500 days until Abu Dhabi – Competition Working Group meets in Italy

Technical Delegates from eight Members joined with the Competition Management Team and WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 at the Competitions Working Group. Hosted by WorldSkills Italy from 19-21 May in Bolzano, Italy, the meetings focused on various skill competitions developments for WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017.

The main objectives of the meeting included:

• Discuss and develop proposals requiring agreement by the Competitions Committee and ratification by the General Assembly 2016 in Niagara Falls, Canada
• Finalize the skill management structure for WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017, including the role of Technical Delegates
• Discuss and define proposed Pilot Projects for WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017
• Define professional development needs of Experts and Technical Delegates
• Present the Professional Recognition Programme and Access Programme

Jane Stokie, Director of Skills Competitions WorldSkills International said, "the Competitions Working Group meetings provided an opportunity to further develop ideas and topics with all Delegates actively engaged to ensure that the forthcoming Competition will be the best ever."

WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 Head of Technical, Andy Murfitt, provided an insightful update into the technical preparations for the competition including an update on the status of the Infrastructure Lists, workshop layouts, and appointment of Workshop Managers. While there are challenges Andy was quick to confirm that the WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 is working hard to overcome these.