INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF FOOTWEAR

Leicester U.K.

Why study at the International School of Footwear in Leicester?
Students from over 60 countries have attended this famous Footwear school in the last 60 years.

Footwear Business leaders all over the world started their career here.
Our Footwear courses prepare young people for careers
in all parts
of the International Footwear Business: -
Distribution, Exporting, Importing, Marketing, Component Manufacture, Footwear Manufacture, Quality Control, Buying, Designing and Product Development.

Shoe Design Class in progress	The Computer Aided Design Centre

Why study in Leicester?
Big but not too big, Leicester is a city of 350000 people with an international flavour.
All the facilities of a city, are here, shops, biggest market in the UK, libraries, and international restaurants.
Multi Cultural Mix, People from many countries live, work and study in harmony in the city.
Religious Freedom, Churches, Mosques and Temples from all the worlds' great religions are here to meet the needs of all.
Fun as well as study, Good leisure facilities, with a busy night life, concert halls, theatres, cinemas, sports facilities and Football, Rugby, Basketball and Cricket Clubs in the top league.
Good Transport, Coach and train services to London and all over the UK are easy and frequent.
Good Company,20,000 students in the City at the two Universities and Leicester College.
Easy accommodation, Plenty of self-catering student accommodation at reasonable cost.
Improving facilities, There was a merger in August 1999, between South Fields College and Charles Keene College to form Leicester College. This has enhanced the excellent facilities available to students.
New Technology. The School of Footwear has recently installed a considerable amount of 'cutting edge' technology, which has greatly enhanced the potential, and portfolio of courses. The School of Footwear is now a Centre of Excellence for education in the Global Footwear Industry.

DIPLOMA IN FOOTWEAR DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

• One year intensive full time course
• The Diploma course is made up of 3 Professional Development Certificates.
• Validated by EDEXCEL (BTEC) the National validating organisation.
• 30 hours per week lecturer contact.
• Costs less in accommodation and fees, as it is only one year.
• Students come from all over the UK and the world.
• Excellent employment record for students.

Course Content

• Visual Art & Creative Design. Development of creativity and visual thinking.
• Footwear Marketing , Forecasting and Research
• Footwear Design and Illustration. Awareness of Fashion. Development of Design Skills.
• Footwear Pattern Cutting. Translation of footwear designs into practical patterns.
• Design Realisation. Conversion of designs and patterns into finished shoes and the product development process.

• 2D CAD Pattern engineering, Defining parts, Grading.
• 3D CAD Digitising lasts flattening forms and designing in 3D. Producing visualisations.
• Computer Aided Manufacture. The application of footwear manufacturing equipment, to include Computer cutting, Computer stitching and Rapid prototyping.
• Strategic Management of IT. Successful application of IT. Human and ethical issues.
• Major Project. Students negotiate their own project to implement skills learnt in this unit.

• Shoemaking and prototype production. Practical shoemaking skills over a wide range of techniques and constructions, using leading edge technology.
• Technology and Applied Management A wide range of footwear constructions and the applied management techniques for footwear organisations.
• Production Strategy. Principles of production planning, departmental functions and costing using computerised systems. Quality control from raw materials to finished product.
• Footwear Materials. A study of footwear materials and their properties
• Quality Testing. Practical experience of quality testing.

Progression

Some of the students make handsewn shoes	Some designs produced on the Computer Aided design equipment

HIGHER DIPLOMA IN FOOTWEAR DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

• Two year full time course.
• De Montfort University Validated Course.
• Attracts student from all over the world as well as Europe and the UK.
• Access to year 2 BA(Hons) in Fashion at De Montfort University.
• Excellent employment record for graduates.
• The only Footwear Course validated by the International Textile Institute (LTI) for the Licentiateship professional qualification.

Modules

• Footwear Fashion and Design - an understanding of fashion markets, design themes and seasonal influences.
• Production Technology and Workshop - practical and theoretical aspects of shoemaking.
• Footwear Materials - a study of shoemaking materials, their properties and suitability.
• Materials Quality Testing - Practically testing materials for manufacture and wear quality.
• Pattern Cutting - conversion of design ideas into patterns for footwear production.
• Management of Information Technology - how IT information supports modern footwear production.
• Costing and Quality - the factors involved in costing of the footwear and controlling the quality.
• Advanced Pattern Cutting and CAD - use of computers for producing designs and patterns.
• Advanced Footwear Fashion and Design - more advanced designs and marketing.
• Advanced Production Technology and Workshop - advanced shoemaking technology both theory and practical.
• Footwear Materials and Testing - a greater understanding of materials and testing methods.
• Management Skills - a study of modern management techniques.

HND Graduates attend the De Montfort University Graduation Ceremony.

Progression

A student display : "70's influences"	A student display: "Back to nature"	A student display: "The hi-tech story"

SPECIAL SHORT COURSES AND CONSULTANCY

• 12 week duration (other periods are negotiable).
• Intensive. 25 hours lecturer contact per week.
• Aimed at mature age students with some experience of the industry and who wish to update their skills and knowledge.
• Courses have been used by UNIDO, World Bank, British Council and Overseas Governments to assist in the development of their industries.
• Course content is negotiable to suit candidates.

Footwear Appreciation Course

• 5 day duration
• Intensive. 30 hours per week lecturer contact
• Aimed at industry entrants and non-footwear specialists such as buyers, accountants, component manufacturers, machinery representatives to provide a practical understanding of shoe making.
• Successful course for 12 years.
• Includes essential theory and hands on shoe making.

• Team of lecturers can undertake short-term consultancy assignments on Design and Technology and Production Trouble shooting.
• Wide experience in helping to set up and moderate Footwear Colleges in different countries.
• Delegated by the International Textile Institute to moderate Footwear Diploma courses internationally.
• Assisting with CADCAM system selection.
• Strategic planning and implementation of Electronic Commerce and Information Technology.