TexGreen

TexGreen: Advancing Sustainable Innovation in Fashion&Textiles 

2025-1-TR01-KA210-VET-000358477

A1 – CUMULATIVE RESULTS 

Skill Priority Matrix Workshop

by IHKIB Vocational and Technical High Scool

1. Purpose and Methodological Architecture of A1

Activity A1 was designed as a structured, evidence-based needs analysis to inform:

  • The Digital Training & Dissemination Workshop (A2)
  • The Industry 4.0 Adaptation Guidelines Development

Rather than conducting isolated consultations, A1 followed a three-layer triangulated methodology:

Layer 1 – Qualitative Exploration

Focus Group Discussions (Students + Industry + Educators)

Layer 2 – Quantitative Validation

Needs Assessment Survey (Cross-country sample)

Layer 3 – Strategic Prioritisation

Skill Priority Matrix Workshop (Mentimeter scoring + structured discussion)

This sequence ensured:

  • Exploration → Measurement → Prioritisation
  • Cross-country consistency
  • Alignment between educational and industry perspectives

2. Cross-Country Synthesis of Findings

Despite ecosystem maturity differences (Türkiye, France, Greece), findings show strong transnational convergence.

3. Digital Competency Landscape (Industry 4.0 Readiness)

3.1 2D vs 3D Skills Gap – A Structural Pattern

Focus Groups revealed:

  • Strong familiarity with 2D tools (Illustrator, Photoshop, basic CAD).
  • Very limited practical experience with 3D garment simulation.
  • Conceptual confusion between:
    • 3D garment prototyping
    • General 3D modelling/animation

Survey confirmed:

  • Majority self-rate as beginner in 3D product development.
  • 3D prototyping ranked among top priority skills.

Matrix validation:

  • 3D Virtual Prototyping scored highest in importance (4–5 cluster).
  • Applicability also high (4), limited mainly by licensing and hardware.

Cumulative Interpretation

There is:

  • High perceived strategic value
  • Low operational competence
  • Strong motivation

This creates a high-leverage intervention point for training.

3.2 Digital Pattern Making & Workflow Digitisation

Focus groups highlighted:

  • Continued reliance on manual pattern processes.
  • Knowledge dependency on individual expertise.
  • Fragmented digital workflow integration.

Matrix findings:

  • Rated as Immediate Training Priority.

Survey:

  • Moderate existing familiarity but uneven implementation.

Strategic Insight

Digital pattern systems are perceived as:

  • Essential for standardisation.
  • Necessary bridge between traditional craftsmanship and Industry 4.0 systems.

4. Sustainability & Circular Economy Competency Gap

4.1 Values-Driven vs Measurement-Driven Sustainability

Students:

  • Associate sustainability with recycling, eco-materials, waste reduction.
  • High motivation, low technical depth.

Industry:

  • Compliance-driven sustainability awareness.
  • Difficulty operationalising sustainability metrics.

4.2 LCA Literacy – The Critical Gap

Across all instruments:

  • Focus groups: LCA poorly understood.
  • Survey: Introductory LCA ranked within top priority cluster.
  • Matrix: High importance (4–5), moderate applicability (3–4).

Participants clearly differentiated:

  • Full technical LCA (complex)
  • Basic LCA-informed design awareness (feasible)

Cumulative Interpretation

Basic LCA literacy must be positioned as:

  • A foundational competence
  • Embedded into product development exercises
  • Simplified and practice-oriented

4.3 Circular Design & Upcycling

Findings across countries:

  • Conceptually supported.
  • High student interest.
  • Industry cautious about scalability.

Survey:

  • Circular design consistently top-ranked.

Matrix:

  • Importance high.
  • Applicability moderate.

Strategic Position

Circular design should be integrated with:

  • Business model thinking
  • Digital prototyping
  • Market validation logic

4.4 Supply Chain Traceability & Data

Recurring pattern:

  • Recognised as strategically important.
  • Ranked lower in short-term priority.

