SHOES MADE in EU: The European Shoemaker Erasmus Project

Project Title

SHOES MADE in EU: The European Shoemaker

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Overcoming skills mismatches (basic/transversal); Recognition, transparency, certification

Project Summary

During the last ten – fifteen years, there has been a decline interest of young people in footwear manufacturing occupations in the majority of the European Union Member Sates despite the high level of unemployment in the most traditional footwear manufacturing countries.
At the same time, footwear industry entrepreneurs have problems to find employees with appropriate knowledge, skills and qualifications to perform their work properly. Moreover, administrations from East European countries did not have Vocational Education and Training formarly recognised during several years, and consequently the VET offer is very limited and often not existing in countries like Poland.
The consortium of the Shoes Made in EU project decided to respond to the above problems by developing an innovative e-training material related to an updated curriculum of a footwear technician that would respond to the needs of both stakeholders. On the one hand, it would attract young people to the footwear profession as well as would give entrepreneurs certainty about the level of education of their future recruits. To achieve such aim, the consortium:
– Updated and developped a new curriculum, based on the experience of Germany, Portugal and Poland;
– Prepared training contents in accordance with the needs of the labour market;
– Defined a model of education based on ECVET principles (enabling the mobility of young people) and compatible with workplace learning;
The curriculum developed as well as the entire qualification path were therefore the basis for the development of didactic materials, which were implemented on a modern e-learning platform. The platform environment is an innovative tool to present knowledge to young people. Teaching materials are mainly displayed on PowerPoint presentations and instructional videos presenting the various stages of footwear production. In total, 14 modules have been developed:
Unit 1: Footwear industry;
Unit 2: Product engineering;
Unit 3: Materials in the footwear industry;
Unit 4: Cutting;
Unit 5: Pre-stitching;
Unit 6: Stitching;
Unit 7: Pre-assembly;
Unit 8: Assembly;
Unit 9: Finishing and packaging;
Unit 10: Production and productivity;
Unit 11: Bonding;
Unit 12: Quality and quality control;
Unit 13: Health and safety;
Unit 14: Communication and group work.
After each session, the learner has the opportunity to solve a short test to verify the level of acquired knowledge.
The next step was to the development of guidelines for those workers/ tutors in charge of conducting internship in the company. WBL (work base learning) is an inseparable element of gaining appropriate knowledge in the footwear profession. The guidelines provides interesting tips for the organisaiton of the internships and will bring the greatest benefits to the trainer and the trainee.
All project activities and outcomes have been elaborated in consultation of footwear stakeholders (entrepreneurs, vocational education specialists, research institutes, etc.) under a format of a different “round table” for each of the activities. This was the most appropiate method to respond to the real needs of the industry.
The actions taken and the goals mentioned have led to the following results:
An update curriculum for the profession of footwear technician;
A description of the path of education for the profession of footwear technician;
Didactic materials divided into 14 modules;
A handbook for theoretical online training;
Guidelines on the implementation of practical training for VET teachers and business managers
The short-term impact has mainly related to:
– The footwear sector has been involved in project activities. At least 300 respondents in Poland and 200 respondents in other partner countries;
– Students and interested people who took part in the pilot test. At least 40 people from Poland and 30 from Portugal and Germany, a total of 100 participants;
– Entrepreneurs who participated in the pilot phase of the WBL part;
The project has have an impact on entities involved in the partnership, but above all on:
– Enterprises with unqualified staff – already at the stage of the pilot test, during the project’s duration, the entrepreneurs’ great interest in the resulting didactic tool could be observed;
– Vocational and continuing education institutions suitable for the Ministry of Science in Poland – use of materials for formal and non-formal education;
– Young people seeking their professional path;
– Institutes and training centres;
– Participants in the activities of the different round tables.

Significant impact is expected due to the consortium network relations: partners were selected not only because of their experience, competence and expertise, but also their connections to VET and businesses in the footwear sector in their respective regions and / or environment work, and, above all, because of their relationship with their respective public authorities.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 277851,93 Eur

Project Coordinator

Polska Izba Przemyslu Skorzanego & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Instytut Przemyslu Skorzanego w Lodzi
• ISC-INTERNATIONAL SHOE COMPETENCE CENTER PIRMASENS GGMBH
• EUROCREA MERCHANT SRL
• CRYSTALCLEARSOFT ANONYMOS ETAIREIA PAROCHIS YPIRESION LOGISMIKOU
• CONFEDERATION EUROPEENNE DE L’INDUSTRIE DE LA CHAUSSURE ASBL
• WOJEWODZTWO LODZKIE
• CENTRO TECNOLOGICO DE CALCADO DE PORTUGAL