Ministerial Support for UK’s Bid to Host WorldSkills Competition

“

The Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning in Wales, Jane Davidson, has travelled to Downing Street to offer Welsh support for Britain’s bid to host the WorldSkills competition in 2011.

The competition is the leading international vocational skills competition and will see young people from all around the world coming together to compete and pit their skills against each other. The range of subjects for the competition is comprehensive, including subjects such as engineering and construction skills and running all the way through to beauty therapy.

Committed to Achieving Training Goals

Jane Davidson spoke of the Assembly’s commitment to expanding education success, saying: “The Assembly Government is committed to achieving our goal that 95 per cent of young people by the age of 25 will be ready for high skilled employment or higher education by 2015.” She pointed to the appointment of a Skill Champion as evidence of Wales” commitment to promoting “vocational learning options at all levels.” She continued: “This is a real innovation and an opportunity of promoting skills with real purpose.”

She also spoke of the need to break down conventional education barriers between sectors, stating: “We are achieving this through our 14-19 Networks in each local authority and collaborative option menus for young people which will include vocational and academic choices and will break down the barriers that often exist between schools, FE and HE.”

Support for the Bid

In light of this, she expressed Welsh support for the bid, saying: “In Wales we take the development of skills very seriously and I am proud to offer Wales” support to the UK bid to host this major competition. Hosting the WorldSkills competition in 2011 in the UK would enable Wales to demonstrate its commitment to world class skills.”

The first of the competitions was held in 1950 in the Spanish capitol city, Madrid. This was held as a forum for the young people in attendance to demonstrate their vocational skills levels. The UK has officially submitted an Expression of Interest to host the 2011 competition, which would be likely to be held in ExCel in London.

Jethro Marsh

Is it all about a medal? Tell us in the FE Blog

“