string['050501']='Forestry Studies';
$string['0507']='FISHERIES STUDIES';
$string['050701']='Aquaculture';
$string['050799']='Fisheries Studies (other)';
$string['0509']='ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES';
$string['050901']='Land, Parks and Wildlife Management';
$string['050999']='Environmental Studies (other)';
$string['0599']='OTHER AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL AND RELATED STUDIES';
$string['059901']='Pest and Weed Control';
$string['059999']='Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies (other)';
$string['06']='HEALTH';
$string['0601']='MEDICAL STUDIES';
$string['060101']='General Medicine';
$string['060103']='Surgery';
$string['060105']='Psychiatry';
$string['060107']='Obstetrics and Gynaecology';
$string['060109']='Paediatrics';
$string['060111']='Anaesthesiology';
$string['060113']='Pathology';
$string['060115']='Radiology';
$string['060117']='Internal Medicine';
$string['060119']='General Practice';
$string['060199']='Medical Studies (other)';
$string['0603']='NURSING';
$string['060301']='General Nursing';
$string['060303']='Midwifery';
$string['060305']='Mental Health Nursing';
$string['060307']='Community Nursing';
$string['060309']='Critical Care Nursing';
$string['060311']='Aged Care Nursing';
$string['060313']='Palliative Care Nursing';
$string['060315']='Mothercraft Nursing and Family and Child Health Nursing';
$string['060399']='Nursing (other)';
$string['0605']='PHARMACY';
$string['060501']='Pharmacy';
$string['0607']='DENTAL STUDIES';
$string['060701']='Dentistry';
$string['060703']='Dental Assisting';
$string['060705']='Dental Technology';
$string['060799']='Dental Studies (other)';
$string['0609']='OPTICAL SCIENCE';
$string['060901']='Optometry';
$string['060903']='Optical Technology';
$string['060999']='Optical Science (other)';
$string['0611']='VETERINARY STUDIES';
$string['061101']='Veterinary Science';
$string['061103']='Veterinary Assisting';
$string['061199']='Veterinary Studies (other)';
$string['0613']='PUBLIC HEALTH';
$string['061301']='Occupational Health and Safety';
$string['061303']='Environmental Health';
$string['061305']='Indigenous Health';
$string['061307']='Health Promotion';
$string['061309']='Community Health';
$string['061311']='Epidemiology';
$string['061399']='Public Health (other)';
$string['0615']='RADIOGRAPHY';
$string['061501']='Radiography';
$string['0617']='REHABILITATION THERAPIES';
$string['061701']='Physiotherapy';
$string['061703']='Occupational Therapy';
$string['061705']='Chiropractic and Osteopathy';
$string['061707']='Speech Pathology';
$string['061709']='Audiology';
$string['061711']='Massage Therapy';
$string['061713']='Podiatry';
$string['061799']='Rehabilitation Therapies (other)';
$string['0619']='COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES';
$string['061901']='Naturopathy';
$string['061903']='Acupuncture';
$string['061905']='Traditional Chinese Medicine';
$string['061999']='Complementary Therapies (other)';
$string['0699']='OTHER HEALTH';
$string['069901']='Nutrition and Dietetics';
$string['069903']='Human Movement';
$string['069905']='Paramedical Studies';
$string['069907']='First Aid';
$string['069999']='Health (other)';
$string['07']='EDUCATION';
$string['0701']='TEACHER EDUCATION';
$string['070101']='Teacher Education: Early Childhood';
$string['070103']='Teacher Education: Primary';
$string['070105']='Teacher Education: Secondary';
$string['070107']='Teacher-Librarianship';
$string['070109']='Teacher Education: Vocational Education and Training';
$string['070111']='Teacher Education: Higher Education';
$string['070113']='Teacher Education: Special Education';
$string['070115']='English as a Second Language Teaching';
$string['070117']='Nursing Education Teacher Training';
$string['070199']='Teacher Education (other)';
$string['0703']='CURRICULUM AND EDUCATION STUDIES';
$string['070301']='Curriculum Studies';
