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.

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.