Innovative Textile Education and Training

1
Innovative Textile Education and Training

• S.C.Harlock B.Sc. Ph.D., The University of Leeds
  - Media Innovations Ltd

2
Introduction

• This presentation will
• consider the changes taking place within textile
  and apparel education and training particularly
  within the U.K to explain the background to
  multimedia developments in textile and apparel
  education and training
• describe developments in multimedia, computer
  based learning and proposals for new delivery
  mechanisms
• present an overview of other global education and
  training initiatives in textiles an apparel

3
Current situation in UK Higher Education

• Within the U.K. there has been a decline in
  student enrolment on science and technology based
  education in textiles

4
Why the decline?

• Four factors have exacerbated this

5
Why the decline?

• The decline in the textile manufacturing base and
  consequently perceived lack of career prospects

6
Changes in U.K. Textile and Apparel Manufacture
7
Changes in U.K. Textile and Apparel Manufacture
8
Why the decline?

• Unpopularity of science and technology based
  courses generally
• Unpopularity of manufacturing generally
• Fee paying students are preferring to study
  textile related courses in which they believe
  they will excel, find interesting and may be seen
  as more "glamorous

9
Changes in demand for textile and apparel
education

• Techno-management courses offering a
  combination of management/ business studies with
  textile/apparel technology have been popular
• Difficult to sustain, because costly to support,
  maintain and update specialist machines and
  equipment, unless underpinned by substantial
  research funding
• Research funding focusing on areas, notably
  technical textiles, where higher added value can
  be realised and specialist knowledge can provide
  a competitive advantage

10
Changes in demand for textile and apparel
education

• The principle issues with technology based
  programmes would appear to be image of the
  industry and employment prospects

11
Changes in demand for textile and apparel
education

• And yet
• Fashion design, textile design, fashion
  management and marketing, fashion retailing are
  very popular programmes
• Glamorous and generate good income for
  Universities/colleges
• BUT
• Many provide only limited technological and
  production knowledge relevant to textile and
  apparel industry
• Career opportunities limited considerable over
  supply of fashion designers entering the market

12
Educational provision

• Entry to further and higher education programmes
  of study is through the University and Colleges
  Admission Service (UCAS) http//www.ucas.com/
• UCAS website cites approximately 92 institutions
  offering 452 Textile and Fashion Design,
  Management and Technology Courses at HNC, HND and
  Degree levels.
• Search for Textile Technology courses on UCAS
  website reveals 4 institutions offering
  FT/sandwich courses at HND and Degree levels

13
Current situation in Higher Education in
B.Sc./M.Sc. courses in Textiles

• University of Leeds
• M.Sc. courses (FT) only (with conversion option)
  in
• Advanced Colouration and Finishing Technology
• Colour Management Systems
• Technical Textiles and Performance Clothing
• Textile Management
• Textile Manufacturing and TQM

14
Current situation in Higher Education in
B.Sc./M.Sc. courses in Textiles

• UMIST
• (http//www.umist.ac.uk/departments/textiles/)
• Merging with University of Manchester on
  01.10.2004 ( Professor Alan Gilbert, Vice
  Chancellor of Melbourne University will be new
  V.C.)
• Departments of Textiles and Paper merged
• B.Sc. courses (FT) (some with language and year
  abroad options) in
• Textile Science and Technology
• Textile Technology and Management
• Clothing Technology and Fashion Management ( with
  Manchester Metropolitan University
• Management and Marketing of Textiles
• Fashion and Textile Retailing
• Design Management for Fashion Retailing
• Textile Design and Design Management

15
Current situation in Higher Education in
B.Sc./M.Sc. courses in Textiles

• UMIST
• M.Sc. courses (FT) in
• - Textile technology
• - International fashion retailing
• M.Ent course (FT) in
• - Textile design, technology and fashion

