1 TABLE OF CONTENTS MEMBER SUPPORT 56 LAUNDRY SERVICE 57 WELCOME MESSAGES 05 Simon Bartley 06 HOTELS 58 David Hoey 07 IT RESOURCES 62 Jos de Goey and Laurence Gates 08 IT-Helpdesk 62 Stefan Praschl and Dr Michael Fung 10 Wi-Fi and IT Equipment 62 AN EXTRAORDINARY DESTINATION 11 MOBILE PHONES 64 Abu Dhabi Emirate 11 TRANSPORT 65 Culture 11 Airport Transfers 65 Helpful Tips 12 Daily Transfers 66 Hotel Zones 67 ADNEC INFORMATION 18 Public Transportation 68 MAP 18 Ceremonies 68 Safety and Security Procedures 22 Sight Seeing Shuttle 68 Security 22 First Aid 23 ACCREDITATION 69 Services and Amenities 26 CATERING 69 PROGRAMME 26 Delegate Restaurant 70 Included Meals 70 WSI MEETING ROOMS AND OFFICE LOCATIONS 36 Skill Out 71 EXPERT EXCURSION AND WELCOME RECEPTION 38 Food Outlets at ADNEC 71 ONE SCHOOL ONE COUNTRY 40 VOLUNTEERS 72 COMPETITOR EXCURSION AND WELCOME RECEPTION 42 MEDIA CENTRE 74 CEREMONIES AND FAREWELL PARTY 43 ADNEC 74 Tickets 43 du Arena 74 Opening Ceremony 44 Closing Ceremony 46 Farewell Party 48 WORLDSKILLS INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS 75 WORLDSKILLS ABU DHABI 2017 ORGANIZATION HEADS 75 CONFERENCES 50 WORLDSKILLS SECRETARIAT 76 International TVET Youth Forum 50 WorldSkills Conference 50 WORLDSKILLS CHAMPIONS TRUST 76 Minister TVET Summit 51 COMPETITION SKILL INFORMATION 77 COMPETITIONS COMMITTEE DELEGATES 86 VISITOR EXPERIENCE 52 JURY PRESIDENT TEAMS 88 DIGITAL EXPERIENCE 54 WORLDSKILLS GLOBAL PARTNERS AND WORLDSKILLS 92 SCHOOL VISITS PROGRAMME 56 ABU DHABI 2017 SPONSORS 2 3 MUBARAK AL SHAMSI, DIRECTOR GENERAL - ACTVET ALI ALMARZOUQI, CEO WORLDSKILLS ABU DHABI 2017 Dear Competitors and Delegates, Dear WorldSkills friends, This is a proud moment for the United Arab Emirates, especially for the Abu Dhabi I am immensly pleased to have the opportunity to write these words and welcome Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET) and for me you to WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017. Many of you know that I have longed for the as its Director General. After many years of anticipation and preparation, I am day when the UAE will play host to a WorldSkills Competition and I am so proud honoured that we are hosting the world’s greatest vocational skills competition that this moment is now upon us. here in the Middle East for the first time. Starting out as an Expert many years ago, I have had a wide range of interesting Under the Patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince and fulfilling roles with WorldSkills, but leading the delivery of the 44th WorldSkills of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, it is Competition in Abu Dhabi feels to me like the ‘icing on the cake’! my great pleasure to warmly welcome more than 100,000 visitors and up to 1,300 young Competitors from the 77 Member countries and regions of WorldSkills I am very aware though that I have been unbelievably fortunate to work with the International to WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017. This event comes at a crucial moment most amazing, talented and dedicated staff team. They have worked tirelessly to in the UAE for skills development and vocational education. ACTVET strongly prepare the largest ever WorldSkills Competition and I thank each and every one of believes that this WorldSkills Competition will act as a catalyst in promoting the them for their contribution to the success of this event. advancement of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the UAE, the Gulf region, and beyond. I also want to record my immense gratitude to the endless support from our government and to the wide range of stakeholders, and sponsors who have Under the leadership and with the full support of the government, we strive supported and encouraged us along the way – many from the very early days even for growth and prosperity. Our investment in training and education is part of before the UAE won the bid to host the 44th WorldSkills Competition. The work to our strong commitment to youth development, which is a fundamental part of put on this WorldSkills Competition has been a truly collaborative effort involving the UAE’s Vision 2021 and the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. The diversity of not just the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, but the whole of the UAE. Abu Dhabi is mirrored in the diversity you’ll see throughout the week. We will witness youth become global citizens with One School One Country and the first Heartfelt thanks also go to all of my WorldSkills colleagues and friends who quite International TVET Youth Forum. We hope that young people will be inspired to simply make the Competition itself happen – members of the Board and Secretariat, choose vocational skills as a career opportunity. It can represent the first step in Experts, Team Leaders, Jury Presidents, Workshop Managers, the list goes on