WorldSkills Update 4 November 2011

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Editorial

By Michelle Bussey,
Communications and Marketing Director, WSI

The WorldSkills community celebrated the achievements of their Champions at the 41st WorldSkills Competition. What an event it was this year! Every Competition is getting bigger and better than the one before. With the significant increase in media coverage and attention that took place in London, we can only expect that it will continue to grow and WorldSkills will become a household name in the near future.

Below are just a few highlights of the event and the many surrounding activities that took place in London. The Competition and the surrounding activities are an integral part of the worldwide skills movement but it doesn't stop there. There are skills initiatives happening around the world throughout the year from national and regional competitions, to awards and receptions, themed skills weeks and youth projects to the international WorldSkills Leaders Forum and Youth Forum. To keep on top of all the activities happening: www.worldskills.org/dates

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Wrap up of WorldSkills London 2011

The numbers of WorldSkills London 2011

By WorldSkills International

WorldSkills London 2011 is officially finished and it ended with a bang. The statistics being reported from London are very impressive and the analysis has just begun. Here are some numbers that we know.

• There were 931 Competitors registered from 51 different countries/regions in 46 skill areas
  
• There were 957 accredited media
  
• There were 153,704 people registered to visit the Competition before the event even started with 36,333 individuals and 117,371 school and colleges pre-registered to attend.
  
• Over 2,403 school, college and community groups visited the event.
  
• It is estimated that 200,000 visitors in total came throughout the four days of Competition.
  
• On top of those visits there were over 3000 accredited Competitors, Delegates, Observers and Experts.

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One School One Country 2011 was a great success!

By Chidi Okolo, WorldSkills London 2011

On 4 October, almost 1000 Delegates and Competitors took part in One School One Country, an event that the Competitors look forward to each year. One School One Country paired Competitors and Delegates with a primary school within one of the London Boroughs. These Boroughs were chosen as they are host to two international events – the first was WorldSkills London 2011 and soon, these Boroughs will be hosting the Olympics in 2012.

The purpose of the visit was for Delegates and Competitors to meet and share their experiences with pupils and teachers at a primary school and for pupils to find out about skills and professions from different countries/regions.

The day began with the allocation of teams to the many coaches that would take the Competitors and Delegates to meet their new student friends. It was quite an emotional scene to see the range of nationalities filing across the pontoon bridge to board their coach! Once the teams arrived at their schools, stories were shared, new friendships were made and our world felt a little smaller and a lot better connected.

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Closing Ceremony excitement concludes WorldSkills London 2011

By Dale Cox, WorldSkills London 2011

The O2 was pumping with 931 Competitors, and thousands of supporters and delegations from around the world for the thrilling Closing Ceremony of WorldSkills London 2011. Celebrations from WorldSkills Members from all over the globe meant that The O2 was a blaze of noise, colour and energy. It was the 'night of nights' for the global WorldSkills family, as medals were awarded to the best young skilled professionals in the world.

The glittering Ceremony began with the incredible Beatboxer, Beardyman, who entertained and amazed the audience with a mind-blowing display of sampling and digital effects. Performers from the Hanger Arts Trust gave energetic and acrobatic performances, and engaging hosts Gabby Logan and Michael Underwood introduced the medal winners. Thrilled Champions took to the stage and were awarded their beautiful medals that were designed by competition winners, school students Arash Manshadi and Shivani Kava.

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Korea takes top award at the 41st WorldSkills Competition

By Melissa Halford, WorldSkills London 2011

After four intense days of Competition, the medalists of WorldSkills London 2011 were announced during the Closing Ceremony at The O2 Arena. Along with the gold, silver and bronze medalists in each competition area the Albert Vidal Award winner was also announced.

The Albert Vidal Award was awarded by past winner, Ms. Mei Qi Viridis Liew (Helsinki 2005) to the Korean Mobile Robotic team Byeong Teon Bae and Jeong Pyo Gong.

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News from WorldSkills International

WorldSkills International's New President Eager to Grow Organisation

By Melissa Halford, WorldSkills International

With WorldSkills London 2011 in the history books, WorldSkills International is looking ahead with a new President at the helm.

