Consortium Meeting in Belgrade

The AEQUALIS Consortium once again brought together 19 partners for a meeting on February 4-5, 2025, in Belgrade, hosted by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce. This two-day event marked the first anniversary of a major EU-funded project focused on skills development in the textile sector. Participants had the opportunity to assess project progress, discuss challenges, and define key activities for the next three years.

The meeting was opened by Dirk Vantyghem, Director General of EURATEX, who thanked the hosts and emphasized the importance of shared responsibility among partners. He noted that while certain progress had been made in the first year, some tasks were delayed due to external factors and a lack of engagement from certain partners. He reiterated the importance of timely deliverables and adherence to deadlines to ensure the project meets its objectives. Additionally, he placed AEQUALIS within a broader European framework, linking it to initiatives such as the “Union for Skills” and SkillBridge, which aim to enhance the competitiveness of the European textile industry through skills development.

Marija Zlatković from the Serbian Chamber of Commerce welcomed the participants, highlighting the efforts of her colleagues in organizing the event. She presented the meeting agenda, which included key discussions, a review of financial reporting, an analysis of curriculum development progress, and an assessment of skills in the sector. In addition to official meetings, a social dinner and a visit to the Belgrade Design District were organized, allowing participants to engage with the local creative scene.

Special attention was given to improving the financial reporting system, with partners again reminded of their obligation to submit financial reports and timesheets by the end of February 2025 to align with European Commission deadlines. The need for consistent project monitoring was also emphasized, with the 2025 Gantt chart introduced as a tool for better task coordination and planning of future activities. These administrative matters were presented by Project Manager Pedro Goncalves.

Curriculum development was another key topic, focusing on aligning educational programs with industry needs. Sanja Ercegović Ražić from the Faculty of Textile Technology in Zagreb presented progress in curriculum development, emphasizing that all programs are being developed based on the results of a previously conducted skills survey. Representatives from the Craft College — Goran Švast, Danijel Đekić, and Vanja Husein—also participated in the project meeting.

The meeting also addressed the dissemination strategy and stakeholder engagement, stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation with industry, educational institutions, and regional authorities. All partners were encouraged to take an active role in promoting project results to maximize AEQUALIS’s reach and impact.

The meeting concluded with the confirmation of plans for upcoming consortium gatherings. The next in-person meeting will take place in Amsterdam in July 2025, followed by another in Slovenia at the beginning of 2026. This event in Belgrade reaffirmed AEQUALIS’s commitment to strengthening skills in the textile sector, with a clear roadmap for the years ahead.