16
Current situation in Higher Education in
B.Sc./M.Sc. courses in Textiles

• Heriot Watt University
• (http//www.hw.ac.uk/sbc/SOTWeb/SOTCourses.html)
• B.Sc. courses (FT) in
• - Clothing Design and Manufacture
• - Textiles and Fashion Design Management
• - Combined studies
• M.Sc./Diploma courses (FT) in
• - Clothing Management
• - International Design Marketing ( Fashion and
  Textiles)

17
Current situation in Higher Education in
B.Sc./M.Sc. courses in Textiles

• Bolton Institute of Higher Education
• (http//www.bolton.ac.uk/courses/index)
• Foundation degree in Textiles work based
  learning and negotiated learning contracts
• B.Sc. course (FT and PT) in
• - Textile Technology
• M.Sc./Diploma courses (FT and PT) in
• - Textile Studies

18
Current situation in Higher Education in
B.Sc./M.Sc. courses in Textiles

• Manchester Metropolitan University
• (http//www.mmu.ac.uk/courses/)
• B.Sc. / HND courses (FT) in
• - Textile Technology for Fashion
• M.Sc./ courses (FT) in
• - Clothing Product Development
• - International Fashion Marketing

19
Technician level education and training
20
Technician level education and training

• Technical certificate and other education for
  those in full time employment provided on day
  release or evening classes at local further
  education colleges or some institutions of higher
  education.
• Competition from service sector and decline in
  industry has discouraged school leavers from
  entering industry.
• Insufficient trainees within a given geographical
  area to justify provision of courses and
  companies reluctant to release trainees
• Consequently courses not financially viable

21
Changes in demand for textile and apparel
education

• BUT
• Within the U.K.
• Textile manufacturing 127000 employed in 5456
  business units
• Apparel 84000 employed in 5631 business units
  Statistics from survey conducted by
  Skillfast-UK December 2002
• So, despite the decline in the manufacturing
  base, there continues to be the demand for
  employees at all levels and hence the demand for
  them to be educated and trained.

22
Changes in demand for textile and apparel
education

• However
• Conventional delivery of technological education
  and training not cost effective because of
  insufficient student numbers
• Therefore
• To offer cost effective training requires a
  change in the mode of provision, tailored to the
  needs of industry and commerce, offered at a
  convenient time and place, to suit the individual
  needs of both the employee and the employer.

23
How can we meet this provision?

• Need to recognise that
• Students/employees prefer to learn at different
  times
• Employers cannot afford to allow employees to
  study away from workplace
• Emphasis now is on "learning for life" and wider
  access to learning.
• The ultimate goal must be education on-demand -
  access and opportunity to learn at any time and
  any place together with the development of
  skills and experience.

24
How can we meet this provision?

• Use alternative forms of delivery
• E-learning
• Video delivery
• Synchronous and asynchronous communication e.g.
  Internet chat rooms, email
• Classroom
• Books
• In-company practical training
• Blended learning

25
What experience do we have in the use of
e-learning in textiles?

• In 1994 development of a computer based learning
  system at the University of Leeds for textiles
  and apparel was started
• A team comprising academic subject specialists,
  media production and computer based learning
  staff spent 18 months writing text and producing
  videos, animations, graphics

26
Experiences in the use of computer based learning
for Textiles and Apparel

• Collaboration between academic staff in the
  Department of Textile Industries, Audio-visual
  services and the Computer Based Learning unit
• Content was compiled and authored using an
  interactive document compiler to create
  Assymetrix TOOLBOOK multimedia files.
• "Introduction to Textiles" launched in September
  1995.

27
Experiences in the use of computer based learning
for Textiles and Apparel

• Features of the system are
• It has dual functionality It provides a
  structured learning environment and a reference
  resource browser
• It assumes no prior knowledge of Textiles or
  Apparel
• It assumes no prior knowledge of computers
• It is simple to use with interactive features
• It has quick response - a minimum download time

28
Experiences in the use of computer based learning
for Textiles and Apparel

• It contains
• 800 screens ( pages)
• 430 colour photographs
• 200 graphics
• 23 animations
• 225 video sequences
• 200 glossary items
• 110 bibliography references
• 600 self assessment exercises (MCQs)
• Audio commentaries
• Hypertext links
• A tutorial on the use of the system
• Glossary of terms

