PRESS RELEASE
São João da Madeira (Portugal)
Twenty students took part in the Shoes Your Life learning and training activities in São João da Madeira between May 29 to June 2. The program showcased the project's Virtual Reality App, designed to attract young people to STEAM Education. Students from Portugal, Italy, and Romania took part in the program, which was organized by the CTCP (Portuguese Footwear Technological Centre) and Agrupamento de Escolas Oliveira Júnior (AEOJ) as part of the European-funded project Shoes Your Life.
The participants, consisting of twenty students and teachers from Italy, Romania, and Portugal, engaged in various workshops encompassing topics such as Virtual Reality, Robotics, Industry 4.0, Programming, Sustainability, and more. Additionally, they had the opportunity to visit prominent companies in the sector, including Kyaia, AMF, and Belcinto, as well as the Footwear Museum. They also undertook a practical activity in the Shoe FabLab of CTCP, where they developed customized belts.
This program not only allowed them to gain insights into the Portuguese education system but also provided exposure to projects developed by the Oliveira Júnior School. Moreover, this program fostered cultural exchange among participants, enabling them to learn about different approaches and traditions related to various industries in the three countries. This exchange of knowledge and experiences contributes to industry diversification and innovation. One of the core objectives of this project is to introduce Generation Z to the industry, inspiring them to pursue STEAM-based careers and equipping them with the necessary skills to contribute to the transformation and modernization of Industry 4.0 in Europe.
To attract young people to the industry, the Shoes Your Life project utilized Virtual Reality (VR) and gamification. Leveraging young people's natural interest in games and technology, this innovative approach creates engaging and immersive learning experiences. An APP was developed for the project, leveraging Virtual Reality technology, and inviting students to immerse themselves in a virtual experience using specialized glasses. This VR-based APP offers an interactive and immersive experience, enabling young people to explore three-dimensional virtual environments.
Through this tool, students are encouraged to experiment, learn, and interact with various areas such as Chemistry, Marketing, Design, 3D Printing, Mechanics, Sustainability, and History, while also gaining insights into the realities of the industry. The intention is for this tool to be implemented in schools, with the Oliveira Júnior School being the first to adopt it as part of their partnership with the Shoes Your Life project.
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 occupations. To this end, the SYL consortium is developing an innovative educational programme, based on Virtual Reality and focused on traditional industries, which will highlight the modernisation and digital transformation occurring in these sectors.
ENDS
For more information about Shoes Your Life, please visit: www.shoesyourlife.eu
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This press release reflects the views only of the project partners, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. The Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
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