"Context:The quality of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in technical fields at European level means a competitiveness leverage in the international context. European VET schools have a good performance and a strong tradition - however, the key competences have to be maintained and developed. The speed-up of technological development is a challenge for the young VET students, while the development of the textile industry needs well prepared specialists in multidisciplinary fields. In correlation with these facts, the Skills4Smartex project was centered on improving knowledge, skills and employability of VET students in the STEM related fields, by providing adequate training instruments to understand multidisciplinary working.Objectives:Obj1: Performing of a Guide for smart practices meant for supporting innovation in textile enterprises.Obj2: Performing a course in smart textiles, meant for multidisciplinary thinking.Obj3: Performing a dedicated e-learning instrument, meant for channeling the interest of VET students for ""serious games"".Obj4: Improving the skills of VET students by means of practical work in constructing a smart textile prototype.Type and profile of participants:The partnership reflected a very well-balanced distribution of activities and responsibilities: two research institutes (INCDTP = coordinator, TZU), three universities (Ghent University, University of Maribor, Technical University Iasi) and one training / technology transfer center (TecMinho, interface of the University of Minho), from 5 countries with great importance for the textile industry in Europe: Belgium, Czech Republic, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia.Main activities and results: (O1) A Guide for smart practices with the current and envisaged situation in technical and smart textiles, based on a survey activity with 63 textile enterprises, multiplied within multiplier events for 200 young professionals in textiles. (O2) A Course in smart textiles with 56 modules on three criteria: from theory to practice and vice-versus, on 7 chapters of manufacturing technology for smart textiles and on four basic STEM disciplines. Please consult the modules with open access at the URL: http://skills4smartex.eu/instrument.php. (O3) A Dedicated e-learning instrument and an e-learning platform with the following main functionalities: - for the instrument: PHP filter-based access on the 56 modules and a simple attractive interface;- for the platform: 6 Moodle e-learning courses in national languages of the project (CZ, DU, EN, PT, RO, SI), with the modules in Book format, 420 multiple choice tests in Quiz format and 28 embedded PPT presentations. Creation of 200 new Moodle user accounts for e-learning courses, URL: http://www.advan2tex.eu/portal/. (E1-E6) Organization of 14 multiplier events with 200 participants and 89 feed-back questionnaires stating option of transfer for best practices, on partnership level, for multiplying the three IOs. The events were organized either virtually or face-to-face due to pandemic restrictions. (C1-C6) Organization of 11 courses with 262 VET students in virtual, blended or classroom format, with support of smart textile prototypes and the e-learning platform.(C7-C8) Organization of two Joint staff events: creation of smart textile prototypes on three levels of complexity for educational purposes and a methodology for VET students. Achievement of an unitary concept of the 56 modules.The following dissemination results were achieved at partnership level:- Leaflets/ e-mails to inform about 300 stakeholders;- 6 Promotional posters / roll-ups in each partner’s language and English; - 37 papers published in scientific revues or conference proceedings;- 34 Posters presented at events (exhibition, trade fairs, invention fairs etc.);- 16 standard PowerPoint presentation template for the project;- 12 announcements via social media posts;- 8 posts on partner’s website with up-to-date information; Impact attainedImpact was ensured for the 262 VET students by the attractive concept of the Course and its related e-learning instrument with filter to access the 56 modules, as well as the Moodle e-learning platform with courses in 6 languages and the work with the smart textile prototypes. The project partners supported as well the textile enterprises’ 200 young professionals by means of new instruments and training methods. The 89 feed-back questionnaires showed the preferences of best practices in smart and technical textiles to be transferred. The enlarged target group was impacted by the 107 dissemination activities. Longer-term benefitsThe main sustainable output of Skills4Smartex, the e-learning instrument and platform, will be hosted on the INCDTP server even after project’s end and will further support the textile world-of-work in improving innovation and training."

This is a higher education student and staff mobility project, please consult the website of the organisation to obtain additional details.

This is a project for higher education student and staff mobility between Programme Countries and Partner Countries. Please consult the website of the organisation to obtain additional details.

