Digital technologies have the potential to radically transform the teaching and learning process in vocational schools in Europe. Advancements in artificial intelligence and access to OpenAI is creating a new learning dynamic with can be increasingly personalised and immersive in training approaches used for entrepreneurship and sustainability subjects. These findings emerge from the latest European SEiSC project (Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Smart Clothing) research, which has mapped the best teaching practices across six European countries.
The study, coordinated by Dr Aidan Kenny of the Technological University of Dublin, was undertook within the Erasmus+ project lead by the Finnish institute Lounais-Hämeen koulutuskuntayhtymä, reveals how new technologies redefine approaches to teaching entrepreneurial skills and sustainability practice. Teaching and learning can move from the ‘chalk and talk’ in the classroom to AI-powered simulations where students can experience first-hand the challenges of managing a sustainable business.
“We are witnessing a true methodological shift”, explains Kenny. “AI enables teachers and trainers to create adaptive learning environments that adjust in real-time to each student’s needs”. This approach yields remarkable results, particularly in teaching soft skills, which are increasingly crucial in today’s workplace.
The research has identified twelve particularly promising best practices. Among these, the Spanish experience of educational “escape rooms” stands out: immersive laboratories where students must solve problems related to the circular economy in the textile sector. This format combines gamification with experiential learning and shows how play and simulation can convey complex concepts.
However, it is in partnerships with businesses where the most exciting insights emerge. Collaboration with cutting-edge companies in the smart clothing field is creating a virtuous circle between training and innovation. Students are not merely studying business cases; they are actively participating in developing new sustainable solutions and acquiring entrepreneurial mindset that will be crucial for their professional future.
The results of this preliminary project research opens up scenarios for European vocational education and training; the next step will be developing a virtual simulation platform that will allow these innovative experiences to be tested, modified and provided free, making sustainable entrepreneurship learning accessible to an ever-growing number of students.
At a time when Europe decisively focuses on the twin transition – digital and green – projects like SEiSC show how we can harness technological innovation for more effective and inclusive training. The challenge is permanently integrating these innovative approaches into vocational school curricula, preparing a new generation of entrepreneurs capable of combining economic success with environmental responsibility.