$string['070303']='Education Studies';
$string['0799']='OTHER EDUCATION';
$string['079999']='Education (other)';
$string['08']='MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE';
$string['0801']='ACCOUNTING';
$string['080101']='Accounting';
$string['0803']='BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT';
$string['080301']='Business Management';
$string['080303']='Human Resource Management';
$string['080305']='Personal Management Training';
$string['080307']='Organisation Management';
$string['080309']='Industrial Relations';
$string['080311']='International Business';
$string['080313']='Public and Health Care Administration';
$string['080315']='Project Management';
$string['080317']='Quality Management';
$string['080319']='Hospitality Management';
$string['080321']='Farm Management and Agribusiness';
$string['080323']='Tourism Management';
$string['080399']='Business and Management (other)';
$string['0805']='SALES AND MARKETING';
$string['080501']='Sales';
$string['080503']='Real Estate';
$string['080505']='Marketing';
$string['080507']='Advertising';
$string['080509']='Public Relations';
$string['080599']='Sales and Marketing (other)';
$string['0807']='TOURISM';
$string['080701']='Tourism';
$string['0809']='OFFICE STUDIES';
$string['080901']='Secretarial and Clerical Studies';
$string['080903']='Keyboard Skills';
$string['080905']='Practical Computing Skills';
$string['080999']='Office Studies (other)';
$string['0811']='BANKING, FINANCE AND RELATED FIELDS';
$string['081101']='Banking and Finance';
$string['081103']='Insurance and Actuarial Studies';
$string['081105']='Investment and Securities';
$string['081199']='Banking, Finance and Related Fields (other)';
$string['0899']='OTHER MANAGEMENT AND COMMERCE';
$string['089901']='Purchasing, Warehousing and Distribution';
$string['089903']='Valuation';
$string['089999']='Management and Commerce (other)';
$string['09']='SOCIETY AND CULTURE';
$string['0901']='POLITICAL SCIENCE AND POLICY STUDIES';
$string['090101']='Political Science';
$string['090103']='Policy Studies';
$string['0903']='STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY';
$string['090301']='Sociology';
$string['090303']='Anthropology';
$string['090305']='History';
$string['090307']='Archaeology';
$string['090309']='Human Geography';
$string['090311']='Indigenous Studies';
$string['090313']='Gender Specific Studies';
$string['090399']='Studies in Human Society (other)';
$string['0905']='HUMAN WELFARE STUDIES AND SERVICES';
$string['090501']='Social Work';
$string['090503']='Children\'s Services';
$string['090505']='Youth Work';
$string['090507']='Care for the Aged';
$string['090509']='Care for the Disabled';
$string['090511']='Residential Client Care';
$string['090513']='Counselling';
$string['090515']='Welfare Studies';
$string['090599']='Human Welfare Studies and Services (other)';
$string['0907']='BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE';
$string['090701']='Psychology';
$string['090799']='Behavioural Science (other)';
$string['0909']='LAW';
$string['090901']='Business and Commercial Law';
$string['090903']='Constitutional Law';
$string['090905']='Criminal Law';
$string['090907']='Family Law';
$string['090909']='International Law';
$string['090911']='Taxation Law';
$string['090913']='Legal Practice';
$string['090999']='Law (other)';
$string['0911']='JUSTICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT';
$string['091101']='Justice Administration';
$string['091103']='Legal Studies';
$string['091105']='Police Studies';
$string['091199']='Justice and Law Enforcement (other)';
$string['0913']='LIBRARIANSHIP, INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND CURATORIAL STUDIES';
$string['091301']='Librarianship and Information Management';
$string['091303']='Curatorial Studies';
$string['0915']='LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE';
$string['091501']='English Language';
