The Textile Engineering Conferences, in their fourth edition, held from the 18th to the 20th of March, may have left a sign of greater exposure to society and a more permanent dialogue with the business world.
For now, it cannot be said that there is no ‘a wall’ (Berlin type) separating Textile Engineering and the business world of the Textile and Clothing Industry (ITV) which tends to be overthrown in the near future.
In the recent Textile Engineering Conferences, it became clear that, unlike other courses, there is a relationship to be cultivated between the two parties, on a permanent basis. And that seemed to be encouraged at this event, in which the desire for mutual collaboration can now accelerate.
If no one questions the educational role of the University, the same cannot be said when it comes to to recognize which courses and university training students should take and which are of interest to companiesin the textile and clothing sector.
If it is legitimate for the student to ask and find out whether this industry, which is relevant in the North, pays graduates well, it will also be legitimate for the company to question what the student can bring of added value to the companies.
Ana Sousa (ANIVEC) considers “important” the connection of the different courses with companies because the ITV sector lives in the world of permanent innovation. And with the daily challenges faced by companies, it is important to integrate young graduates into the industry.
There is no doubt that “the textile and clothing industry is, today, even more attractive, due to its training offer”.
Mario Jorge Machadopresident of ATP, addressing the students in the audience, stated that “the future of the sector is assured and will continue to be assured”admitting that “It’s a sector that already needs young blood”. He explained the work of associations in showing what “this sector has already done and can do more in terms of sustainability and circularity”.
The textile challenge, however, remains: “if we are not able to show ourselves and sell ourselves – our image – we do not exist”.
He highlighted the importance of social networks and their use “where we can all show what we are doing”. And noted that “promoting the country and companies, in a competitive world, is a permanent task”. He made it clear “Portugal’s strong relevance in the international trade of textile products”including technical textiles, a variant “where we have to innovate even more”.
The textile and clothing sector is “poorly regulated”. Mario Jorge Machado hope that with “the changes made by the European Union, in terms of the regulation of the ‘Green Deal’, which will cover 14 industrial sectors, including textiles in this group that the Europe of 27 itself considers strategic sectors”.
“This textile, clothing and fashion industry is strategic for the European economy.”
The president of ATP showed the textile engineering degree students a picture of the sector in numbers, which is worth around 160 billion euros in turnover in the EU and six billion in Portugal. “There is no doubt that this textile, clothing and fashion industry is strategic for the European economy” – he maintained.
Ana Sousa emphasized that “the close relationship with students, through events, visits to companies, and the interest that graduates show in looking for a profession, meets the mutual needs of companies and future engineers”.
Therefore, he considered that “all attempts to integrate students, knowing the needs of companies and the various training courses offered at UMinho can only strengthen the relationship that needs to be accelerated between the Academy and the business world”.
“Follow the magazines… there is a lot of information circulating every day.”
This approach will also, in the opinion of Mario Jorge Machadothrough the search for information about the sector, originating from associations and their newslettersin sector newspapers, at EURATEX. “Follow the magazines… there is a lot of information circulating every day” – he told the students on the textile engineering course.
Hélder Carvalhopresident of the Textile Engineering department, admitted taking advantage of this dynamic of the Textile Engineering Days to make “our course and activities are more visible” even with the doubts he expressed about whether the textile industry is looking for textile engineers and whether it needs them.
Considered it important “know what companies need… because developing training is not enough, even in quantitative terms”.
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