GRANT ACTIVITY AS A TOOL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND MODERNIZATION OF THE GARMENT INDUSTRY AND THE EDUCATIONAL ECOSYSTEM

Abstract

The article examines the role of grant-based activities as a strategic tool for the development and modernization of the garment industry and the educational ecosystem for training specialists in fashion design and the light industry sector. The study substantiates the significance of grant programs for updating material and technical infrastructure, implementing digital technologies, developing entrepreneurial competencies, and strengthening the interaction between education and production. Key directions for the effective use of grant resources are identified. The paper analyzes grants that enable educational institutions to modernize and equip laboratories with advanced equipment and digital systems for clothing design and production. The analysis demonstrates that the priority is the model focused on laboratory modernization and equipment, as it ensures the creation of autonomous and safe educational-practical spaces. The model in which a partner funds a specific project using existing infrastructure is effective under stable economic conditions; however, its impact is limited during wartime. Utilizing laboratory facilities for applied projects fosters practice-oriented learning, the development of research competencies and entrepreneurial thinking, and strengthens collaboration between education, the state, and the production sector—an essential factor for economic recovery and the adaptation of the garment industry under wartime conditions. The article further explores grant support models for higher education institutions during war and their influence on specialist training and industry development. It also highlights challenges related to the industry’s decline, including limited practical opportunities for students, brain drain, and a shortage of mentors, which reduce the effectiveness of preparing new specialists.