Addressing Gaps between Textiles and Apparel Curriculum and the Industry in Kenya
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The first national meeting of textile and clothing professors took place in Madison, Wisconsin in June 1959. With a mission to advance excellence in education, scholarship and innovation, and their global applications, the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) is a professional and educational association of scholars, educators, and students in the textile, apparel, and merchandising disciplines in higher education.
This site provides free, public access to the ITAA annual conference proceedings beginning in 2015. Previous proceedings can be found by following the "Additional ITAA Proceedings" link on the left sidebar of this page.
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The textiles & apparel (T&A) industry holds the highest potential for not only fostering Africa's export competitiveness and economic development but also creating substantial employment opportunities. Kenya's T&A industry has earned its reputation in the global market as one of the leading emerging garment suppliers for high-volumes basics. Kenya's vision for 2030 prioritizes the T&A manufacturing sector as a catalyst for the country's economic development with a projected 10 percent growth rate annually. Despite opportunities for college graduates, the current T&A curriculum at universities in Kenya lacks a direct practical link to the T&A industries. To help address gaps between the T&A curriculum and emerging industry needs in Kenya, we propose collaborative research guided by Human-Centered Design (HCD). This proposed collaboration following the HCD process can be a practical example for other countries that have not yet fully realized the potentials of T&A industry for their economic and social benefits.