ABU DHABI: The 44th edition of the world’s largest vocational skills competition, WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Education Center (Adnec) from October 15 to 18.
As many as 1,259 competitors from 77 WorldSkills member countries will demonstrate their abilities in 51 competitions at this global vocational skills showcase.
Participants will be aged between 15 and 25 years.
Launched in 1950, WorldSkills is a biannual programme which gathers students from around the world to train them across industries and societies, on skills of their choice. The UAE edition is being organised by the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET).
“The aim of the event is to inspire young people to study technical education and vocational skills for entrepreneurship or for their career, in line with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030,” said Mubarak Saeed Al Shamsi, Director General of ACTVET.
Bigger and better
The right to host WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 was won by EmiratesSkills (a subsidiary of ACTVET) in 2013, making it the first time for the event to be held in the Middle East and North Africa region. Al Shamsi said that all necessary resources have been provided to make the latest edition a success.
Touted to be the largest WorldSkills Competition ever, the four-day event will include a number of initiatives and programmes. Prominent among them are the ‘One School One Country’ cultural exchange programme, where school delegations from each country will visit one school each in Abu Dhabi. The World Youth Conference will have seminars and workshops that will enrich technical and vocational education sectors.
The UAE has the largest team of students from the Arab region, with 34 students participating in 31 categories. “The team is working day and night to raise awareness about the importance of WorldSkills and how to empower young Emiratis,” said Al Shamsi.
Six skill sectors
The vocational skills competitions are divided into six sectors. Construction and Building Technology includes all the aspects of building, namely architecture, plumbing, tiling, landscaping and the finishing touches like cabinet making and carpentry. Creative Arts and Fashion Jewellery comprises artistic talents like floristry, fashion technology, graphic designing and 3D designing. Transportation and Logistics includes automobile technology and freight maintenance.
Manufacturing and Engineering Technology covers mechatronics, polymechanics, automation and much more. Information and Communication Technology deals with all aspects of IT and print media. Health and Social Care includes lifestyle elements like hairdressing, beauty therapy and cooking.
“We have confidence in the Emirati team as we have been training them for over a year now. We know that some international teams have been training for a longer time, but this does not mean that our students are not prepared,” said Al Shamsi.
Entry is free but upon registration. For more information, visit www.worldskillsabudhabi2017.com
The writer is an Abu Dhabi-based freelancer
