With the economic crisis in Portugal, youth unemployment in more skilled fields is increasing in a way that requires an urgent intervention. The line of our young graduates in the unemployment services is too big to be ignored. Representing the locals´ interest Câmara Municipal decided to find partners that in a strict collaboration could work together to help a group of 24 graduated young people looking for the first job or unemployed to be (re)integrated in the world of work. Centro Tecnológico working together with Clube de Empresários represent the world of work locally. Escola Inglesa, having the international contacts found the international partners and assured the efficiency to coordinate the international communication. Aiming to improve youth skills and job opportunities this project continues the work of 2 local projects in industrial tourism and creative industries.The methodology of the whole project will be dominated by initiative, innovation and creative thinking and driven by cooperative working, teamwork and active engagement. Facilitators and mentors will help the progress in the path.Young people will be engaged in entrepreneurial activities focused on the creation of ideas, planning and marketing to develop emergent successful entrepreneurs or responsible workers designing products, services, IP, artefacts that can be marketed and monetised. There will be activities to develop business plans to meet goals in a variety of areas, including finance, marketing, production, sales and personnel. The workshops and training programmes will help to develop the necessary skills, the mentors will support the work and the experience in developing personal projects will be the opportunity to assess their capacity to be successful. During all the project the participants will have an active engagement in showing the community and the international partners their progress. They will be responsible to show their own projects, create a manual for young entrepreneurs and put all that in practice in business simulations where they will create business plans to put in practice in the real world of work.The progress obtained with the international training opportunities and the exchange of good practices experienced will be shared with the community in events where it is expected they will be invited to make part of some local projects in municipal positions and private companies. With this active participation, integrated in a group of mentors and facilitators that will lead the process, the result can only be the real improvement of competences that will make it much easier for them to find a job or create their own business. In the long term this will be a good contribution to increase the local and national economy.The local mentors will continue to help when necessary with a supportive attitude but demanding responsibility and autonomy.The dissemination of the project through the municipal webpage created along the project and the participation in different seminars and workshops where the different partners will participate as well as the use of media will offer others the possibility to use this project a s a good practice to follow.

Knowledge 4Foot (K4F) project has contributed at fostering the excellence in training for footwear manufacturing by linking the three areas of education, research, and business-oriented innovation and has demonstrated good practices of cooperation and has bridged the worlds of education and work.To this purpose, the project has achieved the following objectives: 1) set-up a new Knowledge Platform for transferring research and innovation for footwear manufacturing where the HE students have received project-based training into a virtual environment by simulating all developing stages of the research projects, having as starting point the real identified needs in leather and footwear companies; 2) developed active collaboration among education, business community and research and had assessed the skills needs on innovation, research, development, and technological transfer; 3) designed a common curriculum and related e-learning content which incorporated creative thinking, problem-solving approach and project-based learning for virtual internship in the Knowledge Platform for transferring research and innovation.Based on the authentic and adequate needs of both actual business environment and learning and training programs for managers, engineers/technicians and designers in footwear sector, the K4F project has contributed at developing sustainable solutions to attuning curricula for placement/internship and has developed skills and competencies in area of project-based work focused on research, innovation and technological transfer. Thus, the K4F project had a significant impact on the development of education and training and has brought added value at EU level.K4F project has proposed, created, tested and evaluated contents and methodological solutions by developing synergies between different fields of higher education and training for educating and training the next generation of managers/ engineers/ technicians/ product and process developers/ high skilled workers that will be able to understand innovation, to perform applied research activities and to transfer the newest technological inputs from research to leather and footwear companies from partner countries and elsewhere in Europe.The online training courses, the virtual internship, as well as the Intensive Learning Activities, undertaken by the target group within the framework of the Knowledge Platform for transferring research and innovation in footwear manufacturing have stimulated innovative and creative mindsets of students, and have allowed the application of their knowledge and research insights.In terms of further sustainability, the universities running courses for managers, designers and engineers/technicians and the training centres running courses for the industry could adopt the virtual internship as a preparatory stage for learners’ placements into a real company. Moreover, the business community (SMEs and research centres) could be in contact with future employees in the early stages of the learning/training process.

