W4TEX – Strengthening women’s representation in senior textile positions
Summary of the project
W4TEX is a 30-month Erasmus+ project, aimed at addressing critical gaps in the textile industry while fostering inclusivity and empowerment among women. This initiative responds to the underrepresentation of women in senior roles, the green skills deficit within the sector, and the integration of women affected by the Ukraine war into training activities. Aligned with Erasmus+ 2023 priorities, the project focuses on inclusive education for war refugees, enhancing managerial and green skills, and promoting collaboration between local and refugee women. Additionally, it aims to bridge gaps in adult education, validate skills for marginalized women, and advance environmental awareness through practical tools for a more sustainable textile industry.
TARGET GROUPS
Direct Target Groups
- Women coming from the partner countries
- Women with migrant and/or refugee backgrounds, especially newcomers fleeing from the war in Ukraine
- Adult education providers,i.e.any public and private adult education organisations and centres that deliver education and training, guidance, counselling or validation arrangements for adults
Indirect Target Groups
- Policy and Decision Makers at regional, National & European levels
- Public Employment & Business Agencies
PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES
The W4TEX project strategically addresses critical aspects in the textile industry through a comprehensive approach. The project aims:
- to offer women & educators a training package focused on managerial skills for the textile sector
- to provide a toolset of green practices for a sustainable textile ecosystem
- to organise Ideathons to prepare women for labour integration
- to empower & motivate women to take over managerial positions
- to create channels of communication between women, SME managers & owners
- to offer women transnational training & connect them on an EU scale
- to create a structured dissemination strategy to reach the TGs.
W4TEX
Project Results
The W4TEX Be A Manager e-learning platform offers comprehensive training in key textile industry managerial skills, designed through industry research and stakeholder consultations. It includes modules that cover topics from general industry knowledge to conflict management, each about 20-25 pages long each with integrated self-assessment tools. A dedicated section for educators includes access to modules in raw format and practical activities, benefiting women in career development. Learners can track progress through self-assessment tests per unit, culminating in a comprehensive quiz for a Certificate of Completion, aligned with the EQF level for European comparability.
The WomenThinkGreen Toolset comprises three sections. The first presents environmental impacts and green solutions in the textile industry, the second showcases 18 case studies of women-led companies, inspiring young women in sustainable business management, and the third section offers 18 practical scenarios for adult educators, emphasizing on problem-solving and green managerial skills.
National & Transnational Ideathons aim to boost participants’ awareness of their skills and confidence. Aligned with the previous results content, these events focus on professional growth, involving team-building, managerial training, and Women Think Green sessions. National Ideathons engage 120 women and 18 educators, featuring three sessions and covering various skills. The national events will be followed by the Transnational Ideathon, which additionally fosters networking and learning. Post Ideathons, all materials and methods used will be consolidated into the Be A Manager Trainer’s Kit, translated into partner languages.
The Partnership
HÖGSKOLAN I BORÅS – coordinator, Sweden
The University of Borås is a multidisciplinary institution known for its expertise in Textile and Fashion, Business & IT, Integrated Caring Science, Library and Information Science, Resource Recovery, and teacher education. With around 11,000 students and 730 employees, it holds a unique position in Sweden, especially through its Swedish School of Textiles. This school focuses on design, technology, and management within the thriving Swedish fashion industry, emphasizing research areas like Smart Textiles, Re:textile, and Innovation Square. These initiatives aim to develop business-driven projects, circular business models, digitalization of the textile value chain, and circular economies for design and furniture. The university offers various courses for industry professionals and newcomers alike, fostering a commitment to sustainability in fashion. Collaborating with local corporations and SMEs, the university hosts a national platform for sustainable fashion and actively participates in leading international networks in textile and fashion, such as AUTEX, IFFTI, and EURATEX.
