A new Erasmus+ project addressing innovative training in the Leather Goods industry was recently launched bringing together a European consortium led by the Portuguese SME Belcinto, and including Betangible (Spain), the European Footwear Confederation- CEC (Belgium), Centro Tecnológico do Calçado de Portugal, Fundación Centro Tecnológico de la Piel de Andalucía - MOVEX (Spain), Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi-TUIASI (Romania) and Globalnet (Poland).
The leather goods market currently employs more than 150,000 people in Europe and represents a high-end sector that is growing exponentially, is highly profitable and has an impact on the economy of various European countries. The sector is currently facing major challenges, namely the insufficient level of skilled workers due to rapid technological change, and the lack of attraction and retention of students and workers.
The so-called Learning Factories project aims to revolutionise the way training and qualifications work by proposing a new scheme of short-term training programmes for the leather goods industry, that respond faster to companies’ skills needs. The most relevant outcomes and expected impacts will be:
Revolutionizing Training: The project proposes a new scheme of short-term training curricula, which is a significant shift from the traditional long-term rigid curricula. This allows for quicker skill acquisition and is more aligned with the industry’s needs.
Cooperation between Companies and Vocational Education Training (VET) Providers: A new model of cooperation that places companies at the forefront of the training process. This ensures that the training is in synchrony with the latest industry trends and innovations.
High-Quality iVET and cVET Curricula: The project aims to develop high-quality Initial Vocational Education and Training (IVET) and Continuing Vocational Education and Training (CVET) curricula. This will help attract and prepare employees with the necessary skills to support the green and digital transition, thereby increasing competitiveness.
Flexible and Ready-to-Use Short-Term Curricula: The project plans to create flexible and ready-to-use short-term curricula focused on green and digital skills. These curricula are very oriented to the companies’ needs, bridging to EU instruments and seeking qualification recognition.
Adapting to Labour Market Needs: The objectives of the project are linked to the priority of adapting vocational education and training to labour market needs and contributing to innovation in vocational education and training.
By achieving these objectives, the Learning Factories project is set to introduce a new paradigm in VET, significantly impacting the Leather Goods industry and the broader fashion sector.
Press release
C.E.C
Brussels 22/2/2024