Examining the Relationship between the Clothing and Textiles Curriculum and the World of work

Abstract

The delivery of the Clothing and Textiles curriculum has been marred by a myriad of challenges, and this has not

The Barcelona Conference on Education 2023: Official Conference Proceedings

“…In addition to the mastery of specific technical skills such as pattern making, sewing, and drawing, authors highlight the need for employability competencies. This includes teamwork, communication, solving complex problems, self-management, and lifelong learning, as emphasized by Boahin and Hofman (2013), Muzenda and Duku (2014), and Yamada and Otchia (2021).…”

“…The development of competencies, skills, and attitudes related to employability provides individuals with flexibility and adaptability to meet the constant changes in the world of work (Boahin & Hofman, 2013). Higher education curricula have increasingly focused on the development of competencies, especially professional competencies (Hodges et al, 2015), offering a possible solution to bridge the gap between graduates' qualifications and the demands of the workforce (Muzenda & Duku, 2014). Competencies in this context include proactivity, creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, interpersonal, social and critical thinking, communication, and networking (Boahin & Hofman, 2013).…”

“…In this regard, the relationship between educational institutions, students, and external sectors is an important collaboration opportunity for building relevant curricula for a diverse society and preparing professionals for the world of work. However, in many cases, there seems to be insufficient integration between educational institutions and external sectors when it comes to focusing on competency development (Muzenda & Duku, 2014).…”

“…In this context, data collection activities and practical project execution can be conducted in fashion programs, training students to have a keen eye for consumer diversity, as well as research trends and a global understanding of the fashion supply chain (Christel, 2016;Muzenda & Duku, 2014).…”

Linkages Between the Curriculum of Institutions Offering Clothing and Textiles and Their Allied Industry

“…It was also important to realize that efforts were underway to integrate industrial training in the other category, because industrial attachment has become part and parcel of education and training in the field of clothing and textiles. Adequacy of periods of industrial training is important since Muzenda and Duku (2014) have observed that contact hours in Clothing & Textiles programmes usually involve more theory to the neglect of industrial attachment. As a result, according to Muzenda and Duku, such students become ill-equipped to match with employment in the world of work.…”