$string['091503']='Northern European Languages';
$string['091505']='Southern European Languages';
$string['091507']='Eastern European Languages';
$string['091509']='Southwest Asian and North African Languages';
$string['091511']='Southern Asian Languages';
$string['091513']='Southeast Asian Languages';
$string['091515']='Eastern Asian Languages';
$string['091517']='Australian Indigenous Languages';
$string['091519']='Translating and Interpreting';
$string['091521']='Linguistics';
$string['091523']='Literature';
$string['091599']='Language and Literature (other)';
$string['0917']='PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES';
$string['091701']='Philosophy';
$string['091703']='Religious Studies';
$string['0919']='ECONOMICS AND ECONOMETRICS';
$string['091901']='Economics';
$string['091903']='Econometrics';
$string['0921']='SPORT AND RECREATION';
$string['092101']='Sport and Recreation Activities';
$string['092103']='Sports Coaching, Officiating and Instruction';
$string['092199']='Sport and Recreation (other)';
$string['0999']='OTHER SOCIETY AND CULTURE';
$string['099901']='Family and Consumer Studies';
$string['099903']='Criminology';
$string['099905']='Security Services';
$string['099999']='Society and Culture (other)';
$string['10']='CREATIVE ARTS';
$string['1001']='PERFORMING ARTS';
$string['100101']='Music';
$string['100103']='Drama and Theatre Studies';
$string['100105']='Dance';
$string['100199']='Performing Arts (other)';
$string['1003']='VISUAL ARTS AND CRAFTS';
$string['100301']='Fine Arts';
$string['100303']='Photography';
$string['100305']='Crafts';
$string['100307']='Jewellery Making';
$string['100309']='Floristry';
$string['100399']='Visual Arts and Crafts (other)';
$string['1005']='GRAPHIC AND DESIGN STUDIES';
$string['100501']='Graphic Arts and Design Studies';
$string['100503']='Textile Design';
$string['100505']='Fashion Design';
$string['100599']='Graphic and Design Studies (other)';
$string['1007']='COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES';
$string['100701']='Audio Visual Studies';
$string['100703']='Journalism';
$string['100705']='Written Communication';
$string['100707']='Verbal Communication';
$string['100799']='Communication and Media Studies (other)';
$string['1099']='OTHER CREATIVE ARTS';
$string['109999']='Creative Arts (other)';
$string['11']='FOOD, HOSPITALITY AND PERSONAL SERVICES';
$string['1101']='FOOD AND HOSPITALITY';
$string['110101']='Hospitality';
$string['110103']='Food and Beverage Service';
$string['110105']='Butchery';
$string['110107']='Baking and Pastrymaking';
$string['110109']='Cookery';
$string['110111']='Food Hygiene';
$string['110199']='Food and Hospitality (other)';
$string['1103']='PERSONAL SERVICES';
$string['110301']='Beauty Therapy';
$string['110303']='Hairdressing';
$string['110399']='Personal Services (other)';
$string['12']='MIXED FIELD PROGRAMMES';
$string['1201']='GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMES';
$string['120101']='General Primary and Secondary Education Programmes';
$string['120103']='Literacy and Numeracy Programmes';
$string['120105']='Learning Skills Programmes';
$string['120199']='General Education Programmes (other)';
$string['1203']='SOCIAL SKILLS PROGRAMMES';
$string['120301']='Social and Interpersonal Skills Programmes';
$string['120303']='Survival Skills Programmes';
$string['120305']='Parental Education Programmes';
$string['120399']='Social Skills Programmes (other)';
$string['1205']='EMPLOYMENT SKILLS PROGRAMMES';
$string['120501']='Career Development Programmes';
$string['120503']='Job Search Skills Programmes';
$string['120505']='Work Practices Programmes';
$string['120599']='Employment Skills Programmes (other)';
$string['1299']='OTHER MIXED FIELD PROGRAMMES';
$string['129999']='Mixed Field Programmes (other)';
</pre>


==Related==

* [http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=124360 Forum discussion]