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20 October 2014

WorldSkills Champions Forum 2014

wsai2742.jpgWorldSkills 51: engaging Champions beyond the Competition

Twenty-three Champions (former Competitors) from 13 different countries came together in Lucerne, Switzerland to discuss the ways in which they can be engaged with WorldSkills beyond the Competition. Through a variety of interactive sessions, Champions learned how to be a WorldSkills spokesperson by spreading WorldSkills key messages, improving their interview and presentation skills and being involved in an official capacity at the Competition level. Champions were also introduced to the WorldSkills Foundation and how to design, write and present a project plan.

Champions started the week by separating into four groups to brainstorm ideas on how to stay engaged with WorldSkills during the 51 weeks outside of a Competition or Champions Forum. Once each group settled on their main project, they drafted a project plan and created a presentation for the larger group. The four projects presented were:

  1. Skills House: Building or repurposing a house in a developing area where Champions could teach local individuals new skills. Through this knowledge transfer, locals would receive the tools necessary to create new products and revenue streams.
  2. Young Skills: Developing a skill competition for younger students to help expose Vocational Education and Training and subsequent career options to a younger demographic. Champions would be contacted to help run a skill competition for younger students alongside a WorldSkills Competition.
  3. WorldSkills Family: Developing a forum for Champions, Experts, Global Partners and WorldSkills to exchange ideas, information and opportunities worldwide. Although there is currently a web forum on the WorldSkills website, it is suggested to update or recreate a platform to better serve the needs of Champions worldwide.
  4. Champions Trust: Establishment of a group of elected Champions to close the gap in communication between Champions and WorldSkills and its stakeholders. This group would solicit feedback from all Champions and maintain consistent lines of communication with WorldSkills Secretariat, Board of Directors, Technical and Official Delegates, as well as the various committees.

This year, the WorldSkills Foundation committed 10,000EUR to initiate one of the projects. After discussing the project proposals, the Champions decided that the creation and establishment of a Champions Trust would be the best way to ensure that all of the projects – and future projects presented by Champions – are considered. Reviewing the linkages between the four projects developed this week, the Champions told Simon Bartley, WorldSkills President, that they consider the Champions Trust to be the highest priority, but continue to support the importance of the other three projects.

“Following the Competition, we felt there was a lack of engagement, involvement, continuation and purpose as a Champion,” said Victor Simon from France who competed in WorldSkills Leipzig 2013 in Manufacturing Team Challenge. “The development of the Champions Trust will help keep our passion alive and growing into the future.”

The Champions have suggested a launch date of August 2015 (during the 43rd WorldSkills Competition in São Paulo, Brazil). This leaves just under a year to determine the best structure, roles, responsibilities and goals for the first official Trust. Champions Forum 2014 participants have agreed to stay engaged with WorldSkills throughout the year to help develop the Champions Trust. They have committed to presenting an update to the Board, Delegates and Secretariat during Competition Preparation Week in February 2015.