04 October 2011
Wales on stage at WorldSkills
WorldSkills, the skills equivalent to the Olympics, or the 18-25 year-olds’ equivalent to Pisa, comes to the UK this year: this week, in fact, 5-8 October. And Wales will feature large on its stage.
WorldSkills is the world’s largest international skills competition that attracts more than 50 countries competing in 46 medal categories. Taking place every two years, it is a particularly high-profile and intense way of recognising the very highest levels of vocational skills in world terms.
Following a rigorous selection process through a series of heats, two college students from Wales reached the UK Squad selection and one, David Bowen, an 18 year-old web design student at Coleg Sir Gâr, made it through to Team UK. At the ExCeL Centre in London this week he will be competing over four days against the best web designers in the world under the age of 25. The pressure will be intense.
In addition, one-half of all of Wales’ colleges have been selected to showcase particular skills on the WorldSkills show stage. This number is twice as high as would be expected from a country the size of Wales and shows how well Wales is doing in demonstrating excellence in skills.
Chief Executive of ColegauCymru / CollegesWales, John Graystone, said: “David Bowen has done incredibly well to be selected for Team UK at just 18 years old. He has worked so hard to hone his skills through the long series of heats and competitions across the UK as well as further afield in the lead-in to WorldSkills whilst continuing to study for his National Diploma at Coleg Sir Gâr. He deserves our congratulations and our best wishes for this week’s competition against the best of the best in the world.
“In addition, I am delighted to recognise that Wales’ colleges have punched above their weight in being selected to showcase a range of vocational skills to the 150,000 strong WorldSkills audience. Ten colleges will perform twelve showcase demonstrations including culinary arts, floristry, iron casting, professional boat building, performing arts, traditional rural crafts and green skills. This is a fantastic achievement and shows the world how well Wales is doing in raising the skills levels of its young people.”
One of the showcases is a catwalk show of extravagantly creative floral creations by Northop College students. The college’s Head of Programmes for Floristry Paul Raven said: “This really is a once in a generation opportunity for our students and we’re delighted that the excellent standards our students achieve will be on show at such a prestigious international event. To be part of an event which recognises skills at the very highest level is truly aspirational and I have every faith that our students will rise to the occasion and help to put on a truly inspirational show.”
Aidan Jones, Executive Director of WorldSkills London 2011, said: “The huge range of Showcasing ideas that poured in from colleges across the UK is really impressive. With 150,000 visitors to the WorldSkills London 2011 Competition, the Showcase stages will demonstrate the widest range of skills that shape our world and be a really exciting part of the biggest, most inspirational and visual display of careers ever seen in the UK – all under one roof!”
-------------------------------------Ends-------------------------------------
Contact: Sylvia Davies on 029 2052 8384 or 07968 771913.
Notes to editors:
1. ColegauCymru / CollegesWales was previously known as fforwm. It is a national educational charity that represents all 20 further education (FE) colleges and institutions in Wales. Its mission is to raise the profile of further education with key decision-makers to improve opportunities for learners in Wales. For further information about ColegauCymru / CollegesWales, and the colleges it represents, visit www.colegaucymru.ac.uk or www.collegeswales.ac.uk
2. The full programme of showcases, workshops and displays by Wales’ colleges at WorldSkills is available from http://bit.ly/qmHpyA
3. Northop College is part of the Deeside College Group of Colleges.