Smart Fashion Lab@TVET: Digital Innovation in Fashion Work-Based Learning
Keywords:
AI-Pothis Studyred Fashion Tools, Digital Innovation in TVET, Smart Fashion Lab Integration, Work-Based Learning Strategies, Industry 4.0 Skills Alignment, Fashion Education Modernization, Human-AI Co-Creation, Employability Through Digital CompetencyAbstract
The fashion industry is undergoing rapid digital transformation, which is stimulating the creation of emerging skills and innovative pedagogical practice within fashion education. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools such as Arau Community College in Malaysia face the task of aligning their curricula with the competences and practices required by Industry 4.0, especially in today's production environments. This concept paper recommends the setting up of Smart Fashion Lab@TVET, a system that incorporates digital technologies such as 3D design, virtual reality, digital fabrication, and this studyarable technology into curricula in fashion design through the adoption of work-based learning (WBL) approaches. The discussion includes the rationale and context behind the proposed lab, drawing upon recent academic literature regarding digital education in fashion, WBL in TVET, smart labs in the context of innovation in pedagogical approaches, and the combination of vocational education with fashion technology. A conceptual model is presented to illustrate how the Smart Fashion Lab@TVET promotes cooperative learning amongst students, teachers, and industry players, facilitating the liaison with professional settings through academic teaching. The proposed strategy for implementing and evaluating this lab involves an industry-partnership-based pilot project and a mixed-methods approach to measuring effects. Expected outcomes include improved technical competencies, creativity, innovation preparedness, and employability of the students, in line with the national requirement of TVET and Industry 4.0. The conclusion is that Smart Fashion Lab@TVET is an implementable model towards enhancing education in fashion in community and similar colleges to prepare graduates to make meaningful contributions towards the digital economy.
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