29
ITT Introduction to Textiles Subjects
30
ITT Introduction to Textiles Topics
31
ITT Introduction to TextilesLearning
32
ITT Introduction to Textiles Evaluation
33
Experiences in the use of computer based learning
for Textiles and Apparel

• Content delivered in 2 modules
• Students typically spent 30-40 hours studying
  content of each module in computer based
  learning laboratory using work book
• Tutorials/practical demonstrations support
  learning

34
Experiences in the use of computer based learning
for Textiles and Apparel

• This significantly changed the mode of delivery
  of content
• For the first time students could study at their
  own pace in their own learning environment.
• Since 1995, an estimated 40,000 student hours of
  learning have been delivered using the system

35
Further Developments

• Working on our own and in collaboration with
  training organisations including KLITRA and CBWT,
  9 more modules have been developed
• Fashion technology
• Clothing technology 2.0
• Knitwear technology 1.0
• Weaving technology 2.0
• Textile testing 2.0
• Nonwoven technology 2.0
• Weft knitted fabric analysis
• Woven fabric analysis
• Fibre identification

36
Further DevelopmentsClothing Technology 2.0
37
Further DevelopmentsTextile Testing 2.0
38
Further Developments_ Fibre Identification
39
Commercial Usage

• System now marketed worldwide in response to
  commercial demand
• Approximately 80 copies of the system both in the
  U.K. and overseas, national and international
  commercial manufacturing and retail
  organisations.
• Now used in secondary schools as well

40
How suitable is e-learning for training in
companies?

• Training organisations also recognising the
  potential that this mode of delivery offers.
• Employees may study within allotted periods in
  the factory in dedicated training facilities or
  during slacker production times.

41
The use of computer based learning to support
training in textiles and apparel

• The Knitting and Lace Industries Training
  Association in the U.K piloted Introduction to
  Textiles within knitwear companies
• They also collaborated in the development of a
  Knitwear Technology module specifically for
  knitwear manufacturers in the Scottish borders
  companies.
• In 2002, the Confederation of British Wool
  Textiles conducted a pilot study of Introduction
  to Textiles for training purposes.
• The new Weaving Technology module was also
  developed and piloted.

42
Evaluation of suitability of Introduction to
Textiles and Weaving Technology for training
purposes

• Copies of Introduction to Textiles and Weaving
  Technology supplied to colleges delivering
  further education courses to trainees from
  manufacturers and some textile manufacturers
  themselves (including a fine worsted suiting
  manufacturer, a dyeing and finishing company and
  a carpet manufacturing company).

43
Employee response
 
44
Employee response
 

45
Employee response
 
 
46
Employee response

• Comments made by the evaluators of Weaving
  Technology
•  Very helpful, wish I had it sooner
• The package was good but needs to be supported
  by lectures
• Easy to follow and fun to use, makes learning
  enjoyable
• A very comprehensive programme. .all in all an
  informative package also very well presented.

47
Latest developments

• Currently working on a pan European (Leonardo da
  Vinci mobility funding) collaborative project
  involving
• Euratex Belgium
• University of Kaunas Lithuania
• University of Liberec Czech Republic
• Manufacturers in Poland and Estonia
• KLITRA UK
• CBWT UK
• to develop 2 multimedia training modules on
  carpet and hosiery technology respectively.

48
Conclusions from studies

• Several clear messages emerge from the experience
  of use to date.
• Motivation is a key factor - it is not
  sufficient to offer such systems and expect all
  learners to accept it.
• Support is needed in the form of learning
  facilitators, to co-ordinate, motivate and
  explain difficult concepts.
• It needs to be integrated into programmes of
  study as one of a variety of modes of learning -
  Blended Learning

49
Model for a Vocational Learning Centre for
pre-degree textile education and training
Local Training Centres
Colleges/Universities
50
E-learning can be delivered from anywhere
51
Whats the benefits for companies ?