In the year 2016, the EU market was the major market for clothing, accounting for 37.4% of the world imports and being the second on the world top for textile exporters [1]. The fashion and textile industry are, conversely, two of the most polluting industries. In fact, the European Commission estimates that the EU textile industry generates waste at 16 million tons per year [2]. Consequently, there is a need to move away from the current linear model and to approach to a new circular textile model. For that matter, design in the textile and fashion sector is a key step to facilitate the transition to a circular model. Around 80% of a product’s environmental impact is locked in at the design stage [3]. The Commission pointed out in that sense that “Ecodesign supports the Commission's overarching priority to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and boost job creation and economic growth; it ensures a level playing field in the internal market, drives investment and innovation in a sustainable manner, and saves money for consumers while reducing CO2 emissions” [4]. Therefore, a preparation for current and future designers will be required encompassing the necessary skills on circular design or eco-design. Furthermore, in its Action Plan for the Circular Economy, the Commissions points out that “the transition to a circular economy will also require a qualified workforce with specific and sometimes new skills. If the right skills at all levels are to be developed, they will have to be espoused by the education and training systems.” [5]. The objective of Design4Circle is to create an innovative learning curriculum in line with the needs of designers of the textile and fashion industry towards a circular business model, being the main target group current and future fashion designers of the textile industry. Design4Circle will allow designers from the textile sector to reduce environmental impact during the product’s life-cycle, and to develop new and innovative businesses within the principles of circular economy. To reach the main objective, different activities will be carried out: 1. Analysis of current best practices and needs for ecodesign and implement circular business model in the textile sector 2. Joint Curriculum definition 3. Development of the training materials with different tools (texts, videos, photos, etc.) 4. Creation of an online MOOC platform to upload the training course and test validation In order to achieve such purposes, a Strategic Partnership has put 6 entities together from 6 different countries and expertise in the different fields of the proposed project: two Universities experts in textile design and technologies (RTU and TUIASI); one company expert in circular economy as new business model (ECORES); and three business associations and VET providers that cover different sectors of the textile industry and experts in ecodesign (TTA-TC, AMUEBLA and CTCP). The consortium will be completed with several associated partners (business associations, universities, VET authorities, etc.) that will be involved in different tasks and will ensure wide dissemination of the project results. The Design4Circle training course will be intended for designers of the European textile industry, but its results will benefit any interested person on ecodesign and circular economy. Therefore, the Design4Circle project will have a great impact on thousands of enterprises and therefore in the European economy. The Design4Circle project will achieve the following results and benefits: - The outputs obtained will strengthen the knowledge and training of textile designers and SMEs, equipping them with the necessary competences and skills to implement new practices on ecodesign. - Promotion of new circular businesses and the creation of new textile design companies looking towards a new circular economy. - Development of specific, basic and transversal competences and skills such as management, entrepreneurship, leadership, digital and creativity skills, and language competence in the field of VET. - Foster the implementation of the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy, both in a highly polluted sector as the textile one, and other industry sectors where design is a key process. [1] WTO (2017), World Trade Statistical Review 2017 [2] WRAP (2017), Valuing Our Clothes: the cost of UK fashion [3] WRAP (n.d.), WRAP and the circular economy [4] COM (2016) 773 final “Ecodesign working plan 2016-2019” [5] COM (2015) 614 final “Closing the loop - An EU action plan for the Circular Economy”

The LEARN2WORK project main goal was to create a bridge between the industry working opportunities and non-formal educational paths that can support youngsters (16-25 years) to get in contact with footwear industry careers, in order to work towards the appealing and attractiveness of this sector and consider it as a career option. To achieve this goal, the consortium has adapted and transferred the production schools model from Denmark and has applied it in Portugal, Italy and Spain. The production schools educational methodology is based on learning by practice in order to develop each youngster in a social, personal and professional dimension, and thereby, supporting them to be able to make an informed decision about their own future. This methodology enables a clarification process for young people working through a workshop system where learners should be clearer on “what am I able to - what are my opportunities – what do I want – what do I need to do to get there?”LEARN2WORK project has adapted production school methodology to the Portuguese, Italian and Spanish VET reality and applied it to the footwear sector, where the goal was to strengthen the personal development of the participants/students and improve their chances in the ordinary labour market by entering in a innovative educational programme, which teaches them the required professional qualifications that footwear industry is looking for and at the same time ensuring that students will improve their soft skills and understand what are their future options if they decide to embrace a career in this industry.The target group of the project were youngsters in the age of 16 to 25 who have not succeeded in the regular educational system, that are not in training and don’t have a job, and are more willing to learn by doing. The target group is therefore what is common to refer as NEET.The adaptation of the production school model applied to the footwear brings added value to the European footwear industry, which is currently facing an important challenge related to the growing lack of skilled workforce. Students do not fulfil the demands of the industry because there is a gap between industry practical daily operational needs and schools educational paths which do not prepare students or young workers for industrial activities. Furthermore, the actual rate of education dropout and school early leaving still remains quite high in Europe and this project has also intended to contribute to retain young students with a more “on-the-job” curriculum, that combines practical training and educational knowledge adapted to the market needs, giving them a better perspective to get a job in the industry, by providing contactwith a future professional career.In conclusion, these were the project objectives:- Encourage youngsters to be the leader of their lives, with a positive role in their local economy and society;- Foster cooperation between organisations from different countries in the fields of youth work and non-formal learning for young people;- Adapt and transfer relevant elements of production schools creating successful alternative training paths focus on experiences for the young people, which should give them the courage to invite learning into their lives as a passage for a future career option;- Develop new approaches to youth work and encourage young people to get in contact with practical operations in footwear industry, fostering an holistic approach at professional, personal and social level;- Support the development of future professionals matching the footwear industry needs;- Get the recognition and validation of soft skills competences.To achieve those objectives the project was structured in 7 outputs, 8 events and 1 short-term training session abroad. First we have created a common ground of understanding about the production school model by getting in contact with this reality in Denmark and with that we were more prepared to adapt and transfer the best practices of production school to the LEARN2WORK project. After that we have established 5 profiles for the footwear industry and then developed the educational/training path according to those profiles. With these 3 first outputs we were ready to immerse young people in the pilot tests. After completing the pilot tests we were in contact with National Authorities and other stakeholders to present them the results of the pilot and to promote ECVET recognition of an innovative training path. We have also promoted the project sustainability by the establishment of an exploitation agreement to scale up the project results to other business activities and other regions. The events and the short-term training session had an important role in the global implementation of the project to spread the project results and the LEARN2WORK methodology across important stakeholders and career advisors.

