Vcom Education has made breakthroughs from supporting one skill competition at the previous WorldSkills Competition to 14 skills competitions at WorldSkills Kazan 2019.

At the first skill competition Vcom supported, Information Network Cabling, Vcom provided competition workstations as well as consumables. This year Vcom’s support expanded to IT Software Solutions for Business, Web Technologies, IT Network Systems Administration, Graphic Design Technology, Cloud Computing, and Cyber Security.

WorldSkills Juniors and Future Skills also benefited from Vcom, Web Technologies, through their support of IT Network and Systems Administration, Machine Learning and Big Data, Quantum Technology, Building Information Modelling Technology, and Life-cycle Management.

During this Competition, Vcom launched a new software system, Skills Evaluation & Training System by MR_HoloLens. It is made with the accumulated experience of Vcom's participation in WorldSkills Competition as well as national and international selection competitions. It is compatible with all skills as well. This system is jointly developed by Vcom and Shanghai Technical Institute of Electronics & Information based on the research and development results of Prof Takuo Kikuchi, Polytechnic University Japan.

After WorldSkills Kazan 2019, Vcom will continue deepening the cooperation with the TVET community and WorldSkills on projects such as the construction of Information Network Cabling training centre and exchange programs in China.

The first world skills competition to be hosted in Russia was held in Kazan in August. Being the 45th such event in the history of this international movement, WorldSkills Kazan 2019 saw 1,354 young professionals from 63 countries and regions take part in the event. Russia joined the movement six years ago. The Competition gave a proof that young Russian professionals were able to achieve very high performance results in a relatively short term. Team Russia succeeded to win second place in the team event. A special pride for domestic printing industry was the gold medal in the Print Media Technology skill, for which Heidelberg was the general partner. Representing the nation, Elizaveta Stepanova shared the first place with a Competitor from Austria, while the bronze went to a member of the Swiss team.

Heidelberg and WorldSkills: long-standing partnership

Heidelberg has been a sponsor of Print Media Technology since 2006, supplying printing equipment and consumables and supporting the Competitors’ training. Thanks to all this, the world’s best printers, when engaged in the Competition with each other, can use the state-of-the-art presses from Heidelberg and its partners. At WorldSkills Kazan 2019, Heidelberg was a platinum partner for the event and a Print Media Technology skill sponsor. The Ricoh Rus, having a status of an official partner for Young Professionals/WorldSkills Russia Union, also actively participated in the preparation of the Competition.

The champion is ours!

Summing up the results of the contest in the Printing Media skill, the jury gave the gold medal to Elizaveta Stepanova, a member of Russia team. Elizaveta graduated from Moscow College for Printing and Publishing (specializing in Paper and Cardboard Products Manufacturing) to continue her education as a student of the Higher School for Printing and Media Industry in Moscow Polytechnic University. As she said, her joining the WorldSkills movement and winning gave her many good things such as unique social skill, professional knowledge, and wider circle of friends, as well as a feeling of self-assertion. “Now I know that I have spirit and skills needed to make through to the finals and win”, says Elizaveta. Shortly after the Competition, she was also offered a job as a supervisor of a training production. Elizaveta was proud to tell that she would stay in WorldSkills as a coach to train Competitors for WorldSkills 2021 in Shanghai, China.

When asked about emotions she was experiencing during training and the event, and her plans for the future she explained, “It was the most difficult for me to be waiting for who would be chosen to go to represent Russia at the world competition. Knowing nothing about what would happen, I had to be constantly practising, doing my job, and believing in my success. As to the four Competition days, sometimes it was hard to stand firm, not to give in when nothing seemed to come out of it. I had to get a grip on myself at such moments, make believe that tomorrow would be a new day, and I would handle my job well.”

“The most pleasant experience was, first, when we stood waiting, ready to come out onto the stage of the Kazan Arena Stadium at the Opening Ceremony. It is hard to express your feelings when you are standing together with your teammates, listening to the storm of applause, and feeling the energy transferred by thousands of people greeting our team,” continues Stepanova. “And, of course, my feelings were totally overwhelming during those seconds of waiting for the final results to be announced, and just at that moment I knew the gold medal was going to me.”

WorldSkills in Russia: going straight ahead

Esa Saarinen, CEO at Heidelberg-CIS, General Manager for Heidelberg Baltic Finland, participated in the award presentation for winners in the IT and Communications Technology Unit, presenting medals, including medals to printers. Summing up what he had seen at the Competition, he said, “First of all, I was impressed by all the facilities built for the event in such a short time. Secondly, I heard that the Organization (Local and WS International) worked very well and all event went without any major problems. This is a great achievement. The whole event is really like the Olympic Games, and was nice to see that Competitors also felt that, and behaved like in sports competition”.