• Convenience and ease of training
• Consistent quality, format and standard of
  training material
• Access to worldwide education and training
  material
• Qualifications
• The only viable means of providing technological
  training qualifications for their employees
• Training opportunities for mature employees

52
Whats the benefits for employees ?

• Education on demand
• Convenience and ease of training
• Consistent quality,format and standard of
  training material
• Access to worldwide education and training
  material
• Qualifications
• Opportunities for career enhancement
• Tutor support
• Training opportunities for mature employees

53
How can this be developed?
Partnership
54
Innovative textile education and training - Other
initiatives

• UK Faraday Technitex Partnership
• Europe
• EC projects
• Leonardo da Vinci projects
• Textile elearning projects
• Autex
• Virtual textiles project
• LIFT Group Netherlands
• USA North Carolina State University
• Canada Textiles Human Resources Council
• Hong Kong Hong Kong Polytechnic University and
  CITA (Clothing Industry Training Authority)

55
Collaborative short course provision UK -
Technitex Faraday partnership
(http//www.technitex.hw.ac.uk/) Consortium of
the Universities of Leeds/Heriot Watt/UMIST and
BTTG established to collaborate on Technical
Textiles research and the provision of short
(unaccredited) training courses
56
Collaborative short course provision UK -
Technitex

• Technitex Faraday partnership
• Initial 3 year funding of 4.5 m for a programme
  of fundamental research, product development,
  consultancy and training courses
• Level of response from companies good
• Recently renewed with tapered funding of 1m
  needs to be self funding in 3 years
• BTTG will lead the partnership with support from
  Regional development agencies

57
Innovative textile education and training
European Initiatives

• Leonardo da Vinci European Community Initiative
• http//europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/le
  onardo/leonardo_en.html
• Transnational co-operative projects between the
  various players in vocational training - training
  bodies, vocational schools, universities,
  businesses, chambers of commerce, etc. - in an
  effort to increase mobility, to foster innovation
  and to improve the quality of training.
• A database of Leonardo da Vinci projects can be
  found at the following URL
• http//europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/le
  onardo/new/leonardo2/products/recherche_prod_en200
  0.cfm

58
Innovative textile education and training
European Initiatives

• General elearning initiatives
• There are numerous elearning initiatives details
  of which can be found under http//elearningeuropa
  .info
• elearning textile projects LEONARDO DA VINCI
• MERIT-TEX- Promoting Expertise on Industrial
  Excellence in Textiles
• The project will develop training curricula and
  materials to advance the knowledge of personnel
  in the Textiles sector with regard to encouraging
  Industrial Excellence.

59
Innovative textile education and training
European Initiatives

• FIBRONET (fabrice.pirotte_at_centexbel.be)
• Development of a Vocational Tool on Textile
  Fibres designed for the New Work Situation in
  European SMEs based upon the use of new
  information and communication technologies
• An interactive, web-based, training tool will be
  developed to inform upon all types of fibres to
  include information on technical characteristics,
  textile families, functionality and types of
  application
• TEMPTEX. (http//www.temptex.net)
• Development of a standard interactive template
  for innovative training in textilesIts aim is to
  transform training products, some parts of which
  only exist in hard copy, into interactive
  trainingproducts using ICT.

60
Innovative textile education and training
European Initiatives

• Pan-European challenge for technological
  innovation (m.viel_at_itech.fr)
• It involves the creation of a tool for 'training
  in technological innovation via research' for
  European higher-level students, in partnership
  with the European manufacturing industry.
• SOLCO (http//www.rso.it/solco/)
• Key Skills to Secure Development of the Local
  EconomyThe project aims to support government
  and local authority staff (social actors) in the
  development of public training policy for the
  local economy with regard to SMEs.

61
Innovative textile education and training
European Initiatives

• eTELESTIA (info_at_etelestia.com)
  eCONTENT
• Enhancing content production in a multilingual
  and multicultural environmentDevelopment of a
  global on-line network offering localised
  e-learning content and services in the fashion
  and clothing sector.
  
