PhD Project "Traditional and Digital Knowledge: An Analysis of Fusion Training Pathways for Professional Development in the Furniture Industry in the Sousa Valley"
Reference: 2025.00556.BDANA
Scientific Areas: Sociology of Work
Supervisor: Cristina Parente (IS-UP)
Timeline: February 2026-March 2029
Abstract: The proposed participatory action-research aims to understand the risk of traditional knowledge disappearing within the furniture industry, caused by the devaluation of skilled manual labor and the difficulty of attracting young people to these occupations. It also intends to present alternative training models capable of valuing traditional skills and their related occupations. By employing mixed methodologies with a participatory focus, the goal is to involve workers, entrepreneurs, and local, employer, and union representatives in constructing fusion training solutions. The study highlights the necessity of preserving artisanal competencies by integrating them with information technology and digital manufacturing characteristic of the Industry 5.0 era. By focusing on the qualification and revaluation of traditional knowledge intersected with digital-age skills, the research proposes fusion training pathways that promote more dignified careers for newer generations. This approach aims to reverse the devaluation of this heritage of knowledge and practices while effectively responding to emerging market trends.
Target audience: Academic community and general population.