The aim of the project was to prevent burnout at work and raise resilience by developing toolkits for SMEs staff, management staff, SME owners to help them to forecast burnout ( develop coaching and counselling methods and tools) recognize the warning signs, to take steps to get balance back and to change peoples’ approach to a balanced life, to improve working conditions, reduce the cost of burnout, stress. Main project rezults developed during the project lifetime are: - Framework about burnout and resilience- Assessment to explore and recognize burnout and resilience- Toolkit for resilience - 5 toolkits, 5 ways to raise resilience. Toolkits are linked to the test on identifying factors that hinder or help your resilience.5 toolkits are:1. Personal coping 2.Experience of work 3.Health and wellbeing 4.Think yourself strong 5.Create resilience in your environment- Toolkit for managers 5 toolkits, 5 ways to raise resilience designed for SME managers to help prevent burnout at work. The content helps spot any warning signs at an early stage and ultimately improve employees’ happiness in the workplace. The toolkits are linked to the self-assessment on identifying reduced resilience of your employees. 5 toolkits are:1.Circle of Influence2.Core Quadrants of Ofman3.GROW Model4.Progression Feedback5.Social Styles- E-learning development with gamification elements- Guidelines for workshops - A total of ten workshops were delivered across the partnership, with two workshops taking place in each partner country (Belgium, Italy, Poland, Portugal and the UK). The main objective of the workshops is to test the SME Tools to Prevent Burnout platform (IO5) with managers and employees working in SMEs. The platform has been designed for two target groups: managers and employees. The workshops enabled the partnership to test various aspects of the platform including the quality of platform content and how user-friendly it is. Guidelines are attached to this report together with the final report. The partnership grew from relationship established over several years with an emphasis arising from LdV Transfer of innovation.The project proposed a well-balanced partnership structure designed with full consideration of the skills and expertise necessary for the execution of the project. Okrganizations were directly involved in the development of the project: CTCP from Portugal, Obelisk from Belgium, Materahub from Italy, Inova from UK and Globalnet fro Poland. CTCP is a public training institution that operates in the area of footwear industry in Portugal. Obelisk is a company providing multiple trainings and consultancy, it's a customer-orientation, flexible, professional and mature organization with 16 years of expertise in the area of learning and development. INOVA Consultancy is a private for profit SME specialised in providing consultancy services and project work in the field of gender diversity and equality. Materahub IT is an aggregator of people and business, a “space” where they meet, encourage the creation of new job opportunities through a process of mentoring, training and business development. Globalnet specializes in e-learning solutions and cooperates with people from various vocations. It owns the e-learning platform that is adjusted to different training courses. These project partners are responsible for the creation of toolkits and e-learning content. Due to its geographical spread the project contains high cultural diversity and varied national contexts. In addition, the project is composed of partners with large networks of contacts and expertise in creating connections among organizations. Thus, the project impact and reach will go beyond the partner countries. Generally the project and its results will have a possitive impact on many areas. Not directly the project will cause the decrease of stress level and the general working conditions should, therefore, improve - less stress and tools to prevent burnout and raising resilience and at the same time: - raised resilience will influece the professional activity of employees- less people suffering from stress and equipped with tools to fight burnout and raise their resilience- self - assessment tools to assess participants resilience and help them raise it- less people suffering from stress-related conditions caused by work (cardiovascular, musculoskeletal disease, immunological problems)- better health of staff, wellbeing, improved satisfaction with life, possitive emotions-positive effect on health and resilience,-an increased mobility of people involved in the project, - an interest in the project of the employees organizations, companies,- interest in the project outcomes of the institutions not involved in partnership,-an increase of the offer of educational institutions,- development of new initiatives between partners from European countries,- increase in interest in lifelong learning