KAINOTOMIA & SIA EE – partner, Greece
“KAINOTOMIA” is a Lifelong Learning Centre (K.DI.VI.M) in Greece, which is active in the field of Vocational Education and Training. KAINOTOMIA has implemented more than 60 continuing vocational training programmes for unemployed people, teachers of all levels of education, higher education students, employees/self-employed and vulnerable social groups, for the development of professional opportunities and their promotion and integration into the labour market and society in general, through innovative programmes. “KAINOTOMIA” provides consultancy services to enterprises and support and advisory services to trainees to facilitate their (re)entry into the labour market. “KAINOTOMIA” has participated in several national projects, offering a high degree of expertise in training in modern fields, combining them with those that are in high demand in the labour market to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes of trainees for their integration into the labour market. Furthermore, “KAINOTOMIA” participates in co-funded national programmes called “local development and entrepreneurship projects for unemployed people based on specific local needs and development potential”.
MARKEUT SKILLS SOCIEDAD LIMITADA – partner, Spain
MEUS is a private organization based in Valencia, Spain, aimed at bettering people´s capacities in their environment, both at professional and private levels. Thus, it focuses on the skills development of individuals at each stage of their life, from school to adult education. In line with the European strategy related to education, MEUS works on the development of new training materials and methodologies adapted to different target and market needs, so improving the integration of the labour market. MEUS is an expert in new learning methods, based on participative and collaborative ways of learning. Our training activities rely on experiential training and learning by doing, intending to keep the learners alert so that they can learn new competencies in an entertaining way. MEUS largely exploit gamification, developing challenges that trainees need to overcome individually or as teams. Our training activities are proposed on-site or online while collaborating with IT experts for the development of digital solutions that are in line with our philosophy. MEUS also promotes the mobility of youth and adults, students and professionals as a way of learning from experiences in other countries, our organization has participated in a number of Erasmus + projects and accompanied blended / short-term mobilities!
Lottozero società cooperativa sociale – partner, Italy
Lottozero is an international center for textile design, art and culture based in the historical Prato textile district and cluster
operating both as a consultancy studio and as a creative hub, divided into a gallery/exhibition area, a shared studio
space/coworking and a fully equipped textile lab for production, experimentation and research. It was established in 2014
and is fully active since 2017 with a team of 4 people working full time together with the organisation’s art curator. Our
mission is to provide a fertile environment for creativity and an international base for networking in the textile sector.
CHAMBRE OFFICIELLE DE COMMERCE D’ESPAGNE EN
BELGIQUE ET AU LUXEMBOURG – partner, Belgium
The Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg is a non-profit association founded in Brussels in
1938, according to Belgian private law (ASBL –VZW).
The Chamber plays a significant role in trade and economic relations between Spain, Belgium, and Luxembourg, and its main objective is the development of trade and investments between these three countries. The Chamber is publicly recognised as one of the most prestigious dialogue tribunes between companies and European Institutions, based in Brussels and Luxembourg.
The Chamber is part of the Federation of Spanish Chambers of Commerce in Europe-Africa-Asia-Oceania (FEDECOM) and maintains a permanent link with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, which provides members the ability to benefit from the Official Chambers network around the world.
The Chamber counts more than 300 associated companies and entrepreneurs and offers a wide range of services to
both member and non-member companies, including information and support, legal and fiscal assistance, promotion opportunities, commercial activities and networking events. In particular, the Chamber facilitates business through a wide range of commercial services and provides essential logistical and technical support. In addition, its events enable companies to develop and expand their network of professional contacts and provide essential information on the Belgian, Luxembourg and Spanish markets.
Finally, the Chamber has wide experience in managing training, employment and entrepreneurship programmes.
LLC CIVITTA UKRAINE – partner, Ukraine
LLC CIVITTA UKRAINE, is a leading management consultancy, that challenges traditional consulting by offering high-quality services across 40+ countries. Their core activities include supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, actively involved in developing entrepreneurial ecosystems. They’ve contributed significantly to Kyiv’s innovation centres and assisted numerous startups and companies in internationalization, business development, and securing investments. With a track record in winning Horizon 2020 SME Instrument funds and partnering with corporate entities like Kyivstar, CIVITTA possesses the expertise and capabilities to effectively lead and implement projects, supported by their involvement with international institutions like EBRD and the World Bank.
W4TEX Attachments
Outputs
Newsletters
Follow W4TEX
Co-funded by the European Union
