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Learning by Doing: A New Era for Leather Goods Training in Europe

Thursday, April 17, 2025 - 10:54English
Last week, partners from Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Poland, and Romania came together in Iasi, Romania, to drive forward the Erasmus+ project Learning Factories, a pioneering initiative that places European leather goods companies at the forefront of innovation, sustainability, and education through a “learning by doing” approach. Partners have completed the development of the four forward-looking curricula: Leather Goods Design for Circularity, AI Supporting Design and Pattern-Making, 3D Printing for Prototyping and Tools for Industrialisation, and Digital Transformation of Manufacturing Operations. The focus is now on the creation of the respective innovative, multilingual learning materials (in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Polish, and Romanian) that combine concise video modules (“video pills”) with AI-powered learning resources. These resources will include interactive questions, real-world problems, and case-based solutions delivered through an intuitive app designed for use by trainers and trainees, particularly within workplace settings.
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VETting Green: Training Coaches to Empower Sustainable Choices in Footwear and Apparel

Tuesday, January 28, 2025 - 11:12English
From the 21st to the 23rd of January, the Erasmus+ VETting Green project consortium gathered in Padua, Italy. Partners comprising footwear producers, vocational training providers, and consumer representatives from Belgium, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain are currently finalising a set of materials and tools to empower consumers and companies in the footwear and apparel sectors to identify and avoid misleading greenwashing claims. During the meeting, the consortium participated in a training session to prepare coaches for the VETting Green Training Platform. This innovative online course consists of six comprehensive modules, offering a blend of theoretical and practical content. The modules cover a range of topics, including the current landscape of sustainability, green marketing versus greenwashing, effective green marketing strategies, eco-design and sustainable design principles, and sustainable materials and tools. The platform will be piloted through a combination of online and in-person workshops, accompanied by the development of a training platform coaches guide, a questionnaire, and a strategic roadmap.
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Shoe 5.0 Augmented Reality Training set to Pioneer Industry 5.0 in Footwear

Thursday, January 23, 2025 - 10:34English
On the 16th and 17th of January, partners from Belgium, Romania, Italy, Portugal, and Spain met in Brussels, to plan for the next steps of the Shoe 5.0 project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. The goal? To equip the footwear industry with the skills and mindset needed to leap into Industry 5.0 - a realm where sustainability, technology, and human-centric practices harmoniously converge. For this purpose, partners have developed online learning resources for footwear companies, aspiring industry professionals, and educators, to provide the knowledge needed by the industry. This includes educational materials for 5 key roles: Footwear Technical Manager, Footwear Manufacturing Operator, Footwear Designer/Pattern Maker, Maintenance Technician, and 5.0 Footwear Architect, a newly created profile that encompasses the skills, knowledge and attitudes linked to Industry 5.0. Additionally, learners can access a personalised training pathway using the Shoe 5.0 Scanning Tool, available on the project’s website.
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'BAREFOOT - EUROPEAN SHOE FAIR' celebrates its premiere in Offenbach

Tuesday, January 21, 2025 - 13:35English
'BAREFOOT - EUROPEAN SHOE FAIR' celebrates its premiere in Offenbach 1st barefoot shoe fair in Europe takes place from 31 July to 3 August 2025 Are you already part of the barefoot shoe movement? What do you know about the hype? How will the trend develop in the future? 'It's high time to take a closer look at this important shoe segment. And to offer the growing barefoot shoe community its own platform,' says Arnd Hinrich Kappe, Managing Director of Messe Offenbach, with conviction. No sooner said than done. Messe Offenbach is accompanying the industry in its steps towards a healthy shoe future. With the new 'BAREFOOT- EUROPEAN SHOE FAIR', which is precisely tailored to the target group.
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