Goce Delcev University in Stip has marked the launch of the international project “FuturFIBER – Integrating Advanced Sustainable Fibrous Materials into Engineering Curricula”, supported by the Erasmus+ programme under Cooperation Partnerships in Higher Education.
On 14 October 2026, the project consortium held its kick-off meeting in Štip, marking the beginning of joint efforts to implement the planned activities.
UGD is the project coordinator, working in partnership with the University of Minho (UMINHO), Portugal; the Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași (TUIASI), Romania; and Tèxtils.CAT, Spain. The project will run for 24 months and brings together higher education, scientific research, and the needs of the textile industry.
The main objective of FuturFIBER is to transfer research knowledge on biomaterials and advanced sustainable fibrous materials into engineering education. Through collaboration among the partners, the project will contribute to modernising curricula and developing green competencies among future engineers, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal.
The project envisages the development of an open-access educational module worth 5 ECTS credits. It will include ten video lectures, a research database containing more than 100 references, and learning and assessment materials. The planned activities also include piloting the teaching content with students, a summer school in Portugal, and the integration of the developed materials into the curricula at UGD and TUIASI.
During the kick-off meeting, the partners aligned the activities planned for the first year of implementation, allocated responsibilities, and established a timeline for their execution. Particular attention was given to developing the competency framework and learning outcomes, preparing the research database and teaching materials, and establishing procedures for quality assurance, progress monitoring, and risk management. Regular online coordination meetings to review progress and results were also agreed upon.
As project coordinator, UGD will lead the overall implementation of the project and monitor and review the progress of all project activities in cooperation with the work package leaders and partner teams. This role includes coordinating joint work, monitoring deadlines and the fulfilment of obligations, harmonising reports, and organising quality reviews. The project coordinator at UGD is Prof. Dr. Vineta Srebrenkoska.
Through the implementation of FuturFIBER, UGD is expanding its international academic cooperation and creating opportunities to connect scientific knowledge with teaching practice. The expected results will contribute to educating engineers equipped to respond to the needs of a sustainable textile industry.
