In an effort to address the increasing issue of workforce development amongst textile and apparel companies within the FACTS cluster, as well as provide real opportunities for students interested in potentially pursuing careers in the Apparels industry, cluster membership has introduced steps to form value-added internship opportunities for students studying at the Design and Faculty Institute, as based in Belgrade.
Four FACTS cluster members have pledged efforts to participate in a newly devel oped program, whereby students from this Institute will be matched with leading Serbian apparel companies based on stated technical and HR needs of the companies, in addition to geographic considerations based on each student’s preference.
The Dean of the Technical and Design Institute has been heavily en gaged in the planning and promotion process of this new program. “The benefits of this program between the Institute and several companies of the FACTS cluster are obvious. Students will attain and learn new skills over the course of the summer internships, while companies develop and secure new prospective workforce which will serve as a competitive advantage as the future unfolds.”
It is anticipated that between 10-15 interns will be placed in one of four selected companies for the summer production season, lasting between June and September 2011.
“This is a great way for students to become aware of the industry and companies as a whole. At the same time, this opportunity benefits the private sector firms within our cluster by providing them invaluable insights into future workers for given firms,” states FACTS cluster manager Sladjana Milojevic
