The initiative aimed to train teachers in new digital education methodologies that can attract Generation Z to pursue STEAM-based careers, and provide them with the skills needed to contribute to the transformation and modernization of industry 4.0 in Europe. This was the first opportunity to test the Virtual Reality application that the SYL consortium developed in order to attract young people to STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics).

 
The Shoes Your Life Virtual Reality educational program consists of an application with 8 educational modules covering topics including new technologies, graphic design, chemistry and historical heritage centered on traditional industries.

 
Teachers and technicians involved in this activity participated in workshops on digital training for the involvement of young people, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in education, sustainability, creativity and innovation, new technologies and Industry 4.0. In addition to workshops, participants have the opportunity to know the work of the Oliveira Júnior School Group, especially activities related to STEAM Education (robotics, theater, music, chemistry and environment), as well as the Technology Center, namely in the area of FabLab and productive innovation.

 
To explore examples of good practices of virtuous cooperation between local authorities, business and scientific/technological partners and companies, in particular in the footwear sector, this program also included guided tours of the Footwear Museum in São João da Madeira and the Industrial Equipment Company (CEI) and the company Luís Onofre.

 
At CEI, participants had the opportunity to learn about an initiative that this company recently created, together with the Commercial and Industrial Association of S. João da Madeira (ACISJM), the first Collaborative Robotics Laboratory in the country. This new unit provides for young people to work with industrial equipment given by companies, thus staying in contact with new technologies and allowing students to acquire experience in the work context, as well as new opportunities for insertion in the market, without preventing entry into higher education. Thus, this action allows synergies to be created between industry, teachers, trainers and schools, since it guarantees technological resources to training entities without them having a financial cost.

 
At the Footwear Museum, the exhibition "Trend or Future? Footwear and Sustainability" was presented, which has the partnership of the Footwear Technological Center and APICCAPS. This exhibition highlights projects, products, materials and innovative actions towards a more sustainable future for footwear production in Portugal. This is due to the result of environmental and ecological awareness that begins to take root among industrialists, designers and consumers.

 
The shoe designer Luís Onofre, currently the president of APICCAPS and CEC (European Confederation of Footwear Industry), also participated in the training’s programme, welcoming the participants to its company, where participants got to know the whole process of creating a shoe, from the creative stage and development to its expedition to the market. Given the nature of the SYL project, the entrepreneur highlighted one of his latest investments: the new 360 online store of Luís Onofre shoes. This space aims not only to be a definitive way to increase the visibility of the brand and its internationalisation, but also to reproduce this atmosphere of glamour and elegance that is so characteristic of the brand. The evolution of digital tools allowed the creation of the experience of a physical store on an online platform, bringing the customer closer to the brand, whether in Portugal or anywhere else in the globe.

 

About Shoes Your Life
The Shoes Your Life (SYL) project aims to develop a new educational approach to STEAM jobs and encourage Generation Z to choose STEAM-based professions. To this end, the consortium is developing an innovative educational program, based on Virtual Reality and focused on traditional industries, which highlights the modernization and digital transformation that takes place in these sectors.
The Shoes Your Life consortium is formed by the Technological Centre of Footwear of Portugal - CTCP (Portugal), Oliveira Júnior School Group - AEOJ (Portugal), Istituto Omnicomprensivo Rosselli-Rasetti (Italy), Colegiul National Economic Gheorghe Chitu Craiova (Romania), byAR (Portugal) and ThinkYoung (Belgium).
For more information about Shoes Your Life, please visit: www.shoesyourlife.eu
Shoes (Choose) Your Life - A New Educational Approach to STEAM Jobs (2021-1-PT01-KA220-SCH-000027935) co-financed by Erasmus+.