Reasons:

  • IT dependency
  • Multi-stakeholder complexity
  • Limited supplier transparency

Matrix categorisation:

  • Capacity-Building Priority

Interpretation

Traceability is:

  • Regulation-driven (EU context)
  • Awareness-critical
  • Not yet classroom-ready for full implementation

5. AI and Emerging Digital Tools

AI-based forecasting:

  • Moderate importance.
  • Higher applicability willingness.
  • Viewed as decision-support tool.

Participants emphasised:
Hybrid model → AI + Human creative judgment.

AI is therefore positioned as:

  • Supportive / Emerging Skill
  • Suitable after digital foundations are built

6. Structural Barriers Identified Across All Countries

Convergent findings:

  1. Software Licensing Costs
  2. Hardware Limitations
  3. Instructor Readiness Gaps
  4. Time & Production Pressure in SMEs
  5. Curriculum Rigidity

Critical insight:
Barriers are structural, not motivational.

Interest in digital & green transformation is high.

7. Training Modality Convergence

Across all instruments:

Most Preferred:

  • Micro-labs
  • Hands-on workshops
  • Blended short modules
  • Project-based learning

Least Preferred:

  • Long theoretical lectures
  • Fully asynchronous online courses

Trusted Validation:

  • Portfolio-based outputs
  • Industry-reviewed deliverables
  • Micro-credentials

Low trust in:

  • Multiple choice exams
  • Attendance certificates

8. Cross-Layer Triangulation (Qualitative + Quantitative + Matrix)

Skill AreaFocus GroupsSurvey RankingMatrix PriorityConsolidated Position
3D PrototypingHigh curiosity, low skillTop tierImmediate priorityCore Training Pillar
Digital PatternUneven adoptionMid-highImmediate priorityCore Digital Foundation
LCA LiteracyCritical gapTop tierCapacity-buildingFoundational Sustainability Skill
Circular DesignConceptual supportTop tierEmerging priorityPractical Sustainability Lab
TraceabilityComplex but strategicLower rankCapacity-buildingAwareness + Pilot
AI ForecastingInnovative but secondaryMid tierSupportivePost-foundation skill

This confirms methodological coherence across A1 phases.

9. Consolidated Transnational Skill Priority Clusters

Based on cumulative synthesis:

Cluster 1 – Immediate Training Priorities

  • 3D Virtual Prototyping
  • Digital Pattern Making & Grading

Cluster 2 – Foundational Sustainability Literacy

  • Introductory LCA
  • Sustainability Labels & Communication
  • Circular Design Principles

Cluster 3 – Capacity-Building & Awareness

  • Supply Chain Traceability
  • Data Management Fundamentals

Cluster 4 – Emerging Digital Enhancement

  • AI for Forecasting & Production Support

10. Strategic Implications for A2 & Guidelines Development

The A1 findings directly shape:

A2 Digital Training & Dissemination Workshop

Training modules will:

  • Integrate digital + sustainability workflows
    (e.g., 3D prototype + mini LCA analysis)
  • Be structured as short, high-intensity applied labs
  • Include pre-training vocabulary alignment
  • Use portfolio-based micro-credentials
  • Provide temporary tool access environments

Industry 4.0 Adaptation Guidelines

Guidelines will:

  • Address structural barriers (licensing, hardware, instructor readiness)
  • Propose phased digital transition pathways
  • Provide pilot-level traceability entry models
  • Recommend blended train-the-trainer mechanisms
  • Emphasise cost–benefit logic for SMEs

11. Strategic Value of A1

A1 successfully achieved:

  • Cross-country needs alignment
  • Evidence-based skill prioritisation
  • Clear ecosystem gap identification
  • Methodological triangulation
  • Policy-relevant interpretation

Most importantly:

It ensured that subsequent project activities are not concept-driven, but data-driven and ecosystem-aligned.