In November, 24 a round table meeting " WorldSkills and its experience as a key to effective economy took place in Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.
The president of WorldSkills International association, Simon Bartley, rector of Igor Sikorsky KPI, Mykhailo Zgurovsky, the head of non-governmental organization WorlSkills Ukraine, Sergii Rybak and its management members, representatives of large Ukrainian companies and corporations as well as university representatives took part in the round table meeting.
WorldSkills is international noncommercial nongovernmental organization aimed at enhancing prestige of nonprofessional occupations and development of professional education by matching best practices and professional standards. Association members are 76 national organizations, bodies or institutions that are in charge of organization and development of professional education and training in both national countries and in the world. The main tool to achieve this purpose is professional skills competitions in countries that are association members and in the whole world in particular. Their participants compete to get the title of the most qualified experts in six lines of activity that are fundamental areas for the development of real economy: construction and constructing technologies; creative art and fashion; information and communication technologies; production and engineering technologies; social and personal services; transport and logistics. Certainly, particular professional competences that young specialists of different countries content for the championship are distinguished within these lines. Thus, a number of nominations in such competitions cover almost the most of modern working occupations that are in demand on the labor market.
Thus, over the last 60 years together, WorldSkills holds worldwide professional skills competitions once per two years and young specialists and students in the age of 23 years old (with an exception of 4 competences where the age range is 25) take part in it. One thousand and even more of the best young workers from all over the world traditionally take part in the competition finals. And according to Simon Bartley, the gold won at the worldwide competitions of WorldSkills International is as important as gold Olympic medals in sports.
However, the association deals not merely with competitions. "It's impossible to develop economy in the society where all are Doctors of Philosophy. That's why we have to make people understand that we can be happy not only working head but hands as well, - stressed the president of WorldSkills International. We have to prove that professional education is of great importance and provide assurance for parents and teachers"
There is no wonder that among questions that were raised up by the participants of the round table meeting were question about competition, promotion of work occupations, increase of professional skills of modern production workers and implementation of the best practices of professional training in Ukraine. And problems of professional education forcing.
"WorldSkills International activity is still of great importance, stressed Mykhailo Zgurovskyi.- Hence, KPI as well as other technical educational establishments working closely with vocational establishments and this organization in particular, will facilitate professional skills competition and provide comprehensive assistance to recover this important part of education on the new basis”.
It is worthy to note that in order to take part in worldwide competition, finalists have to win professional tournaments in their native countries. Ukraine applied for WorldSkills International, so this year we have this competition for the first time. Its participants will content for the championship in eleven nominations that correspond to working occupations at eight venues – Kyiv national trade and economic university, Kyiv national university of construction and architecture etc. In particular, Igor Sikorsky KPI will hold tournaments in nominations “Mechatronics” and “Mobile robotic technology” in November, 25. This is the final part of the competition in Ukraine first of which was held in regions where were the names of the second tournament participants announced.
Thus, technical and professional education of our country moves towards integration with world education space and development of international cooperation in the field that is of great importance for economy.