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IDEA

Innovative Design for Environmental Awareness
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Project

IDEA - Innovative Design for Environmental Awareness

Project No: 2025-1-CZ01-KA210-VET-000360462 Duration: 10/2025 – 09/2027

Project Goals

The IDEA project addresses the urgent need to strengthen sustainability competences within vocational education and training (VET) in the European footwear sector. In response to increasingly stringent environmental legislation and the transition towards a circular economy, the project supports the systematic integration of sustainability into professional education.

Overall Objective

The overall objective of the project is to enhance the capacity of VET institutions to deliver high-quality, future-oriented education that equips learners with the knowledge, skills, and competences required for sustainable transformation in the footwear industry.

Specific Objectives

To integrate sustainability into VET curricula by embedding environmental awareness, eco-design strategies, and circular economy principles into educational programmes.
To bridge the gap between legislation and industrial practice, translating European environmental requirements into practical learning outcomes and production-oriented applications.
To foster innovation in materials and production technologies, including eco-friendly materials, recycling processes, biodegradable resources, and sustainable manufacturing solutions aligned with current industry developments.
To develop students' creative and critical thinking skills, enabling them to design and implement sustainable production solutions.
To strengthen cooperation between VET providers and industry stakeholders, ensuring that sustainability concepts are tested and applied in real-world contexts.

Target Groups

1

Students of vocational training in shoemaking at the secondary school level

2

Future employees of footwear companies undergoing retraining

3

Existing workers in footwear companies requiring vocational upskilling

4

Vocational teachers specializing in footwear training

Outcomes

  • International Workshops and Learning Activities
  • Development of Sustainability-Focused Learning Content
  • Pilot Workshops and Student Activities
  • Adaptation of Curriculum Content
  • Strengthened School–Industry Cooperation
IDEA Innovative Design for Environmental Awareness

Partners

COKA

The Czech Footwear and Leather Association (COKA) represents businesses in footwear and leather production and trade across the Czech Republic. It advocates for the industry, supports SMEs, and engages with central authorities to shape industry policies. COKA coordinates participation in trade fairs like KABO, provides training on industry legislation and promotes sustainable footwear manufacturing, offering educational programs for both professionals and the public, and promotes vocational education and workforce development. It organizes design competitions for students and young designers, hosts expert symposia and seminars on emerging trends and challenges in the footwear industry, and international collaborations to drive innovation.

www.coka.cz
CTCP

The Centro Tecnológico do Calçado de Portugal (CTCP) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1986 by APICCAPS and two Institutes of the Ministry of Economy, IAPMEI and INETI, from the Quality Control Laboratory created in 1981. It provides technical assistance, laboratory testing, research and development, and professional training to companies operating in the sector. CTCP plays a key role in promoting innovation, quality improvement, digital transformation, and sustainable production practices. Through applied research projects and close cooperation with industry stakeholders, the centre helps companies adapt to evolving market and regulatory requirements. By combining technological expertise with vocational training and international project experience, CTCP contributes to strengthening competitiveness and sustainability within the European footwear sector.

www.ctcp.pt
supsuh

The Secondary School of Applied Arts Uherské Hradiště (SUPSUH) was founded in 1939 by the Bata company in Zlín and later relocated to Uherské Hradiště in 1952. Currently, SUPSUH provides education in nine artistic disciplines for 300 students. The disciplines encompass painting, graphic design, photography, multimedia studies, industrial design, fashion design, design of shoes and accessories, ceramics and sculpture. Apart from formal education, the school organizes communal activities for the general public in the city and the region throughout the year. These activities are aimed at informal education of age groups ranging from teenagers to senior citizens.

www.supsuh.cz