Fashion and Textile Technologies receives 4 ☆ sustainability quality mark: ‘Extremely proud’

Sustainability and Change are indeed keywords at Fashion and Textile Technologies. This Saxion programme focuses on the future of the textile industry. Education in innovation and sustainable production and recycling of textiles are important components. From now on, the programme will continue its work bearing the prestigious 4-star Seal for Sustainability in Higher Education (SHE). Jan-Chris explains that this is a national, voluntary certification by the inspection organisation Hobeon. The purpose is to measure the extent to which sustainability is part of a programme and its environment. “Until recently we had a 3-star quality mark. That means that sustainability is an integral part of our curriculum, has been translated into our learning objectives and is structurally achieved. A 4-star quality mark means we convinced the committee that we have structurally involved our partners in the process.” Hobeon talked to employees, MT members, students and companies associated with Fashion and Textile Technologies. It concluded that the degree programme more than meets the criteria for the quality mark. 

Fourth University of Applied Sciences

Saxion is now the fourth University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands to achieve the ‘4-star SHE quality mark. This is a great milestone for Jan-Chris and his team: “We volunteered to take part in the process but the whole team gave us their full support. For a regular audit, the project is always prepared by the programme. In our case, the project team has worked since the beginning of the academic year on taking stock of the current level of sustainability in our education, writing a critical self-reflection and evaluation, and producing a supporting video. Now that we have actually received the SHE certificate, there is a profound sense of pride: “We are very proud of what we have achieved together as a degree programme: And of the fact that we are leading the way, both within Saxion and in the outside world. Prospective students and their parents also notice this at information events.

Transparency in the fashion supply chain

What will the quality mark mean to current and future students? “Throughout their studies, the average student will see sustainability as a recurring theme.” Jan-Chris cites the use of sustainable alternatives for raw materials and better working conditions in factories. “During the course of the programme, we use a lot of relevant tools that our students are going to encounter in the business world after they graduate. For example, software tools such as TexTracer and bAwear. These tools help students understand the importance of transparency in the fashion supply chain.” During educational projects, students are continually challenged to take sustainability criteria into account when making relevant decisions.

Support

Sustainability is playing an increasingly significant role in all aspects of Saxion’s education, according to Ingrid Bles (Director of Sustainable Education). Saxion signed the Sustainable Development Goals Charter in 2018. Ingrid tells us that great strides have been made since then: “An educational institution doesn't make its greatest impact through its operational management, but through the knowledge and skills its students bring to the workplace. During their internship or graduation project. And of course, afterwards. When you consider that we have 27,000 students, the impact is obviously quite significant. You hope that employers, both regionally and nationally, will say: I prefer to hire a Saxion graduate because they  can really help our organisation move forward in terms of sustainability.” 

Sustainability agenda

Saxion has recently adopted the sustainability agenda for education. This is partly based on Hobeon’s SHE assessment framework. Ingrid: “Each programme completes an annual status report. You also need to show an annual 0.5 Development Phase improvement. It is the intention that 75% of Saxion’s degree programmes will have reached Development Phase 4 by the end of 2030. And 100% of the degree programmes will have reached Phase 3. We continue to hold discussions with all programmes, about the support they need to achieve these goals. Our role is to support their needs, for example by providing training courses for lecturers.” Ingrid was not personally involved in the certification process for the Fashion and Textile Technologies programme, she says. “This was an internal matter, but fortunately the people involved in this programme are always willing to share their knowledge and experience with other programmes that are considering taking the same steps. 

And the programme itself? What will be the next step for Fashion and Textile Technologies? Jan-Chris: “We will review and implement our action plan in the light of this certification. It is still, of course, an ongoing process. There is always room for improvement. There is no finish line, to coin a phrase from a well-known sports brand.”