<< Background >>There is an increasing pressure for reducing the environmental footprint of the industrial activities and for slowing down the climate change. European Union has launched the “European Green Deal” action to boost the efficient use of resources by moving to a clean, circular economy in order to make the EU's economy sustainable. Previous projects and research efforts are mainly focused on eco-design tools and methodologies, such as life cycle assessment and others. However, other important dimensions of sustainability such as the economy and the society are not given adequate attention. Sustainability requires an even economy development that respects and promotes equal opportunities. Small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of the EU’s economy and the size of most footwear enterprises is very small and/or small. It is essential to strengthen them through activities that are in line with EU initiatives (e.g., “An economy that works for people”) that foster social fairness and prosperity.Over the last years, the European footwear sector has been changing in the way that demands more specialised expertise and new skills suitable to company's specific requirements towards new business models, innovative and high-tech technologies, design and styling, environment issues etc. Activated in a multi-billion market, the European Footwear Industry requires professional designers with increased competences and qualifications being able to develop sustainable products. Additionally, circular economy underlines new requirements for products use, re-use and disposal. The capacity to design for the circular economy is considered as an important driver for employment in the near future.All the project partners are involved in providing study programs, training and/or running educational projects for the footwear industry in their countries and/or EU level, but none of them have already included in their VET curricula and/or training content the hereby mentioned drivers of skills for the project target group: the footwear designers. In an era where consumers are driving industries, the footwear industry should consider consumer’s wellbeing and sustainability concerns as a competitive advantage to satisfy their demands. Increased health-consciousness and social awareness have to be incorporated in product development. Retailing practices and consumer behaviour are shifting towards sustainability. Moreover, consumers increasingly demand personalised and differentiated shoes, which open opportunities for more creativity while ensuring that sustainability concerns are satisfied. New sustainable materials, eco-design and marketing models are powerful tools to increase product differentiation. It is therefore a priority to equip footwear designers with a deeper understanding of the mechanics that determine sustainability and circular economy.<< Objectives >>Enhancing the skills of the professional designers through a cross-disciplinary training program, combining professional and transversal skills associated with creativeness, innovation, and sustainability, both technological and non-technological, is the aim of the project to be undertaken. In this context, the SHOEDES objectives are:•To anticipate the job-related requirements of the future footwear designers more effectively and explore new and innovative business / entrepreneurship models based on sustainable products and footwear design for the circular economy. •To develop new framework career guidelines and paths for sustainable footwear design by exploiting existing European instruments and initiatives like Europass, “Economy that works for people”, “European Green Deal”, that will result in better-qualified footwear design professionals and better services and in the EU and Turkish footwear industry.•To develop new methodologies and learning tools based on MOOCs for re-engineering the training process targeted to the existing and future designers of the footwear industry.<< Implementation >>The project comprises a set of implementation activities that will materialise the project objectives, supported by preparation, management, quality and dissemination activities that will ensure the propagation of its results even after the project has ended. Management and quality evaluation will be present throughout the duration of the project, making use of milestones and indicators in order to accurately determine whether the project is on schedule and the objectives are continually met. The outcomes of each activity shall be evaluated before the finalisation of the deliverables of the activity, in the context of the validation step of each activity. The project will deliver educational material in the form of reports, MOOC, Book of Lectures and new career and business models. It will include research and validating activities, a set multiplier events for dissemination, and intensive training workshops for the validation of the results.<< Results >>(1) A transnational report that will identify and analyse the characteristics of footwear design in terms of the three pillars of sustainability. Task leader: UAEGEAN(2) A new framework for career guidelines and paths for sustainable footwear design. Task leader: TASEV(3) A MOOC on “Footwear Deign for the Circular Economy”. Task leader: TUIASI(4) A Book with lectures on “Footwear Design for the Circular Economy”. Task leader: CIAPE with the support of TASEV-SCHOOL.(5) New and innovative business / entrepreneurship model based on footwear design for the circular economy. Task leader: ADC with the support of TASEV.(6) Multiplier event for disseminating Result#1 – Transnational report. Task leader: CRETHIDEV(7) Multiplier event for disseminating Result#2 – New Career Framework. Task leader: TASEV-SCHOOL(8) Multiplier event for disseminating Result#3 & Result#4 – MOOC & Book. Task leader: TUIASI(9) Multiplier event for disseminating Result #5 – New Business Model. Task leader: ADC(10) Design-challenge competition in all partner countries for the design of footwear for the circular economy. Task leader: CTCP(11) Intensive training workshops in all partners countries. Task leader: CRETHIDEV