WORLDSKILLS­... INSPIRING SKILLS EXCELLENCE

v1 2 WorldSkills International is the leading The experiences and dreams of the global organization promoting skills WorldSkills Competitors make powerful excellence among young people. WorldSkills stories that inspire others to choose International celebrated its 60th anniversary skills education as the foundation for a in 2010, and in the following year WorldSkills fulfilling future. CONTENTS Foundation was established. Today, more For more information about WorldSkills see: MoVE international 3 than 60 countries/regions are WorldSkills Members, and membership is growing www.worldskills.org Learning for life 4–5 steadily. The WorldSkills organizations are in Pathway to professional identity 6–7 a unique position to foster skills development. MODELLING VOCATIONAL Leaders in the making 8–9 Skills competitions are the core WorldSkills EXCELLENCE — Strengthening national 10–11 activity. Thousands of young people A RESEARCH STUDY training systems participate in national, regional and international competitions that generate Do skills competitions really make a enthusiastic interest among many difference? Do competitions contribute to stakeholders, including competitors, teachers, the stock of skills that economic and social employers and governments. WorldSkills also development demand? offers opportunities for benchmarking skills, Researchers from three countries (, exchanging experiences and joining forces to and ) have worked develop skills, effective teaching practice and collaboratively to answer these questions. strong training systems. Their research program is called Modelling WorldSkills pursues a challenging vision: Vocational Excellence, or MoVE. They studied the motivations and experiences of A world where people can achieve the Competitors and Experts who participated in workplace skills they need to prosper WorldSkills 2011. The research study and find fulfilment. produced the persuasive findings that can be Our vision relies on contributions from summarised as follows: dedicated teachers and leaders in vocational WorldSkills competitions raise quality, education and training, industry mentors, promote professional development and and from decision makers in training drive improvements in vocational training. authorities, industry and governments. WORLDSKILLS... The WorldSkills global network is a hub This e-booklet refers to the ways that for developing WorldSkills competitions contribute to and training. Quality training outcomes stronger training systems. It explores the INSPIRING SKILLS create opportunities for young people – MoVE study’s findings about the benefits opportunities that bring recognition and of participating in competitions. The results status, and ensure skills development aligns reveal a lifetime impact for both Competitors EXCELLENCE. with workplace demands. and Experts. 3 v2 MoVE INTERNATIONAL

WHAT DID THE MOVE WHERE CAN I FIND ABOUT MOVE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH OUT MORE ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL PROJECT INVOLVE? MOVE INTERNATIONAL MoVE stands for Modelling The MoVE International research project RESEARCH PROJECT? Vocational Excellence. described in this booklet focused on A complete analysis of the survey data MoVE International is WorldSkills’ identifying what is involved in developing is contained in the MoVE International first research partnership. The project vocational expertise and excellence. research team’s technical report: partners are: During WorldSkills London 2011, the MoVE • What Contributes to Vocational • Skills Finland International research team distributed Excellence? Characteristics and • WorldSkills UK two extensive surveys. One survey was for Experiences of Competitors and Experts • WorldSkills Australia Competitors and one survey was for Experts. in WorldSkills London 2011. • Dusseldorp Skills Forum. The surveys collected information about: The technical report, and an overview • the personal experience of The MoVE International research team booklet, are available on the WorldSkills is a collaboration between: involvement in WorldSkills Foundation website. Please visit: • the individual characteristics of • University of Tampere, Finland www.worldskillsfoundation.org vocational excellence. • University of Oxford, UK • RMIT University, Australia, with support Surveys were completed by: from Deakin University, Australia. • 413 Competitors from 38 countries • 165 Experts from 38 countries.

v1 4 Training for WorldSkills has been … a wonderful journey of learning, experience and exposure to the new and latest things happening around the world … It is not important to win a medal but the experience that you get while training for WorldSkills surely makes you a winner in the long run. – Competitor, , .

