Online validation workshop confirms industry needs for digital and green skills in footwear sector
On 26 June 2025, the Online Validation Workshop was held as part of the SHOEPRO – Integrated Action for Building VET Curricula and Training Opportunities in Croatia & Portugal for Digital and Green Transformation in the Footwear Sector (Project No. 2024-1-HR01-KA210-VET-000251356).
The workshop brought together representatives from Croatian Employers’ Association (HUP), the Faculty of Textile Technology of the University of Zagreb (TTF), and the Footwear Technology Centre of Portugal (CTCP), along with representatives from Croatian footwear companies including Borovo d.d., Ivan?ica d.d., and Jelen Professional d.o.o.
The event opened with a presentation of survey results and a proposed curriculum by Anica Hursa Šajatovi? (TTF), who provided insights into the current state of digitalization, sustainability, and innovation practices in the Croatian and Portuguese footwear sectors. Key challenges identified in the survey included the shortage of adequately skilled technical staff, especially in areas such as automation, 3D technologies, and production optimization.
The presentation was followed by a discussion with representatives of Croatian footwear companies, who emphasized the need to strengthen digital skills, develop more targeted training programs, and improve financial accessibility to support workforce development and process modernization. Their feedback highlighted the importance of designing training that reflects the specific needs of the footwear industry, particularly by distinguishing between digital skills required for production operations and those needed for product development. Participants also pointed to the lack of locally available qualified technical personnel, along with the financial and logistical challenges of implementing advanced training and automation technologies.
In the second part of the session, Gabriela Oliveira and Flora Bastos (CTCP) presented their organization to the representatives of Croatian companies. They shared the results of the Portuguese industry survey, which closely aligned with Croatian findings. During the subsequent discussion, both members of the project team and companies highlighted similar challenges related to workforce upskilling and the complexity of implementing green and digital transitions detected among Croatian and Portuguese companies.
The workshop confirmed a strong cross-national alignment of industry needs and emphasized the importance of developing a targeted curriculum focused on digital skills, eco-design, and sustainable production practices to support the transformation and resilience of the footwear sector.