On Tuesday December 12, 2023 WUR, ArtEZ and Learn for Live jointly organized the co-creation workshop on learning & mentoring activities regarding a bio-economy ecosystem for fashion and textiles on behalf of the Dutch Hub. It was the fourth workshop in a series of four co-creation sessions, part of WP2. The main goal of the workshop was to create a framework with some inspirational ideas for the intended learning & monitoring activities which are feasably organized in the timeframe of WP3 (2024 and beginning of 2025).
The workshop event was held in collaboration with the Holland Air Museum, one of the Engage4BIO partners. The location was in one of the museum buildings: De Hanekamp Inn.
Finally, a group of 18 persons joined the workshop, consisted of 6 male and 12 female participants. They come from educational and cultural institutions, governments, and intermediary organizations. Additional partners were Learning for Life (focus on adult education) Spectrum (focus on citizens participation & learning) and some new people form HAN University of Applied Sciences.
Two co-creation workshop sessions were held. The goal of the first session was to get a clear picture which target group is most relevant for learning activities for bio-based and circular textile. After determining the most relevant target group(s), participants discussed the most relevant content of the learning activities, related to knowledge and skills for the transition to a bio-economy.
The goal of the second session was to develop further the previous canvas from another group by putting type of activities related to the described target groups and gaps of knowledge and expertise. New mixed groups were formed for this session
Particpants mentioned various target groups from students/pupils at secondary school and (prepratory) vocational eduction. A second important group of stakeholders are citizens which could be reach by the various platforms in the hub like museums and art and design events. There was a specific interest in families as intergenerational groups in which older and younger people can learn together.
Regarding the content of learning activities, most of the participants focus on awareness creation. As a consequence, in the Dutch hub is no clear distinction between learning activities at one side, and awareness and communication campaigns, and art events on the other side.
Based on the workshop result, the most promising ingredients of a framework for learning activities are:
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Make it playful (as a game), not with a pointing finger who to act and behave;
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Start with daily experiences and object (like people’s garments) of the citizens themselvese. Use them to explain aspects of material and production (w;
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Use existing platforms, activities etc. to embed the new activities;
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Focus on aspects of the whole ecosystem/value chain (from raw material to wardrobe, and the various R-strategies after use) to create a clear understanding of the complexity and challenges of a sustainable, biobased textile system;
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Make best practices for a biobased textile ecosystem visible by excursions along relevant actors like design studio, production factory, farmers, repair cafés, collecting and recycling companies, etc.
