The textile, clothing, leather and footwear (TCLF) industries in Europe are facing rapid transformation under the combined influence of sustainability imperatives, digitalisation, demographic change and new EU regulations. These developments require a rethinking of how lifelong learning is organised and delivered across the sector. This paper presents a comparative analysis of strategic documents and policy frameworks in Croatia and selected EU countries, with the aim of identifying both common challenges and specific national gaps.

The analysis shows that while the European Union has advanced in embedding digital competences, circular economy principles, and flexible training models into its educational strategies, Croatia still faces fragmented implementation, limited cooperation between education and industry, and insufficient mobility pathways for its workforce. Nevertheless, shared themes such as eco-design, digital product passports, circular economy competences, and transversal skills have been identified as priority areas across Europe.

Building on these findings, the AEQUALIS4TCLF project has designed a portfolio of micro-credentials that integrate these themes and provide modular, practice-oriented training accessible across national borders. By aligning curricula with EU-wide skill demands, these programmes not only address immediate upskilling and reskilling needs but also facilitate labour mobility and knowledge exchange within the European market.

This study highlights the educational value of developing short, flexible learning modules that connect industry and academia, ensuring that lifelong learning in the TCLF sector becomes a driver of both competitiveness and social inclusion. The topic is particularly relevant for ICERI2025, as it demonstrates how innovation in curriculum design and teaching methods can foster sustainable skills development, cross-border collaboration, and future-ready education in Europe.

Keywords: Life-long learning, AEQUALIS4TCLF, TCLF sector, curriculum innovation, Croatia, EU.