5 v2 Every participant in WorldSkills is a winner. WorldSkills is an unrivalled learning That’s the word from Competitors and opportunity. Competitors and Experts Experts. Winning a medal is a bonus, but establish networks and friendships that not the defining outcome. What defines will continually sharpen their skills and WorldSkills is learning. Learning from the knowledge. best. Learning about new technologies. Learning new ways of organizing work. Competitors and Experts emphasize that Learning what kind of training gets results. WorldSkills competitions do more than Competitors and Experts become members extend technical skills. They enhance skills of a global learning community. and characteristics that get things done well in workplaces – teamwork, communication, The enthusiasm of Competitors for learning persistence, practice, willingness to try new flows from their desire to perform at the things. Skills that last a lifetime. 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.

WorldSkills... learning for life.

v1 6 WorldSkills makes you grow as you learn so much about your job. 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… WorldSkills is worth 10 years of professional experience. – Competitor, .

7 v2 Experts are vital to WorldSkills. They are with Competitors report that WorldSkills Competitors at every step. They speak of participation advances their careers. It opens their satisfaction in supporting young people doors to a fulfilling future in their chosen skill to achieve at the highest level. As mentors area. It helps them set clear career goals. and role models, they bind Competitors into the profession they love. Hard work, relentless practice, giving up social activities – these are all part of WorldSkills invites young people to broaden preparing for and competing at WorldSkills. their professional identity. It deepens And many Competitors report that preparing their sense of belonging to their chosen and competing is the making of them – trades and professions. Being selected personally and professionally. for a WorldSkills 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.

WorldSkills... pathway to professional identity.

v1 8 Sure training for WorldSkills takes a lot of focus, motivation, 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 about winning a medal; sure that’s a bonus. It’s about everything else that comes along with it. It is an experience of a lifetime. – Competitor, .

9 v2 WorldSkills is a platform that further Finely honed technical skills are fundamental develops today’s vocational leaders. to vocational excellence. WorldSkills Experts believe their participation in Competitors are already aware that they are WorldSkills directly develops their high level working towards national and international planning and leadership skills, as well as leadership in their skills areas. Participating in their technical skills. WorldSkills renews their WorldSkills builds their people skills and their commitment to their trades and professions. professional identities. They are leaders in It enlarges their leadership networks and the making. offers a valuable opportunity to upskill their technical expertise. WorldSkills expands the pool of leaders in vocational excellence – now and for WorldSkills is also a platform that is the future. 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.’

WorldSkills... leaders in the making.

v1 10 WorldSkills showcases your Competitors’ skills against a benchmark of other countries. This gives you an indication of how other countries train and what you need to be doing to get yourself into a competitive position. – Expert, UK.

11 v2 WorldSkills adopts a single-minded focus They gain a rich understanding of how to on skills excellence. Experts maintain that nurture and shape skills excellence. That sharp focus through involvement in regional, understanding is an immense resource national, and international WorldSkills for national training systems. The insights competitions. Their expertise as teachers, Experts gather through competitions and their unwavering commitment to positively influences how training is their trades and professions, guides and organized and delivered, both on and off inspires young people who are starting their the job. professional journeys. Many companies actively support WorldSkills WorldSkills is the hub of an expanding competitions. They provide funding. They network of accomplished teachers and offer their expertise freely. They share the industry mentors. WorldSkills competitions latest technology and innovative work enrich the professional and personal lives practices. Their involvement means Experts of Experts. Competitions enable them to see precisely what skills industry is seeking. benchmark their skills and training practices They hear directly about the workforce with colleagues at home and abroad. Experts attitudes and characteristics industry collaborate extensively during competitions, values. WorldSkills exposes Experts to learning through the mutual exchange of industry’s perspective, deepening national ideas and experience. training system capacity to meet industry’s contemporary skills needs.

WorldSkills... strengthening national training systems.

v1 12 WorldSkills is undoubtedly a platform for young tradesman and their trainers to showcase, compete and learn from all the best WORLDSKILLSin their trades INTERNATIONALfrom all over the world... WWW.WORLDSKILLS.ORG The benefits of participating include WORLDSKILLS INTERNATIONAL WORLDSKILLSelevating their FOUNDATION skills level and definitely www.worldskills.org WWW.WORLDSKILLSFOUNDATION.ORGhelping their countries’ future and economy. WORLDSKILLS FOUNDATION – Expert, . www.worldskillsfoundation.org

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