Training of future professionals in vocational education for responsible consumption and production

Abstract

The garment industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world. Clothing quickly becomes textile waste because of the rapid change in fashion trends. Greenpeace says that 95% of clothing can be reused. Future professionals in vocational education minoring in garment technology study methods of optimising the materials use and reducing waste in new products manufacturing. However, training in textiles upcycling is essential to solving the problem of clothes that have been used and gone out of fashion. Appropriate competence has to be formed. Students need to know the benefits and risks of upcycling, and possible techniques which can be used for it. It is important to form a positive attitude toward upcycling. To realise these goals, students create upcycling projects while studying professional disciplines in KNUTD. A survey was conducted to understand the upcycling behaviour of KNUTD students. 93 students took part in it. The combination model of theory of interpersonal behaviour and theory of planned behavior was used. The results indicate a positive attitude towards upcycling practices. Half of the respondents engage in upcycling once a year, and the other half every 3 months or more often. But undergraduate students are not aware of the benefits of upcycling. So, further work needs to be carried out so future vocational education professionals will consciously use environmental standards in their activity