entrepreneurship and prestigious jobs, while helping build a prosperous and multi- and on! faceted future for the UAE.I am extremely grateful to all those who have helped us on this eventful journey – our leaders, the government, all of our partners Last, but by no means least, I wish the very best to all of the Competitors. I know and an impressive number of sponsors. We know very well that this WorldSkills your talent will amaze those who come to see the Competition and I know that the Competition has only been possible because of such tremendous support. power of your skills will be on show for all to see. Good luck! I wish all of you the very best in the coming week and I hope you have a fulfilling and enjoyable time at WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017. 4 05 SIMON BARTLEY, PRESIDENT OF WORLDSKILLS DAVID HOEY, CEO OF WORLDSKILLS INTERNATIONAL It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to celebrate WorldSkills Abu Welcome to the 44th WorldSkills Competition. This event, which is one Dhabi 2017. This is the 44th WorldSkills Competition, and it is the first time of the most complex ever to be hosted in the UAE, is the culmination of years that our event has been held in the Middle East. It will also be the largest of planning. You, and more than 100,000 other people, will see the very best ever WorldSkills with nearly 1,300 Competitors from around 60 Members. We competition in skills, trades, and technical careers. The Competitors who are extremely grateful to our hosts His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed are gathered here are the best of the best, and they are pursuing the greatest Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of accolade in skills competitions. WorldSkills is only as strong as its Members, the UAE Armed Forces, His Excellency Engineer Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi, and as CEO I am always delighted by the depth and strength of the member- Minister of Education for the UAE, and His Excellency Mubarak Al Shamsi, ship. The largest, as well as some of the smallest, countries and regions in Director General of ACTVET, for their considerable commitment to WorldSkills the world are here in Abu Dhabi. Whether they have come from Africa, the and our objectives. Over the coming days you will see the best of the best Americas, Europe, Asia, or Oceania, they are united by their belief in the pursue gold, and the honour of being a World Champion. For all the young ability of skills to change individual prospects, and those of their societies. people competing, this is an opportunity to advance their skills and experi- ence. For the more than one hundred thousand people who visit ADNEC this This unique gathering will bring together youthful Competitors, experienced will be an inspiring and special event at which they can investigate skills and Experts, and representatives from industry, education, and government I hope pursue them in the future. from more than 60 countries and regions. As well as competition, there will be a world-class conference, which will examine the major dynamics in skills, Inevitably standards have risen since São Paulo 2015, mirroring the increase in and vocational education. Ministers from around the world will debate the level of skills excellence around the world. What also continues to change the issues that matter most to them, and we will also hear from young people is the perception of the importance of skills. Governments and businesses in the first International TVET Youth Forum to be held in conjunction with increasingly understand the economic imperative of a mixed skills economy. WorldSkills. None of this would be possible without the generous support This is particularly the case in our host country, the United Arab Emirates, of our host country, the United Arab Emirates, and our host organization, whose leaders are bringing WorldSkills here as part of the ongoing diversifi- the Abu Dhabi Centre for Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET). cation of the nation’s economy. In addition to the competitions, you will also We are also extremely fortunate to have two Global Premium Partners, Sam- be able to participate in WorldSkills Conference 2017. This is the first sung and Stanley Black & Decker, as well as fourteen Global Industry Partners, conference to be held under the management of our Conference Coalition, and a Global Supporter backing WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 and WorldSkills which includes major international and regional players including a number on its global mission. In addition we have close to eighty event sponsors – of international organizations. The topics of the conference include some of thank you! We couldn’t do it without you. the most pressing of our time, including global youth unemployment, the skills gap, and the impact of technology on skills.