Learning revolution in Scottish textiles

Citation

(1999), "Learning revolution in Scottish textiles", Education + Training, Vol. 41 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.1999.00441bab.015

Learning revolution in Scottish textiles

Learning revolution in Scottish textiles

Keywords Clothing industry, Distance learning, Internet

More than a dozen small and medium-size clothing manufacturers in Scotland have signed up to a project which gives them access to new technology to improve business processes and deliver training to workers where and when it is needed.

The benefits of the "telematics" project ­ the broad term used for the joint use of information technology and telecommunications ­ were explored at a meeting of Marks & Spencer, clothing supplier Bairdwear Glasgow, and Fife College of Further and Higher Education.

Telematics gives companies access to electronic mail, business information and advice, training materials, the Internet and video-conferencing. Participating companies have been equipped with a computer through which they can dial in to gain access to materials held by the project leaders. These are Glenrothes College, Lauder College, Fife College and CAPITB Trust, the British apparel industry's national training organization.

Ian Hail, of Fife College, commented: "The project combines the traditional and the innovative in as close a replication of the traditional learning environment as possible.

"Good-quality training materials are delivered into the workplace over a network linked by ISDN telephone lines. Employees no longer have to leave their place of work on a wet and windy day to get the No. 19 bus to attend college or university to receive training. The savings in terms of time, cost and efficiency are obvious."