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Portugal is already getting ready for Euroskills Lisboa 2010, which will begin in just a few days.
The enthusiasm surrounding the event is being felt by tens of thousands of students and teachers from schools all over the country. This makes us extremely proud, but these numbers also carry with them the added responsibility to make this event a memorable milestone in the lives of hundreds of young people in the area of vocational training.
In this issue we will tell you a bit more about the involvement of schools and the Euroskills volunteer program. Both the scholastic community and the volunteers are essential for holding an event at the highest level. Because of their massive participation, the schools are the “soul” of the event, instilling Euroskills with dynamism, colour and activity. The volunteers are essential to organising this event due to their availability, commitment and endless amount of energy.
As with the previous issue, we will find out more about being a Euroskills champion and the ingredients for successful participation.
As we countdown towards the launch of the event, we will reveal a bit of the excitement felt behind the scenes at Euroskills, as the last details are prepared to receive the most qualified people in all of Europe.
The great Festival of Professions is just around the corner!
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Schools at Euroskills Lisboa 2010
The involvement of the scholastic community is crucial to the success of Euroskills and Lisbon will surely hold a memorable European Vocational Championship.
Over 40 thousand participants have registered, from more than 150 schools from all over the country.
The Euroskills roadshow has contributed much to this widespread enthusiasm, together with all the Regional Education Departments of mainland Portugal in promoting the event, an initiative that involved the cities of Vila Real, Coimbra, Porto, Lisbon, Évora and Faro.
More than ever, schools want to understand the best vocational options for the young people they are educating and they want to be closer to the vocational and corporate reality of today. As the Euroskills Lisboa 2010 motto states: “In order to choose, we must know.”
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Volunteer Work at the European Vocational Championship
Organising Euroskills Lisboa 2010 involves thousands of people committed to being the embodiment of Portuguese hospitality.
From amongst these thousands of people there is a very special group consisting of 320 young people that will be volunteers at the event.
Developed in partnership with the Portuguese Youth Institute (IPJ), the Euroskills Lisboa 2010 volunteer programme offers Portuguese young people an unmissable opportunity to get to know other young people of various nationalities and actively participate in the greatest European challenge in the area of vocational training.
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Parallel Activities
The competition is perhaps the high point of Euroskills Lisboa 2010, but the European Vocational Championship is more than this. The goal of the agenda is to create a festive atmosphere with shows, exhibits, contests, street entertainment, conferences, workshops and debates.
Entrepreneurism, vocational education programs, E-learning, the construction industry and renewable energies are just some of the topics that will be discussed at Euroskills.
For music lovers the event also boasts the Percussion Festival, which promises to entertain all the participants.
There will be plenty of options for the various areas and the various preferences of the young people of Europe, and we are sure that this will be a great opportunity for exchanging ideas and for multicultural interaction.
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Portuguese participants in Euroskills 2008 remember Rotterdam fondly. Their good performances won them medals and impressed international judges. This was the case with António Nabais who received the Gold Medal and was considered “Best of the Best” in the area of Refrigeration and Climate Control.
What do you think of your participation in EuroSkills Rotterdam?
I think it was very positive, not only because of my good results, but also because it allowed me to get to know new work methods in my vocational area.
What led you to participate in this competition?
My greatest motivation for participating in this competition was the spirit of adventure and willingness to learn more and get to know new people.
In your opinion, what is the best thing about this type of competition for the participants?
Participation in this competition has many advantages. It is an excellent way of learning about new equipment in our area of training, but it is also an opportunity to learn to deal with stress better on a daily basis at our jobs. Above all, it allows us to grow as people and be good professionals.
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Has winning the gold medal at EuroSkills Rotterdam opened any doors for you on the job market? Have you received any job offers?
Yes I have, from a company in Canada.
What advice do you have for the participants in this year’s edition of EuroSkills?
The best advise I can give participants is that they take advantage of this opportunity as much as possible, and of all the opportunities that will arise during the event.
What is your biggest dream?
Above all, to be a good professional.
