Abstract:

Changing business trends, environment issues and regulations and the newly emerging tools and technologies fostering innovation in design, styling and manufacturing are demanding specialised expertise and new skills in the footwear industry and according to Cedefop 2016 report, changing work content and increased tasks complexity will result in the growth of the occupational group of managers and associate professionals. Also, ESCO (European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations) initiative identified a multitude of top managerial occupations as emerging occupations for the footwear sector, such as Footwear Product Development Manager, Footwear Quality Manager, Footwear Production Manager, Footwear Marketing Manager. The paper presents the “Managing Research and Innovation” e-learning training Unit which is a part of the MOOC “Manager for an Efficient and Innovative Footwear Industry” and the Book of Lectures “Footwear Company Management simulation and product development”, the main outputs developed within the ShoeMan Erasmus+ Project. The learning objective of the “Managing Research and Innovation” e-learning program is to provide theoretical knowledge and to allow the acquisitions of skills and competences for developing innovative footwear concepts, integrating trends regarding fashion, functionality, and specific demands from the market or individuals, identifying funding programs for Footwear Industry, planning and implementing research proposals and transferring footwear manufacturing innovative technologies. The basis for designing and developing the e-learning training unit was to identify and analyse the characteristics of the footwear industry that are related to the provided training, the existing trends in the industry, the anticipated skill needs, and the training needs, using desk and field research. Next, a European Qualification Framework (EQF) and Professional Profile was developed, organised in learning outcomes, addressing knowledge, skills and attitudes, with the use of ECVET scores. Further, the “Managing Research and Innovation” e-learning training program was developed, structured in 4 main chapters: Development through creativity and innovation, Research in Footwear Industry, Transfer of research and innovation and Product-related innovations. The training program was validated in form of a Learning Lab by managers and willing to be managers in the footwear industry which provided feedback and comments about the quality, relevancy and attractiveness of the program.

Keywords:

Footwear, e-learning, creativity, innovation, technology transfer, manager.