WorldSkills
What is it?
WorldSkills is an international non-profit movement, which aims to increase the prestige of blue-collar occupations and develop vocational training through the harmonization of best practices and occupational standards across the world by organizing and holding skills excellence competitions in each country and globally.
WorldSkills is the hub for skills development and excellence. Through international cooperation and development of relations with industries, governments, organizations and institutions, we promote the benefits of and the need for qualified professionals through competitions, joint projects and shared experiences. We stress the importance of training and education for youth, industries and society by challenging young professionals to become the best in the skill of their choice.
Founded in 1950, WorldSkills is a global organization that promotes vocational, technological and service oriented education and training. We promote skilled careers in 72 WorldSkills Member countries, all working with youth, educators, governments, and industries to help prepare the workforce and talent of today for the jobs of the future. WorldSkills brings together youth, industries and educators to teach youth the professional skills and show them how to become the best in the skill of their choice. From traditional crafts to multidisciplinary occupations in the field of industry and services, supported by partners, industries, governments, volunteers and educational institutions, WorldSkills has a direct impact on the growth of professional skills in the world.
Today, the WorldSkills Competition is the world’s famous and largest competition of its kind, which brings together young skilled workers and university and vocational school students up to 22 years old* as competitors, as well as leading professionals, specialists and mentors as competition experts.
Championship is a multi-faceted event where heads of government agencies and educational institutions, representatives of industry and non-governmental organizations come together, a place where the most important and topical issues related to professional skills are discussed.
The WorldSkills Championships occur every two years in different countries and is the biggest vocational education and skills excellence event in the world that truly reflects global industry. Competitors represent the best of their peers and are selected from skills competitions in WorldSkills Member countries. They demonstrate their technical competence and abilities both individually and collectively to execute specific tasks for which they study and/or perform in their workplace. Their success or failure witnesses not only their personal professional qualities, but also the level of training in the country they represent, and the general level of quality of services in the participants’ homeland.

Competences
Construction and building technology
Bricklaying, Cabinetmaking, Carpentry, Electrical Installations, Joinery, Landscape Gardening, Painting and Decorating, Plastering and Drywall Systems, Plumbing and Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Architectural Stonemasonry, Wall and Floor Tiling.
Manufacturing and Engineering
Technology
CNC Milling, NC Turning, Construction Metal Work, Electronics, Industrial Control, Manufacturing Team Challenge, Mechanical Engineering Design – CAD, Mechatronics, Mobile Robotics, Plastic Die Engineering, Polymechanics/Automation, Prototype Modelling, Sheet Metal Technology, Welding.
Information and Communication Technology
Information Network Cabling, IT Network Systems Administration, IT Software Solutions for Business, Print Media Technology, Web Design, Programmer.
Creative Arts and Fashion
Fashion Technology, Floristry, Graphic Design Technology, Jewellery, Visual Merchandising.
Social and Personal Services
Beauty Therapy, Confectioner/Pastry Cook, Cooking, Hairdressing, Health and Social Care, Restaurant Service.
Transportation and Logistics
Aircraft Maintenance, Autobody Repair, Automobile Technology, Car Painting.
Key events
WorldSkills Championship - 2019Kazan
On May 19, at the II National Championship, Kazan was presented as a candidate for World Championship WorldSkills International in 2019, and on July 24, 2014, the Prime-Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia was hoping to host the world championship for professional skills WorldSkills International (WSI).
On November 8, 2014, Dmitry Medvedev signed the Order (dated October 8, 2014 No. 1987-р) on establishment of the union «Agency for development of professional societies and human resources «WorldSkills Russia» with the Agency for strategic initiatives. The union will become an official representative of the Russian Federation in the organization WorldSkills International. Authorities of founders of the union on behalf of the Russian Federation will be exercised by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia and the Ministry of Labor of Russia.
In January 2015, Russia officially applied for hosting the world finals of WorldSkills Competition in 2019. The corresponding documents were signed by «WorldSkills Russia» CEO Robert Urazov and director of the department of state policy in the sphere of human resources training and CPE of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, official delegate from the Russian Federation in WSI, Natalia Zolotareva.
If the bid wins, the competition will be held in Kazan. Kazan’s rivals for the right to host the championship are Paris and Belgian city Charleroi. The decisive voting, which will determine the winner, will take place in August in Sao Paulo.
On March 23, 2015, the Worldskills International (WSI) delegation arrived in Russia with inspection, in order to determine the country’s readiness for hosting WorldSkills Competition in 2019. On March 24, the President of the movement, Simon Bartley, and Vice-President Stefan Praschl met Vladimir Putin.The head on Russia spoke about advantages of Tatarstan capital over the rival cities and noted that WorldSkills was one of the most important tools for increasing the prestige of blue-collar professions.
Specifically for the 2018 competitions the complex KAZAN EXPO-WorldSkills Arena, with total area of 169 sq. m will be built in Kazan. The first stone of its foundation was laid by Simon Bartley and the President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov on March 25..
Supporting the Russian bid for hosting WorldSkills competition in 2019, the banner of WorldSkills Russia was planted on the North Pole on April 18, 2015.
On May 7, 2015, at the international championship WorldSkills in Turku (Finland), the first place in the skill «turning works at CNC machines» was taken by the student from the Republic of Tatarstan, Anton Loskutov.