• Taitava tevanake (leena.piispa_at_uta.fi)
  EQUAL
• Its aim is to support enterprises in adapting to
  structural change and in introducing new
  technologies.
• UP-SKILLS (jaimefs_at_eng.uminho.pt)
  LEONARDO
• The project will analyse the professional
  profiles of senior staff of SMEs to reduce the
  gap between technical and strategic levels of
  management

62
Innovative textile education and training
European Initiatives

• Autex (http//www.autex.org)
• This is an interdisciplinary organisation
  grouping together universities with established
  international reputations in textile education
  and research. It was founded in 1994.
• The AUTEX Association consists of members within
  Europe (within and outside the European Union)
  and beyond, including the USA. (15 Full European,
  11 Associate European and NCSU)
• AUTEX mission statement
• "To facilitate co-operation in high level
  Textile Education and Research".
• E-TEAM programme, an Advanced Masters programme
  in Textiles.

63
Innovative textile education and training
European Initiatives

• Fashion -on line project (www.atc.gr/fol)
• FASHION ON-LINE aims at demonstrating by
  systematic benchmarking and the deployment of
  selected pilots to assess the efficiency of
  innovative technologies in overcoming the main
  obstacles to broad adoption of B2C e-commerce by
  fashion SME retailers, their business partners
  and consumers, namely the size fit problem
  (related to customers body size and shape) and
  the product description problem (fabric colour,
  garment style).

64
Innovative textile education and training
European Initiatives

• LIFTGroup (http//www.liftgroup.nl/)
• Dutch Educational Centre for the Textile and
  Garment Industry. It provides, develops and
  co-ordinates educational programmes geared to the
  needs of the industry, and specialises in
  consultancy, training courses, training handbooks
  and educational materials. It also operates an
  apprentice system for vocational training.
• Tekot International is a European partnership of
  LIFT group, CapitB (U.K) and Teko-Center
  (Denmark)

65
Innovative textile education and training
European Initiatives

• LIFTGroup Compacity

The competency based publishing and learning
environment for the textiles industry

• Through my web browser I create an individual
  learning path through all media.

66
Innovative textile education and training
European Initiatives

• LIFTGroup Compacity

European knowledge exchange and transfer for the
textiles and clothing industry through the launch
of an ultra-modern learning environment Compacity
, is gigantic database containing all knowledge
and subject matter of relevance to the textile
sector, constitutes a major breakthrough for the
knowledge society.
67
Innovative textile education and training
European Initiatives

• Compacity

Data conversion to competency learning
European knowledge exchange and transfer for the
textiles and clothing industry through the launch
of an ultra-modern learning environment Compacity
, is gigantic database containing all knowledge
and subject matter of relevance to the textile
sector, constitutes a major breakthrough for the
knowledge society.
68
Innovative textile education and training USA
Initiatives - NCSU

• North Carolina State University, College of
  Textiles
• Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center (NCRC)
  (http//www.tx.ncsu.edu/ncrc/) is a cooperative
  center with a lot of industrial partners and
  carries out a lot of fundamental work (through
  sponsored graduate students)
• NCRC is working with INDA (http//www.inda.org/)
  the trade association representing the nonwoven
  fabrics industry in the USA to offer a series of
  short courses on specialist topics. These will
  be official NC State graduate courses offered
  either for credit or non-credit as short courses
  These courses will also be packaged and used for
  distance education.

69
Innovative textile education and training USA
Initiatives - NCSU

• Distance Learning is offered by the TEARS group
  (http//www.tx.ncsu.edu/extension/service/)
• These are short courses held either on campus or
  in mills (US or Central America). These are
  non-credit courses (i.e. cannot count towards a
  degree program) and are more rudimentary in
  nature.
• CD Rom and online versions being developed using
  Talking heads approach

70
Innovative textile education and training USA
Initiatives - NCSU
71
Innovative textile education and training USA
Initiatives - NCSU

• Distance Education is offered through TOP
  (http//www.tx.ncsu.edu/academic/distance/index.ht
  ml)
• This includes several undergraduate and graduate
  courses. The courses were traditionally offered
  via video tape but are being made available on
  CD/DVD and ultimately on-line.

