The European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training – ECVET has been developed within the of European cooperation in vocational education and training, under the aegis and guidance of the European Commission.

 

ECVET is a common technical framework for the transfer, recognition and collection of learning outcomes in the context of exchanges with the purpose of obtaining a qualification. It applies to all learning outcomes achieved by an individual in different learning and teaching pathways which are then transferred, recognised and gathered towards a qualification. The system was set up to complement other European instruments and aims to make it easier for European citizens to have their education, skills and knowledge recognised in another Member State.

 

ECVET is a massive topic across Europe, but there are still few projects focused on creating units of learning outcomes, especially in the textile and clothing area.

 

It is in this context that the project Erasmus + EDTEX – International Strategic Partnership in Textile Education is born, and its key action is Cooperation for Innovation and sharing of Good Practices - Establishment of strategic partnerships for Vocational Training and Education.

 

The partners’ joint venture counts with a Coordinator and 8 main partners.

 

O consórcio de parceiros do projeto é constituído por um coordenador e outros 8 parceiros principais. The partner countries, Portugal, Poland, Spain and the Czech Republic, were chosen for having a similar history in the textile and clothing industry. Each country is represented by an Association/Entity representing the Textile Industry and an Educational Institution and/or Professional Training Centre oriented to the Textile and Clothing area.

 

Partners

 

 

• ATOK – Asociace Textilniho – Odevniho Kozedelneho Prumyslu (Association for the Textile, Clothing and Leather Industry of the Czech Republic)- Project coordinator;
• TZU – Textile Testing Institute (Czech Republic)
• ATP – Textile and Clothing Association of Portugal (Portugal)
• MODATEX – Vocational Training Centre for the Textile, Clothing, Apparel and Wool Industry (Portugal)
• SPST – Stredni prumyslova skola textilni (Textile Secondary School) – (Czech Republic – Liberec)
• PIOT – Federation of Apparels & Textiles Industry Employers (Poland)
• CKZIU – Professional Training Centre (Poland – Sosnowiec)
• ASECOM – Asocación de Empresas de Confección y Moda de la Comunidad de Madrid (Spain)
• FUENLLANA – Centro Cultural Pedralta, SA (Spain)

 

 

Generally speaking, there is a significant difference between the needs of the industry and the qualification levels from Vocational Training Centres and Secondary Schools in the European Textile Industry. In addition, each country has its own vocational education/training system. The differences identified have contributed to an increase in youth unemployment as well as a lack of qualified labour in the labour market. In this context, the EDTEX project aims to: 

• Provide workers with skills co that they can participate in the restructuring of the European textiles industry;
• Create a balance between the needs of the employer and the skills of the workers through educational programmes in secondary schools and vocational training centres.
• Increase employment opportunities by promoting exchange opportunities for qualified adults/young people;
• Support and promote cooperation between the education and the business sectors by promoting the textile and clothing industry as an option that offers new challenges and opportunities in the labour market across Europe. 

The project will develop a set of initiatives in order to obtain 4 crucial results: 

• Result 1: Comparative study of the national qualification frameworks of the countries involved based on the European Qualifications Framework;
• Result 2: Comparative study of the educational/training programmes of the partner schools/training centres;
• Result 3: Set of 4 learning units to support future exchanges between partner schools/centres. The learning units will be developed according to the ECVET principles;
• Result 4: Drafting of an International Multilateral Agreement which supports the strategic partnership between partners and project schools/training centres in the textile and clothing industry.

 

EDTEX is a European project funded by the ERASMUS+ Programme, with a duration of 24 months, from December 2016 to November 2018. 

For more information, please contact international.mx@modatex.pt.