Launch of the WorldSkills Foundation

A key strategy in WorldSkills’ 2020 Vision was realised with the launch of the WorldSkills Foundation in Madrid, Spain on 4 April 2011. The Foundation’s purpose is to complement the WorldSkills Competition with a program of research, advocacy and education activities.  In this way, the Foundation aims to achieve its shared mission with WorldSkills International to promote skills across the world.

WSI Communications and Marketing Director, Michelle Bussey caught up with Jack Dusseldorp, WSI President, and inaugural Chairman of the Foundation, to ask some questions;

Michelle:  Hi Jack.  How does the Foundation’s vision and mission differ from that of WorldSkills International?

Jack:  Hi Michelle. Well that’s an easy one to answer, as both bodies share exactly the same vision and mission. The difference is in how each sets about achieving their common objectives.

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Skills Finland:Vocational excellence training units and WorldSkills tryouts in England

A second group of Finns who participated in a Leonardo expert exchange  “Learning from each other”  to England was  hosted by UK Skills.  The group was headed by the author of this post and it included electrical installation skill manager Jorma Kärkkäinen (Ylä-Savo Vocational College), cleaning services skill manager Tiina Joensuu (Keuda Vocational College), docent Petri Nokelainen (Actualising Vocational Excellence and Modelling Vocational Excellence research programmes at the University of Tampere) and training manager Hilkka Tuominiemi (AEL).
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WorldSkills: A message of hope to Japan

As millions of people are glued to their television sets and computers watching and listening to the latest developments in Japan, we are thinking of our friends and colleagues. The pictures cannot portray the true magnitude of the devastation and hardship that the Japanese have gone through in the last week. Yet, we see over and over the Japanese spirit coming through on news broadcasts, reports and from messages from our colleagues. We see Experts communicating with their Japanese counterparts and the return message is always the same, they are filled with hope, endurance, resilience and strength.

In times like these, it is important to band together and stand strong to show our support for Japan. WorldSkills is a family with 54 Members; we help and support each other while building integral bonds for a lifetime. We have all experienced the warm Japanese hospitality, the never ending politeness and respect, the overwhelming ability to do any job regardless of the challenges and the memorable offers of friendship. WorldSkills wants Japan to know that we are with you in spirit. We are anxiously watching all the developments and are eager to see Japan rise again. We honour all your heroes and mourn your losses.

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with you, Japan and especially our friends and colleagues and their friends and families. Stay strong and know that the whole WorldSkills family is here for you and thinking of you.

Jack Dusseldorp
President

We want to share with you some of the messages of hope as they continue to roll in on our discussion forums from all corners of the globe. Experts seeking information on their friends and offering any kind of support they can.

You can read these messages below and please add your own in the comments.
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Japan: Through the Lens –National Skills Competition 2010

The 48^th National Skills Competition and the 32^nd Abilympics took place in Kanagawa prefecture, Japan, 15^th – 25^th October 2010. 150,000 was the cumulative number of people including Competitors who visited both events. It was about 1.5 times more than the organiser had expected.

Many coaches assigned to their competition team stated that they regarded the National Skills Competition as good opportunities for skills transfer and vocational education for young people in spite of the competition results. In addition to that, this event triggered the knowledge sharing between various enterprises as well.

-Business & Technology Daily News

1,028 Competitors in 39 skill areas across Japanese prefectures participated in the National Skills Competition, which also lead to the final heat of many categories to choose who will represent Japan in WorldSkills London 2011.

-Sankei Shinbun

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Skills Finland: Success through learning from each other. Exchange in South Tyrol, Italy

The first Leonardo-expert group from Finland participating in the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme, headed to the next host organisation; LVH Verband, in South Tyrol, Italy. It is a non-profit union of  handcraft enterprises who organise national skills competitions and is responsible for training and sending Competitors to EuroSkills and WorldSkills Competitions.

The expert group consisted of; Skills Finland National Competition Manager Pekka Matikainen, Beauty Therapy Skill Manager Tea Lehtikevari, Metal Roofing Skill Manager Jari Mustikkamaa and Executive Director Tuomas Eerola from the Skills Trainers’ Academy. During the visit, the group had a chance to observe the education, training and skills competition system in the region as well as the business life surrounding it. They also had the opportunity to learn about the activities and structure of the organisation LVH Verband.

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