WorldSkills Russia hosts first Open Professional Skills Competition

Beauty Therapists compete in Moscow

By Sally Eley, WorldSkills International

WorldSkills Russia has held its first ever Open Professional Skills Competition in Moscow. From 20–22 November, several venues across the city saw over 400 Competitors between the ages of 18 and 23 compete in 15 skill areas ranging from Web Design and Joinery to Stonemasonry and System Administration.

In addition to the Competition, the first WorldSkills Russia General Assembly took place in the Sokolniki Congress and Exhibition Centre on 20 November. Attended by the Russian Federation’s Minister for Education and Science, the Minister for Labour and Social Protection, and other ministers and executive officers of educational authorities, the meeting was followed by a press conference which WorldSkills Russia Supervisory Board members participated in.

The two events were supported by the Moscow City Department for Science, Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship, the Ministry for Education and Science of the Russian Federation, and the Agency of Strategic Initiatives for Advancement of New Projects. Russia officially became the 60th Member of WorldSkills International at the recent WorldSkills General Assembly which was held on 17 May 2012 in Jeju, South Korea.

David Hoey, CEO of WorldSkills International commented: “We congratulate WorldSkills Russia wholeheartedly on the progress they have made in the last year. They have really engaged all stakeholders in Russia about the concept of skills competitions and this inaugural Open Professional Skills Competition is a testament to their hard work and determination.”

The winners of the Open Professional Skills Competition will take part in WorldSkills Russia National Competition in May 2013, and the ‘best of the best’ will proudly represent Russia at the WorldSkills Competition which is taking place in Leipzig, Germany in July 2013.