Why is the UK and in particular UK Skills keen to host the competition?
WorldSkills is the highlight of the international skills calendar, the biennial event bringing together member countries from across the world to pit the skills of their young people against the best the world has to offer. An exciting and engaging spectacle, the competition is open to visitors who are able to get a close up view of competitors as they battle it out against the clock and those difficulties that are commonly experienced in the workplace. In effect it provides a platform and focal point for nations in dealing with their skills issues.
More specifically the WorldSkills competition has the following direct benefits For the UK:
Move from competence to excellence
There is a growing sense that we need to raise our standards and aspirations. WorldSkills has the potential to take us beyond the demonstration of competence in vocational education and to create a passion for excellence.
Reduce skills gaps
The excitement and achievements of WorldSkills competitors has the potential to capture the attention of the nation, to provide the motivation young people need to consider vocational education and to set their aims higher. Plus it will help to transform our national attitudes towards skills, to tackle skills gaps and shortages, and to raise our low productivity levels.
Minimise skills shortages
Many young people are opting to go into what the consider more stimulating professions, WorldSkills has the potential to once again get them excited about vocational training and to entice them back into traditional skills - areas where we have skills shortages.
Re-engage the disaffected
Exposure to the achievements of WorldSkills competitors will we hope provide the inspiration this group and their parents need to make them believe that they are important and have what it takes to be successful, to stay on in learning and acquire vocational skills - to take the opportunity to develop their full potential.
Prepare for the 2012 Olympics
We have the unique opportunity to link world class achievement in skills with world class performance in sport - to get young people interested and excited about vocational skills through a medium they understand. It also provides an opportunity to showcase the many skills needed to prepare a city and its games venues - from construction to tourism, from engineering to hospitality.
Text from UKSkills website
What does it mean for engineering?
The engineering sector's contribution to WorldSkills is managed by SkillEng. See the feature on the work of SkillEng here, and see how your company can participate!