WorldSkills International (WSI) is celebrating successes, making changes for improvement and planning for future events. The baton has been officially passed to Germany, the host of WorldSkills Leipzig 2013, and former UK Official Delegate to WorldSkills International, Simon Bartley, became the organisation's newest President.

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WorldSkills Premiere Experience 2011 wrap up

By Michelle Turpin, WorldSkills International

It is hard to believe that WorldSkills London 2011 is now in the history books and the WorldSkills Premiere Experience (WSPE) 2011 has wrapped up. The WSPE 2011 brought together many exceptional presenters from around the world, all of them dedicated to promoting vocational education and training in their countries/regions and organisations.

For all who participated, we would like to say thank you. Thank you for taking time to learn from and share with your colleagues, and be part of the WSPE 2011. We ask all participants to please visit www.worldskillspremiere.com and fill out the online survey.

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WorldSkills International networking dinner

By Dale Cox, WorldSkills International

President of WorldSkills International and inaugural Chairman of the WorldSkills Foundation, Jack Dusseldorp, hosted a glittering reception in the evening of the first day of Competition, 5 October 2011. Represented at the gala event was the WorldSkills International Board, the WorldSkills International Board elect and the WorldSkills Foundation Board of Trustees. Also present were representatives from the Global Industry Partners, WorldSkills Calgary 2009, WorldSkills London 2011 and WorldSkills Leipzig 2013, as well as people from multiple countries/regions including the Chinese Vice Minister for Human Resources and Social Security, Mr Xiaochu Wang.

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WorldSkills International outgoing President receives a
Fellowship from City & Guilds

By Michelle Bussey, WorldSkills International

On Thursday, Oct. 6th during the City & Guilds Meeting of Council, outgoing WSI President, Tjerk Dusseldorp received a Fellowship from HRH Princess Royal Anne. The City & Guilds Fellowship is the 'highest award conferred by the Council of the City & Guilds of London Institute, recognising outstanding professional and personal achievement. Fellows are people who have demonstrated excellence in their field, who have gained the respect of their peers and who can be considered role models for their profession.'

The entire WorldSkills family is thrilled with Tjerk's recognition. Over the 30 years that Tjerk has been involved with WorldSkills (12 years as President), his accomplishments are too extensive to list however we would like to highlight a few.

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WorldSkills CEO recognised for Leadership Excellence

By Dale Cox, WorldSkills International

On Monday 3rd October, the International Network of Sector Skills Organisations (INSSO) presented David Hoey, CEO WorldSkills International, with the Global Award for Leadership in Skills and Workforce Development 2011. The presentation was made at the inaugural INSSO Conference, "Work Global, Act Sectoral" which was designed to coincide with WorldSkills London 2011.

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News from around the world

All sights turn to WorldSkills Leipzig 2013

By Werner Kipp, WorldSkills Leipzig 2013

As we left London, we were impressed with the great achievements the WorldSkills London 2011 team made. They really raised the bar of excellence in terms of visitor numbers and media coverage! We would also like to thank everyone for the incredible readiness to answer and patience with our countless questions.

In some aspects, WorldSkills Leipzig 2011 will be different indeed. Leipziger Messe, our venue partner offer an outdoor space that is about 70.000 square meters. Space, that could be used for competitions (for example landscape gardening) or for additional events.

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WorldSkills Madrid 2015 announced as official
43rd WorldSkills Competition

By Michelle Bussey, WorldSkills International

One of the key outcomes of the WSI General Assembly held in conjunction with the 41st WorldSkills Competition in London was the awarding of the host for the 43rd WorldSkills Competition. After an impressive promotional bid campaign, WorldSkills Madrid 2015 was awarded the rights to host WSC2015. The Competition will take place 10-15 November, 2015 in Madrid, Spain. As WorldSkills was founded in Spain, it will be very exciting to return to the Competition's place of origin.

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Upcoming WorldSkills events

Do you have events that you want to see here, send them to secretariat@worldskills.org.