Sustainable Digital Technologies Toward Printed Sensor Applications For Smart-functional Textiles
▶Summary
The idea of the DigiSmartTech project developed from a practical need of HEIs that lack the knowledge and opportunities at educational level to support innovation in the field of digital printing...
▶Objectives
The project aimed to modernize textile education through digital technology to meet the needs of the industry. During the project, a joint effort led to the development of an educational concept model for smart functional textile digital technologies, consisting of three modules designed for different educational levels: O1B for the first cycle of higher education, O2AR for applied research, and O3M for master's studies. The modules consider the target groups of learners at different levels in the textile field, addressing both full-time and adult education needs. As part of the project, the course "Smart and Functional Digital Printing" was created and integrated into the new Sustainable Textile Technology curriculum at TTK UAS, within the Institute of Engineering and Circular Economy. The project provided a strong and modern educational base for the emerging needs of textile production in developing a new curriculum to achieve the level of sustainability required by EU environmental agreements.
▶Activities
The development of a digital education framework for smart-functional textile technologies significantly impacted project partners by enhancing their educational offerings and aligning them with industry needs. The three-module structure (O1B – bachelor's level, O2AR – applied research, and O3M – master’s level) enabled targeted learning experiences for different academic levels. This approach strengthened partners' capacities to integrate digital and resource-efficient processes into their curricula, fostering innovation and preparing students and researchers for emerging challenges in the textile sector. As part of the project, multiple training sessions and knowledge-sharing events were conducted to introduce students, lecturers, and industry professionals to the developed concepts and digital tools. These sessions provided hands-on experience and facilitated discussions on the integration of smart-functional textile technologies into education and practice. To ensure the practical relevance of the educational materials, strong collaborations were formed with key stakeholders in the textile industry. These partnerships help align the project outcomes with industry needs, making the developed content more applicable in real-world settings. Additionally, the project results were actively disseminated through various channels. Findings were presented at academic events, published in relevant academic platforms like final thesis, and shared via digital platforms (LinkedIn), ensuring broad visibility and maximizing the project's impact.