KAΙNOTOMIA successfully held an event at the Metropolitan College (Larissa Campus), where it had the opportunity to engage with students from the Business Management department, presenting modern approaches to sustainable development and business management.

This activity was implemented במסגרת the European project W4TEX – Strengthening women’s representation in senior textile positions, under the title: “Promoting the Green Transition: Managerial Skills for the Circular Economy in the Textile Sector,” and served as the final event of the project in Greece.

Objective and Presentation Topics

The event focused on the critical role of managerial skills in the transition toward a sustainable and circular economic model, both in the textile sector and across broader business fields.

In particular, the following key topics were covered:

• The current state of the European textile industry, a sector employing 1.5 million people and having a significant environmental footprint
• The existing gap in “green skills” and the need to strengthen them
• Presentation of the W4TEX project and its innovative tools (the Be a Manager e-learning platform, the WomenThinkGreen toolkit, and Ideathons)
• Key managerial skills required for the green transition
• Circular business models and examples of their implementation

The Green Transition as a Management Challenge

One of the main messages of the event was that sustainability is no longer solely a technical issue, but primarily a challenge of management and leadership. Modern businesses are required to integrate sustainability into all their functions — from supply chains to human resources and strategic development.

In this context, five critical skills were highlighted:

• Systems thinking
• Data-driven decision making
• Change management and team leadership
• Strategic communication and business ethics
• Business innovation and opportunity development

Circular Business Models and New Opportunities

Special emphasis was placed on circular business models, such as:

• Product-as-a-Service
• Resale and upcycling
• Repair and product life extension
• Closed-loop recycling

Through examples and case studies, students became familiar with practical applications of the circular economy and the opportunities it creates for the new generation of professionals.

Participation and Impact

Students and academic staff of the Metropolitan College participated in the event, demonstrating a high level of engagement and interest. Notably, all attendees evaluated their participation positively, confirming the quality and relevance of the event’s content.

The initiative highlighted:

• The importance of education in managerial and green skills for the labor market
• The need to connect academic knowledge with modern market demands
• The role of young people as future leaders of sustainable development in the textile sector and beyond

A Step Towards the Future

This event by KAiNOTOMIA confirms its commitment to promoting innovation, sustainability, and quality education. Through initiatives like this, the connection between education and the real needs of the labor market and the economy is strengthened, while fostering interaction with future professionals who will lead the green transition of businesses.