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Project a positive image of Portugal and show all that we can do in the area of vocational training; this is one of the driving forces of the teams of this Championship. These comments by Paulo André Rosado, Team Leader at Euroskills Lisboa 2010, reflects the expectations of young participants and the underlying responsibilities of leading a team.
What are your hopes for this edition of Euroskills taking place in Portugal?
The main concern is to make this initiative a means of showing Portugal’s efforts in making Vocational Training the vehicle of choice in integrating young people into the job market, as well as illustrate that this is no longer just an option for those students who were unable to finish their academic studies. This commitment involves bringing Portugal closer to the values exhibited by other OECD member countries with respect to the rate of frequenting vocational training programs with dual certification in secondary school. The participation of 500 young people from 27 countries competing against each other will show visitors the need for Vocational Training in professions that allow easy access to the job market. We also want to make sure this edition of Euroskills will be known for its high level of quality.
How important is this event for the young people who participate in it?
The young people who normally participate in these events report that their participation, in addition to allowing them to increase their technical skills, offers them a look at the reality of other countries. In addition to the competitive aspect, which is always the driving force behind participation, personal and institutional relationships are established that can be very useful in the future. Sometimes young people participate in internships abroad after participating in these events.
How has the Portuguese team prepared?
All the partners (training operators) involved give each competitor a preparation plan implemented by a trainer that normally is a member of the jury. Each plan was structured to requirements of the competing profession. During this phase, the young people are preparing arduously toward obtaining a good result.
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How well do you think the Portuguese participants will do?
We have high expectations, especially in those professions in which the country has had some previous experience. At the last event, Portugal won 6 individual medals and 1 team medal. In this edition, because our team is bigger and the event is taking place here, we expect more trophies. The Portuguese team shall consist of 98 young persons in official competitions competing in all of the professions and accompanied by 7 Team Leaders.
What are the main duties and responsibilities of a Team Leader?
According to the rules instituted by the entity that promotes the European Championships, which are the same people who organise Worldskills, Team Leaders are in charge of supporting competitors before and during the competition, preparing them in non-technical areas (emotional, social, etc.), offering information regarding activities and schedules, reporting all problems to the organisers in order to resolve them and correct any incorrect behaviour.
What advice or message would you like to pass on to the young participants in this competition?
I want to leave a message of encouragement to the youth of Portugal. I would like each of them to give it their best, regardless of the final result, show the skills they have learned, keeping in mind that they were chosen to represent Portugal, and I hope that in the end they feel it was a good and enriching experience. I hope that when it is over we feel that we have fulfilled our mission.
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Step by step toward the European Vocational Championship
At a time when the start of Euroskills is less than one month away, the organisers have their hands full and every day involves overcoming some kind of obstacle - be it big or small.
Euroskills Lisboa 2010 has been in the making since 2008 when Portugal submitted its bid to host the 2nd Edition of the biggest European vocational training event.
Enthusiasm is high, but because Portugal is no longer a beginner in these types of events, having hosted the World Championship in 1964, makes things easier, but no less meticulous and demanding.
Our main concerns essentially involve the entire area of support logistics: transportation, hotel capacity, technical infrastructures for hosting the competition, and advertising and promoting the event.
Everything is planned out down to the last detail and it is important that nothing is forgotten, guaranteeing the success of this event, which would be impossible without the support of the various competition partners and corporate sponsors.
During this phase, as regards the competition, it is extremely important to establish the layouts and technical supporting structures, as well as the structuring of the entire logistics plan for assembling/dismantling hundreds of tonnes of infrastructures, equipment, consumption materials, tools and utensils used in support of the competitions. In order for everything to run smoothly it is essential to pay close, detailed attention to safety issues and the event’s Emergency Plan.
With 2000 people involved in organising the event, their training is essential, guaranteeing that each individual fulfils his or her role in the best way possible.
In terms of organisational preparations, everything is set to warmly welcome participants and visitors. As for the competition, the bar has been set high in terms of quality and expectations, not only regarding performance, but also scrupulous compliance with the rules. One thing is for certain: these young people are already champions.
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