1 WorldSkills – inspiring skills excellence 2

WorldSkills International is the leading global The experiences and dreams of the WorldSkills organization promoting skills excellence Competitors make powerful stories that WorldSkills – among young people. WorldSkills International inspire others to choose skills education as the celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2010, and in foundation for a fulfilling future. the following year WorldSkills Foundation was inspiring skills established. Today, more than 60 countries/ For more information about WorldSkills see: regions are WorldSkills Members, and www.worldskills.org excellence membership is growing steadily. The WorldSkills organizations are in a unique position to foster skills development. Modelling Vocational Excellence – A research study Skills competitions are the core WorldSkills activity. Thousands of young people participate Do skills competitions really make a in national, regional and international difference? Do competitions contribute to competitions that generate enthusiastic the stock of skills that economic and social interest among many stakeholders, development demand? including competitors, teachers, employers Researchers from three countries (, and governments. WorldSkills also offers and ) have worked opportunities for benchmarking skills, collaboratively to answer these questions. exchanging experiences and joining forces to Their research program is called Modelling develop skills, effective teaching practice and Contents Vocational Excellence, or MoVE. They strong training systems. studied the motivations and experiences of WorldSkills pursues a challenging vision: Competitors and Experts who participated in Learning for life 3-4 A world where people can achieve the WorldSkills 2011. The research study workplace skills they need to prosper produced the persuasive findings that can be and find fulfilment. summarised as follows: Pathway to professional identity 5-6 WorldSkills competitions raise quality, Our vision relies on contributions from dedicated promote professional development and teachers and leaders in drive improvements in vocational training. and training, industry mentors, and from Leaders in the making 7-8 decision makers in training authorities, industry This e-booklet refers to the ways that and governments. The WorldSkills global WorldSkills competitions contribute to stronger training systems. It explores the MoVE study’s Strengthening national network is a hub for developing vocational findings about the benefits of participating training systems 9-10 education and training. Quality training outcomes create opportunities for young people in competitions. The results reveal a lifetime – opportunities that bring recognition and impact for both Competitors and Experts. MoVE International 11 status, and ensure skills development aligns with workplace demands. 3

Training for WorldSkills has been … a wonderful journey of WorldSkills – learning, experience and exposure to the new and latest things happening around the world … It is not important to win a medal learning but the experience that you get while training for WorldSkills surely for life makes you a winner in the long run. – Competitor, , . 4

Every participant in WorldSkills is a winner. WorldSkills is an unrivalled learning That’s the word from Competitors and opportunity. Competitors and Experts establish WorldSkills – Experts. Winning a medal is a bonus, but networks and friendships that will continually not the defining outcome. What defines sharpen their skills and knowledge. WorldSkills is learning. Learning from the learning best. Learning about new technologies. Competitors and Experts emphasize that Learning new ways of organizing work. WorldSkills competitions do more than for life Learning what kind of training gets results. extend technical skills. They enhance skills Competitors and Experts become members of and characteristics that get things done well a global learning community. in workplaces – teamwork, communication, persistence, practice, willingness to try new The enthusiasm of Competitors for learning things. Skills that last a lifetime. flows from their desire to perform at the top rank of their chosen trade or profession. WorldSkills introduces them to the best from around the world in skills areas as diverse as aircraft maintenance, cabinetmaking, cooking, graphic design, hairdressing. 5

WorldSkills makes you grow as you learn so much about your job. WorldSkills – You increase your skills. It’s a sacrifice but this is really beneficial and you learn about yourself as you see yourself getting so much better pathway to … WorldSkills is worth 10 years of professional experience. professional – Competitor, . identity 6

Experts are vital to WorldSkills. They are with Competitors report that WorldSkills Competitors at every step. They speak of their participation advances their careers. It opens WorldSkills – satisfaction in supporting young people to doors to a fulfilling future in their chosen skill achieve at the highest level. As mentors and area. It helps them set clear career goals. role models, they bind Competitors into the pathway to profession they love. Hard work, relentless practice, giving up social activities – these are all part of preparing for WorldSkills invites young people to broaden and competing at WorldSkills. And many professional their professional identity. It deepens their Competitors report that preparing and sense of belonging to their chosen trades and competing is the making of them – personally professions. Being selected for a WorldSkills and professionally. identity team kindles respect from their families and employers. Being a team member brings recognition from highly skilled members of their trades and profession – their peers and experts. 7

