Stimulating gender-based innovative training methods to promote CLOTHING REcycling through Augmented Reality

<< Background >>Gender equality matters to environmental sustainability with women performing two thirds of global working hours and being more dependent on natural resources in comparison with men. However, the agenda promoting the importance of gender equality for the ecosystem still remains unfinished. With clothing upcycling being the new trend for green fashion, there has been no concrete initiative promoting women’s active participation in upcycling practices, despite EU's endeavor towards environmental sustainability. Therefore, the need for VET trainers and textile professionals (manufacturers, designers, colorists, etc.) to engage in an open dialogue in order to support gender-based training towards buckling down environmental challenges through clothing upcycling activities constitutes a brand new initiative in alignment with EU goals for resource efficiency. With women’s role being rapidly evolved in the recycling as well as waste management, the need to promote a gender-responsive environmental agenda becomes of utmost importance. Provided that textile experts are considered essential stakeholders in the sustainability debate, they can certainly promote a priceless prospect that policy makers might be unaware of.<< Objectives >>To promote hands-on ecological actions that establish gender justice, the project recommends a training approach addressing environmental challenges related to clothing upcycling through a gender-based methodology. The objective is to engage textile professionals to raise awareness about the environmental and social benefits of clothing upcycling through innovative methods that better establish environmental sustainability utilizing the different role of women in eco-friendly activities.This will be facilitated by a gamified learning approach through an Augmented Reality mobile app that will offer a long-lasting learning experience. General objective: Raising awareness about the eco-social benefits of clothing upcycling through innovative training methods that better establish environmental sustainability utilizing the different and yet significant role of women in ecological activities. Specific objectives: -Develop training material tailored to the real needs of the final beneficiaries-Develop an AR mobile app that promotes clothing upcycling and gender-related scenarios-Develop a solid certification and accreditation system for skills validation and recognition<< Implementation >>-The elaboration of a comparative report that justifies the 'as-is' situation in environmental practices implemented by participants and verifies the needs towards embracing a novel training methodology that promotes environmental activities and at the same time tackles gender disparity. - The configuration of a knowledge & competences framework thoroughly describing the learning outcomes of the training and define the professionals' profile.- The creation of a solid training methodology incorporating gender-based practices to promote environmentalconsciousness among textile specialists and in the long-run among other industries affected by the project target group.- The development of an inclusive training handbook tailored to textile professionals not only for raising awareness but also to provide guidance on how to implement the recommended activities and train others to embrace them as well. - The deployment of a hands-on interactive platform with micro-learning objects to engage participants into the learning process and stimulate further participation with a view to sustain the project results. - The design and development of a mobile application facilitated by Augmented reality and storyboard allowing users to put their knowledge into action and retain their skills through a gamified approach. - The development and implementation of a unified certification and accreditation ecosystem for skillsvalidation and recognition at a European level. - The creation of a framework (AR4ReClothing Club) that can facilitate the development of synergies of practice among project practitioners and stakeholders under the prism of influencing policy makers.<< Results >>TANGIBLE:-An action-based guide for textile experts towards embracing gender-oriented training strategies in order to establish environmental sustainability pinpointing the importance of women's role in the field -An online platform acting as a complete training package for participants including motivational workflows that enhance learners' performance towards their engagement in the learning process -An Augmented Reality mobile application functioning as an assessment tool utilizing gamified learning techniques towards the retention of newly acquired knowledge through the promotion of real-life scenarios -A certification and accreditation scheme for skills validation and recognition INTANGIBLE:-Generating awareness about the current state of play regarding similar learning opportunities and initiatives within European countries -Promotion of innovative training methods for the adoption of gender-based education towards establishing the role of women in environmental sustainability along with the confrontation of gender inequality -Enhancement of ICT-enabled education and e-learning strategies within the context of embracing online learning due to pandemic confinement -Incorporation of open educational resources (OERs) and open software in the learning process facilitated by engaging online learning activities -Creation of a wide network of stakeholders providing the opportunity to open a dialogue among industry communities -Influencing policies related to environmental initiatives and gender equality across the EU