72
Innovative textile education and training USA
Initiatives - NCSU

• The Anni Albers Program http//www.tx.ncsu.edu/de
  partments/tatm/anni_albers.html
• Students completing the Anni Albers Program will
  earn two undergraduate degrees a Bachelor of Art
  and Design in the College of Design, and a
  Bachelor of Science in Textile Technology in the
  College of Textiles.
• The Eli Whitney Scholars Program
  http//www.tx.ncsu.edu/departments/tatm/eli_whitne
  y.html
• The Eli Whitney Scholars Program allows students
  to earn two degrees a BS in Textile and Apparel
  Management and a BA in Multidisciplinary Studies.

73
Innovative textile education and training USA
Initiatives - NCSU

• Centennial Campus(http//centennial.ncsu.edu/ )
• North Carolina State University's vision of the
  campus of the futurea "technopolis" of
  university, corporate and government RD
  facilities and business incubators, with an
  exciting town centre, executive conference centre
  and hotel, upscale housing, and recreational
  amenities

74
Innovative textile education and training
Canadian initiatives - THRC

• Textiles and Human Resources Council of Canada
  (http//www.thrc-crhit.org/) an independent,
  non-profit, non-government partnership, have
  introduced several initiatives
• Textile Management Internship Program (TMIP and
  WebTMIP) and Textile Training through Technology
• Conventional, CD Rom and ultimately WWW based
  delivery of educational and training material. (
  Licensed the use of assets from ITT).

75
Innovative textile education and training
Canadian Initiatives - THRC

• Skills needs assessment programme
• Access to online Workplace Performance Skills
  Programs from Harvard Business School and Cardean
  University consortium for employees at all levels
• In-company skills and learning centres
• Career-Tex to stimulate interest
• Textile Opportunities programme Wage subsidies
  to encourage graduate recruitment

76
Innovative textile education and training Hong
Kong Initiatives

• Hong Kong Polytechnic University Institute of
  Textiles and Clothing (http//www.itc.polyu.edu.hk
  /)
• In addition to conventionally delivered
  programmes it offers distance learning
  programmes, available in China, where the staff
  concerned also travel to support the delivery.

77
Innovative textile education and training Hong
Kong Initiatives

• Apparelkey.com (http//www.apparelkey.com/) is an
  apparel manufacturing knowledge portal site
  developed by the Institute of Textiles and
  Clothing (ITC) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic
  University (PolyU) in collaboration with the
  Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). .
• links users to a worldwide community of apparel
  experts, and access to new product development
  intelligence, authoritative expertise and
  information on apparel manufacturing

78
Innovative textile education and training Hong
Kong Initiatives

• CITA Clothing Industry Training Authority
  (http//www.clothingtraining.hk/)
• CITA offers a wide range of services to the
  clothing industry. One innovative educational and
  training programme is their learning portal
  ec-learning.co.hk which provides on-line modules
  in 3D pattern design and grading and a chat line
  for support.

79
Summary

• This paper has
• considered the changes taking place within
  textile and apparel education and training
  particularly within the U.K to explain the
  background to multimedia developments in textile
  and apparel education and training.
• described developments in multimedia, computer
  based learning and proposals for new delivery
  mechanisms
• presented an overview of other global education
  and training initiatives in textiles an apparel

80
Final Thoughts

• Asia is seeing a massive an insuperable demand
  for higher education. It is beyond the ability of
  the worlds universities to satisfy the needs by
  physical campuses
• A Olsen THES May 16th 2003

81
Final Thoughts

• By 2020 China will be unable to supply the 20
  million university places required to meet the
  needs of its developing economy and by 2015 India
  will struggle to supply a needed 9 million
  places. Demand will far exceed the capacity of
  the global education industry to provide
  enrolments .. E-learning offers a quantum leap
  in economies of scale.and is expected to boom if
  SARS forces students to study more from home
• THES May 16th 2003

82
Innovative Textile Education and Training

• S.C.Harlock B.Sc. Ph.D., The University of Leeds
  - Media Innovations Ltd