The essential role skills play in the global economy was highlighted last week at the 42nd World Skills Competition in Liepziger, Germany, organised by WorldSkills International (WSI). The competition is designed to give participants vital feedback on their abilities while raising the profile of VET.
More than a thousand youngsters from 52 countries and regions took part, competing in 46 skill sets, including graphic design technology, aircraft maintenance and landscape gardening.
For the first time in the competition’s 60-year history, the prestigious Albert Vidal Award, presented to the competitor who earns the highest score overall, was won by two students: Shinpei Utsunomiya of Japan and Hyun Woom Won of Korea.
“WSI was established with the aim of showing that the ‘future depended on an effective vocational training system.'”
Korea also led all other competitor countries in the medal count, winning 23 awards overall.
WSI was established in Spain in 1946 with the aim of showing students, parents and teachers that the “future depended on an effective vocational training system”. Today it runs as a not-for-profit membership association for agencies or bodies which promote vocational education and training in their respective countries or regions.
Every two years WSI runs the week-long competition, attracting hundreds of participants who have won regional and national competitions, as well as their trainers and teachers. The competition’s industry partners include multinationals like 3M, Samsung and Cisco.
Next year’s competition will be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.