Outcomes and ideas
- An offer to provide some in kind support to WorldSkills for marketing purposes as there was agreement that the competitions provide a wide range of benefits that should be clearly identified and presented appropriately to a diverse audience including educators, industry, employers, future young leaders and their parents.
- In looking at Skill Shortages in the trades it was suggested that the way one might interest more young people into trades would be by developing a communication strategy that shows the life and culture that is afforded a skilled tradesperson. Show that these people have a freedom to pursue their craft to a number of levels, they can be self-employed and when they excel they are paid extremely well which again leads to a lifestyle which provides them with a number of choices and opens up other opportunities for learning and work. Former WorldSkills competitors are ideal role models for this strategy.
While some trades disappearing, others are not evolving fast enough.
WorldSkills should be the conduit for building a global picture and tapping networks to support people making decisions about new and evolving trades and skills. WorldSkills should also continually ensure that what they are doing is relevant in industry to maintain its own credibility
- WorldSkills member countries agreed they could second people into a team to work on a website which would be a major communication tool for the organisation. Skills Canada for example are investing very heavily in a multi faceted website and said that they would be happy to share their learnings with WorldSkills or even have WorldSkills part of the expansion when it is up and running.
- Early school leavers are an issue in every society. Schools are not meeting students needs and parents sometimes have aspirations that won’t be met. WorldSkills should be the vehicle for a credible, interesting program that can help all young people demonstrate their own talents and abilities. Including skills training, developing entrepreneurship, rather than being limited to skills in the knowledge based economy.
Both Festo and WorldSkills are eager to enhance future competitions by running the WorldSkills Forum parallel to it. There people will have the opportunity to learn - and exchange opinions on aspects of training and at General Assembly meeting after the events it was agreed by the WorldSkills membership that Festo had pioneered an important and valuable event which would be continued in the future.