[email protected] May 2004 IFC Textile Industry Seminar Innovative Textile...

May 2004 IFC Textile Industry Seminar [email protected]

Innovative Textile Education and Training

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

Innovations Ltd


IntroductionThis 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


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


Why the decline?

Four factors have exacerbated this:


Why the decline?

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


Changes in U.K. Textile and Apparel Manufacture

UK Index of Production1995 = 100

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Made-up textiles not apparel

Knitted & Crocheted articles

Wearing Apparel


Changes in U.K. Textile and Apparel Manufacture

U.K. Textile Manufacture Exports - Imports ( £ million)

-9,000

-8,000

-7,000

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-4,000

-3,000

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-1,000

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Manufacture of Textiles and Textile Products

Manufacture of textiles

Manufacture of wearing apparel; dressing anddyeing of fur


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”


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



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



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


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


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



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



UMIST

• M.Sc. courses (FT) in:

- Textile technology

- International fashion retailing

• M.Ent course (FT) in- Textile design, technology and fashion



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)



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



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


Technician level education and training


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



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.



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.


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.


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”


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


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.



Features of the system are:• It has dual functionality: It provides a structured It has dual functionality: It provides a structured

learning environment and a reference resource learning environment and a reference resource browserbrowser

• It assumes no prior knowledge of Textiles or It assumes no prior knowledge of Textiles or ApparelApparel

• It assumes no prior knowledge of computersIt assumes no prior knowledge of computers• It is simple to use with interactive featuresIt is simple to use with interactive features• It has quick response - a minimum download timeIt has quick response - a minimum download time



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

• Glossary of termsGlossary of terms


ITT – Introduction to Textiles Subjects


ITT – Introduction to Textiles Topics


ITT – Introduction to TextilesLearning


ITT – Introduction to Textiles Evaluation



• 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



• 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


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


Further DevelopmentsClothing Technology 2.0


Further DevelopmentsTextile Testing 2.0


Further Developments_ Fibre Identification


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


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.


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.


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).


Employee response

I was able to understand the material w ithout difficulty

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Introduction to Textiles Weaving Technology


Employee response

The learning system was structured in a logical way which was easy to

follow

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The learning system was structured in a logical way which was easy to follow

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Employee response


I would recommend that more

learning and training material should be developed in this way

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developed in this way

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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.


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.


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”


Model for a Vocational Learning Centre for pre-degree textile education and training

TEXTILE and APPAREL LEARNING INSTITUTE

Local Training Centres

Colleges/Universities

TutorialSupport

W W W / email

Qualifications Framework

Qualifications Framework

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IN-COMPANY TRAINING

Blended / e-Learning

CD/W W W


E-learning can be delivered from anywhere


What’s 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


What’s 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


How can this be developed?

GovernmentAgencies

Industry and Commerce


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)


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


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


Innovative textile education and training – European Initiatives

• Leonardo da Vinci European Community Initiativehttp://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/leonardo/leonardo_en.htmlTransnational 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 URLhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/leonardo/new/leonardo2/products/recherche_prod_en2000.cfm



• General elearning initiativesThere 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.



• FIBRONET ([email protected]) 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 technologiesAn 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.



• Pan-European challenge for technological innovation ([email protected])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.



• eTELESTIA ([email protected]) 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 ([email protected]) EQUALIts aim is to support enterprises in adapting to structural change and in introducing new technologies.

• UP-SKILLS ([email protected]) LEONARDOThe project will analyse the professional profiles of senior staff of SMEs to reduce the gap between technical and strategic levels of management



• 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.



• 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).



• 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)



• 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.”



• 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.



• 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.

Data conversion to competency learning


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.


• 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




• Distance Education is offered through TOP (http://www.tx.ncsu.edu/academic/distance/index.html)

• 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.



• The Anni Albers Program http://www.tx.ncsu.edu/departments/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_whitney.htmlThe Eli Whitney Scholars Program allows students to earn two degrees: a BS in Textile and Apparel Management and a BA in Multidisciplinary Studies.



• Centennial Campus(http://centennial.ncsu.edu/ )

North Carolina State University's vision of the campus of the future—a "technopolis" of university, corporate and government R&D facilities and business incubators, with an exciting town centre, executive conference centre and hotel, upscale housing, and recreational amenities


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).


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


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.



• 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



• 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.


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


Final Thoughts

“Asia is seeing a massive an insuperable demand for higher education. It is beyond the ability of the world’s universities to satisfy the needs by physical campuses”

A Olsen THES May 16th 2003


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


Innovative Textile Education and Training

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

Innovations Ltd

[email protected] May 2004 IFC Textile Industry Seminar Innovative Textile...

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