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WorldSkills

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WorldSkills is the largest skills competition, jobs and careers event in the world.[1] It is a competition for youth from 17 to 22 years to demonstrate their excellence in skilled professions. The competition, held in a member country every two years, is promoted and managed by WorldSkills International, formerly known as the International Vocation Training Organisation (IVTO). Started in 1950 in Spain, WSI is the lead global authority for skilled profession development, setting an international standard for excellence in trades, skilled professions and high technology. As of September 2008, WorldSkills International has 50 member countries. The most recent competition was held in WorldSkills London 2011 that took take place 5th - 8th October 2011 at ExCeL London in London's Docklands.

Medal table

The following is a list of the top five winning nations ranked by medals in the WorldSkills London 2011.[2]

1  South Korea 13 5 6 24
2  Japan 11 4 4 19
3   Switzerland 6 5 6 17
4  Brazil 6 3 2 11
3  United Kingdom 4 2 6 12

Overview

Governed by an international Board of Directors and administered by the WorldSkills Secretariat, WSI's mission is "...to promote, through the cooperative actions of Members, a world-wide awareness of the essential contribution that skills and high standards of competence make to the achievement of economic success and individual achievement."

Through international competitions held every two years, WSI attempts to raise awareness to the opportunities that exist in skilled professions with the intent of encouraging youth and their parents and teachers to explore career opportunities in skilled trades, skilled professions and high technology.

The WorldSkills Competition allows people from all over the world to "observe the world's best young skilled people in action" says Tjerk (Jack) Dusseldorp, President of WorldSkills International.

"The importance and opportunity for Canada to host the 40th international competition cannot be overemphasized." said Richard Walker, President and CEO of WorldSkills Calgary 2009. "Our goal is to host the best WorldSkills Competition, while offering 200,000 visitors and millions of observers from around the world an opportunity to become part of the event. We will not only stream live across the web, but we will also engage those present and virtual visitors (on the web) to become part of this historic event through interactive and hands on experiences." Walker added.

WorldSkills Calgary 2009 took place from September 1 through September 7, 2009. The event was held at Stampede Park in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. One thousand of the best skilled young people from 50 countries competed in 45 skill areas to determine who was the best of the best. More than 80,000 square meters of space was utilized during the competition and visitors and delegates from around the world occupied 30,000 hotel room nights while visiting Calgary.

The WorldSkills legacy will leave $18 million in new state-of-the art equipment after the event for youth training and education.[3] Finally, WSI and the WorldSkills Calgary Organisation will, through education and youth awareness programs, leave a lasting legacy of awareness to the value of skills training and a career in skilled professions.[citation needed]

Honorary spokespersons for WorldSkills Calgary 2009 are Mike Holmes - Canadian Television personality "Holmes on Homes" and Chef David Adjey - Canadian television personality "Restaurant Make-over".

Among its main objectives are:

  • Promote the exchange between young professionals from various regions of the world;
  • Exchange of skills, experience and technological innovations;
  • Raise the understanding in governments, education and industry to the importance of skills training.
  • Raise the awareness of youth and those who influence youth to the opportunities available in skilled professions.

The young professionals who compete are selected by their respective countries, may only participate once in the WorldSkills Competition, and must be between the ages of 17 and 22 years in the year of competition.

Certificates of Achievement and medals are awarded to celebrate excellence during the competition: gold, silver and bronze, and certificates of excellence (to competitors who achieved over five hundred points).

"Knowledge is finite. It is the imagination that involves the world." Albert Einstein
"You know that your society is in peril when your entertainers are more valued than your tradesmen." Socrates

History

In 1946, given the need for skilled workers in Spain, the then Director-General of the Organization of Spanish Workers (OJE), Sr. Anthony Elola Olaso, realized it was necessary to create an effective system of professional training.

The idea of Olaso became a project in the hands of Antonio Almagro and Faustino Ramos, Director of the Center for Work, and awakened interests of agencies and companies where the most important centre for training Spanish, "Virgin of La Paloma," the idea embraced.

The first National Competition held in Madrid, the Spanish capital, was a success. Attended by four thousand apprentices.

