As part of the 11th International Scientific Conference Technics, Informatics, and Education – TIE 2026, held at the Faculty of Technical Sciences Čačak, University of Kragujevac, a roundtable dedicated to the results developed within the AEQUALIS4TCLF project was held on 18 September 2026.
The event brought together teachers from secondary schools and higher education institutions, students, and representatives of textile companies from the Western Serbia region. This provided an opportunity to discuss the relevance of the project results for education and professional development, as well as their potential application in response to current and emerging skills needs in the textile, clothing, leather and footwear sector.
Representing the University of Kragujevac, lecturers from the Faculty of Technical Sciences Čačak — Dr Goran Majstorović, MSc Marija Nikolić and Dr Vesna Petrović — presented the micro-credential courses developed by the education providers participating in AEQUALIS4TCLF project. The presented courses address areas related to innovative and sustainable clothing production systems, as well as creative and functional fashion design, reflecting the project’s focus on strengthening competences needed for a more sustainable, innovative and resilient TCLF industry.
The participants were also introduced to the Digicampus platform, through which learners can access the developed micro-credential programmes, expand their knowledge and obtain certificates upon successful completion. The presentation highlighted the potential of the platform and the newly developed learning opportunities to support flexible and continuous professional development.
An important part of the discussion addressed the changing regulatory environment related to sustainability in the European Union. Katarina Momčilović Matić, Senior Associate at the Textile, Clothing, Leather and Footwear Industry Association of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, presented current and forthcoming EU sustainability-related regulatory requirements relevant to companies in the sector. Her contribution provided an important industry perspective on the challenges businesses are expected to face and the competences and practices needed to respond to these developments. The event also provided an opportunity to gain insights and practical examples from the roundtable participants regarding diversity, inclusion and contemporary skills development.
The roundtable thus brought together project-developed educational resources, digital learning opportunities and current industry perspectives, creating a direct link between the results of AEQUALIS4TCLF and the needs of learners, educators and textile companies.
