São João da Madeira, Vila Nova de Famalicão and Porto, Portugal — From 16 to 18 June 2026, the METASKILLS4TCLF project held its fifth and final European workshop in Portugal, bringing together partners to consolidate training resources, test innovative learning tools and finalise the roadmap for the project’s upcoming pilot phase.

The three-day event marked the conclusion of a workshop series delivered under METASKILLS4TCLF project.

The Portugal workshop represented the final step in a European training journey that began in Pirmasens, Germany, continued in Igualada, Spain, moved to Prato, Italy, and then to Vigonza, Italy, where partners progressively developed and validated new educational approaches, digital tools and collaborative training methods for the TCLF ecosystem.

A three-day programme focused on implementation

The workshop opened at CTCP – Centro Tecnológico do Calçado de Portugal, in São João da Madeira, with a review of the project’s progress and a practical exploration of the educational tools developed so far. Partners tested the European Virtual Fashion Campus e-learning platform and took part in immersive sessions in the Metaverse Lab, experiencing how virtual learning environments can support skills development in TCLF education and training.

On the second day, hosted by CITEVE – Centro Tecnológico das Indústrias Têxtil e do Vestuário de Portugal, in Vila Nova de Famalicão, the focus shifted to the design challenges. Working in sectoral groups covering Textile, Clothing, Leather and Footwear, participants developed practical learning scenarios that combine digital and green skills with real industry challenges. These activities are intended to support learners in acquiring concrete competences aligned with the twin transition currently reshaping the sector.

The final day took place at WOW – World of Wine, in Porto, and centred on the pedagogical and organizational preparation of the pilot phase. The programme included a masterclass on learner motivation and engagement, followed by a working session dedicated to finalising the Pilot Implementation Plans for each sector.

Pilot phase to test new training resources across Europe

The workshop concluded with the definition of a three-phase pilot structure that will now be implemented by project partners:
• Online platform exploration – testing core learning materials and e-books through the European Virtual Fashion Campus;
• Metaverse implementation – delivering the virtual challenges designed during the workshop through the Metaverse EU Labs;
• EU mobility activities – supporting cross-border learning experiences and international collaboration among learners.

Each sector group presented its implementation strategy, timeline and approach to monitoring learner engagement and progress. The pilot phase will play a key role in assessing the effectiveness of the project’s educational resources and gathering feedback for further refinement.

Closing a European workshop cycle

As the final workshop in a five-stage European series, the Portugal event marked an important milestone for METASKILLS4TCLF. Building on the work carried out in previous sessions in Germany, Spain and Italy, the consortium is now entering a new phase focused on real-life testing, learner participation and the transfer of results into education and training practice.

By combining digital learning, immersive technologies, sustainability-oriented content and international cooperation, METASKILLS4TCLF aims to strengthen the future readiness of the TCLF sectors and contribute to a more skilled, innovative and resilient European workforce.

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