But the event creators wanted more. They wanted to promote competitions that challenged competitors, showing the different levels of skill and ability of young people from other countries.

By having greater affinity, Latin American countries were invited to create an International Competition.

In 1950, with twelve young skilled competitors from Portugal and Spain, the first WorldSkills Competition was held.

Competitions

Promoted for more than half a century, the WorldSkills Competition is currently held every two years. The next Competition, in its 41st edition, will occur in 2011, in the city of London, United Kingdom.

ALL EDITIONS
Year LOCAL Year LOCAL
2015 Madrid, Spain
2013 Leipzig, Germany
2011 London, United Kingdom 1971 Gijón, Spain
2009 Calgary, Canada 1970 Tokyo, Japan
2007 Numazu, Japan 1969 Brussels, Belgium
2005 Helsinki, Finland 1968 Bern, Switzerland
2003 St. Gallen, Switzerland 1967 Madrid, Spain
2001 Seoul, South Korea 1966 Utrecht, Netherlands
1999 Montreal, Canada 1965 Glasgow, United Kingdom
1997 St. Gallen, Switzerland 1964 Lisbon, Portugal
1995 Lyon, France 1963 Dublin, Ireland
1993 Taipei, Taiwan 1962 Gijön, Spain
1991 Amsterdam, Netherlands 1961 Duisburg, Germany
1989 Birmingham, United Kingdom 1960 Barcelona, Spain
1988 Sydney, Australia 1959 Modena, Italy
1985 Osaka, Japan 1958 Brussels, Belgium
1983 Linz, Austria 1957 Madrid, Spain
1981 Cork, Ireland 1956 Madrid, Spain
1979 Busan, South Korea 1955 Madrid, Spain
1977 Utrecht, Netherlands 1953 Madrid, Spain
1975 Madrid, Spain 1951 Madrid, Spain
1973 Munich, Germany 1950 Madrid, Spain

Benefit to competitors

"For those who like to compete, the WorldSkills Competition is a great challenge, but for me what it is worth is the same recognition."

Rafael Sansão, former student of SENAI-Campinas, formed in CNC milling, silver medal in the World Skills 2007, in Shizuoka, Japan.

Although this is a competition, the WorldSkills Competition has no losers.[citation needed] Every Competitor is a Champion from their own country and a s such they represent the best in the world. They are great role models, examples of dedicated professionals in search of excellence.

Besides the title and medals of gold, silver and bronze, the Competition rewards these young Champions with a broader view of their profession and job opportunities. Competitors in a WorldSkills competition are highly sought after by industry.[citation needed] "Having competed in a WorldSkills Competition, these young professionals really have a Global Passport for the rest of their lives - they can work anywhere they want to", says Richard Walker, President and CEO of WorldSkills Calgary 2009.

Listing of current skill competitions

  • Transportation and Logistics
    • Autobody Repair
    • Automobile Technology
    • Car Painting
  • Construction and Building
    • Bricklaying
    • Cabinet Making
    • Carpentry
    • Electrical Installations
    • Industrial Control
    • Joinery
    • Landscape Gardening
    • Metal Roofing
    • Painting and Decorating
    • Plastering
    • Encanador / Plumbing
    • Refrigeration
    • Stonemasonry - This has been dropped from the 2011 competition, due to only 8 (rather than 12) countries taking part.
    • Wall and Floor Tiling
  • IT and Computing
  • Misc.
    • Florist
    • Restaurant Service
    • Manager of Resources
    • Landscape Garden
    • Joalheria
    • Lanternagem / Funilaria
    • Integrated Manufacturing
    • Marcenaria
    • Auto Mechanics
    • Mechatronics
    • Painting of Car
    • Painting and Decorating
    • Polimecânica
    • Case Assistido by Computer (DAC)
    • Refrigeration
    • Soldagem
    • Technology of Transportation
    • Usinagem the CNC
    • Visual Merchandising

References

  1. ^ http://www.worldskillslondon2011.com/news/news/2011/10/06/cameron-makes-visit-to-wsl/
  2. ^ http://www.worldskills.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=5357
  3. ^ [1] Reference WSC'09 Business Plan

Nations

Video clips

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