Sure training for WorldSkills takes a lot of focus, motivation, WorldSkills – support, patience and time. But at the end of the day I want to be able to say: ‘I did the absolute best I could and I feel great.’ It is not leaders in the about winning a medal; sure that’s a bonus. It’s about everything making else that comes along with it. It is an experience of a lifetime. – Competitor, . 8

WorldSkills is a platform that further develops Finely honed technical skills are fundamental to today’s vocational leaders. Experts believe their vocational excellence. WorldSkills Competitors WorldSkills – participation in WorldSkills directly develops are already aware that they are working their high level planning and leadership skills, towards national and international leadership as well as their technical skills. WorldSkills in their skills areas. Participating in WorldSkills leaders in the renews their commitment to their trades builds their people skills and their professional and professions. It enlarges their leadership identities. They are leaders in the making. making networks and offers a valuable opportunity to upskill their technical expertise. WorldSkills expands the pool of leaders in vocational excellence – now and for the future. WorldSkills is also a platform that is developing the vocational leaders of tomorrow. WorldSkills London 2011 Competitors expressed high levels of agreement with this statement in the MoVE research survey: ‘Becoming a master in my trade/profession has become very important for me.’ 9

WorldSkills showcases your Competitors’ skills against a WorldSkills – benchmark of other countries. This gives you an indication of how other countries train and what you need to be doing to strengthening get yourself into a competitive position. national training – Expert, UK. systems 10

WorldSkills adopts a single-minded focus on skills They gain a rich understanding of how to excellence. Experts maintain that sharp focus nurture and shape skills excellence. That WorldSkills – through involvement in regional, national, and understanding is an immense resource for international WorldSkills competitions. Their national training systems. The insights Experts expertise as teachers, and their unwavering gather through competitions positively strengthening commitment to their trades and professions, influences how training is organized and guides and inspires young people who are delivered, both on and off the job. starting their professional journeys. national training Many companies actively support WorldSkills WorldSkills is the hub of an expanding competitions. They provide funding. They offer network of accomplished teachers and their expertise freely. They share the latest systems industry mentors. WorldSkills competitions technology and innovative work practices. enrich the professional and personal lives Their involvement means Experts see precisely of Experts. Competitions enable them to what skills industry is seeking. They hear benchmark their skills and training practices directly about the workforce attitudes and with colleagues at home and abroad. Experts characteristics industry values. WorldSkills collaborate extensively during competitions, exposes Experts to industry’s perspective, learning through the mutual exchange of deepening national training system capacity to ideas and experience. meet industry’s contemporary skills needs. 11

What did the MoVE Where can I find out more MoVE International research about the MoVE International project involve? research project? International The MoVE International research project A complete analysis of the survey data is described in this booklet focused on identifying contained in the MoVE International research what is involved in developing vocational team’s technical report: expertise and excellence. • What Contributes to Vocational Excellence? Characteristics and Experiences of During WorldSkills London 2011, the MoVE Competitors and Experts in WorldSkills International research team distributed London 2011. two extensive surveys. One survey was for Competitors and one survey was for Experts. The technical report, and an overview The surveys collected information about: booklet, are available on the WorldSkills • the personal experience of involvement in Foundation website. Please visit: WorldSkills www.worldskillsfoundation.org • the individual characteristics of vocational excellence. About MoVE International Surveys were completed by: • 413 Competitors from 38 countries MoVE stands for Modelling Vocational Excellence. • 165 Experts from 38 countries. MoVE International is WorldSkills’ first research partnership. The project partners are: • Skills Finland • WorldSkills UK • WorldSkills Australia • Dusseldorp Skills Forum. The MoVE International research team is a collaboration between: • University of Tampere, Finland • University of Oxford, UK • RMIT University, Australia, with support from Deakin University, Australia. 12 WorldSkills is undoubtedly a platform for young tradesman and their trainers to showcase, compete and learn from all the best in their trades from all over the world ... The benefits of participating include elevating their skills level and definitely helping their countries’ future and economy. – Expert, .

WorldSkills International www.worldskills.org WorldSkills Foundation www.worldskillsfoundation.org