“It was really interesting to see all possible professions participating and available for the audience,” Saarinen continues. “To show young peoples that there is an interesting future in many handicraft professions available is very important to the Industry and Service segment. Too much Media focuses today “only” on IT and related professions”.

The government in Russia continues to support the WorldSkills movement. President of Russia Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova, and President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov have visited the Competition in Kazan. According to President Putin, the goals set by the movement are topical for professional training in Russia. Channel One on TV cites Vladimir Putin’s speech in Kazan, “I know nothing more important and interesting for young people than to organize this kind of competition. We in Russia are seeking to restructure our professional education system so that it could meet the requirements of today and tomorrow.”

About WorldSkills and its partner relations with Heidelberg

WorldSkills International (WSI) is an international non-profit organization with the main goal of promoting vocational professions by conducting international competitions all over the world, as well as raising the profile and standards of vocational training and skills.

Heidelberg Group is a long-standing partner of WorldSkills International and a founding member of WorldSkills Germany. For the Competition held in Russia, Heidelberg was a platinum partner and sponsored the Print Media Technology skill as the general partner and supplier of the equipment and consumables needed.

Under the direction of the WorldSkills Experts, Competitors received training using Speedmaster SX 52 offset presses installed by the Heidelberg-CIS in the Krasin Technical School and Ivan Fedorov Moscow College for Printing and Publishing. In addition, the trainees had an opportunity to work with the Versafire EV digital press (Ricoh C7200X) installed in the Ricoh Rus office in Russia.

WorldSkills International and 3M announced the launch of a joint educational project, Education for the Future. The program is aimed at enhancing and accelerating education experiences for students, giving them an opportunity to study using the latest professional materials in order to open new horizons. The announcement of the program took place at the 45th WorldSkills Competition in Kazan, Russia, on 24 August 2019.

3M is supporting the program with a donation of $80,000. “The funding of education programs is a core 3M value, especially programs that have a STEM focus. Thus, we are raising awareness of the importance of science since science is the foundation of many skilled professions, which students demonstrate in WorldSkills competitions,” says Maureen Tholen, Sustainability Director, 3M.

WorldSkills International Chief Executive Officer David Hoey comments: “Partnerships in environmental, economic, and social sustainability are very important to draw in the right synergy for creating a model and strategy that work for our targeted audience – students. Technology has enabled us to transfer knowledge and develop skills in a much efficient and cost-effective way for our young people. As an example, the project might include an online tool to reach as many young people as possible”.

As part of the educational program, students will receive access to modern technologies and best-in-class expertise, which will allow them to learn their professional skills and more likely to become successful in their careers. “Industries are constantly changing, and the education program should also adapt to market conditions in order to prepare specialists for their professional path. The Education for the Future program is designed to bridge the gap between the current level of training and future market needs,” says Dave Gunderson, Vice President and General Manager, Automotive Aftermarket Division, 3M.

The project will be implemented in countries where WorldSkills runs its biennial competition, and Russia will be the first country where the project is going to start in 2019-2020.

3M has been supporting the WorldSkills initiative around the world for many years and is a global industry partner of WorldSkills Kazan 2019.

WorldSkills Kazan 2019

WorldSkills Kazan 2019 was held from August 22-27. Close to 1,300 competitors from 63 WorldSkills Member countries and regions competed in 56 skills. This was the largest international event in Russia in 2019.

Kazan was awarded the right to hold the event in 2015, after a vote of WorldSkills Members. WorldSkills Russia works in all 85 regions of the country and is one of the priority projects for the federal government in the field of personnel training and economic development.

WorldSkills International in collaboration 3M, Glasurit, and SATA held a Sustainable Practice Award Competition for the Car Painting Skill. Awards received three best competitors from Hong Kong, Australia, and France who used the least amount of materials with the best result during the competition. On 26 August, the award ceremony took place after the competition was over at WorldSkills Kazan 2019.

The Sustainable Practice Award project has been launched to promote sustainable practice in different professions. Competitors must complete the Test Projects in the most efficient way in terms of the use of materials, water, and energy.

“Sustainability is a very important topic for WorldSkills. It is the second time that we have launched the Sustainable Practice Award since WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017, which aims to promote and develop green mind-set of the Competitors that they can continue to use in their real workplace. We are excited that more partners and sponsors are supporting this initiative. With more skills that have integrated sustainable practice into the official marking, we have no doubt that the initiative will grow even bigger and create more impact in the next WorldSkills Competition,” says Alexander Amiri, Director of Sponsorship and Partnership WorldSkills International.

The Award is a part of holistic approach aimed at increasing the awareness on sustainable development in materials, health and safety, education, competition growth, waste reduction, and respect for the environment. Selecting the right products, reducing waste, and reusing materials helps combine ecological awareness and economic success, delivering an important contribution to the present and future of humanity.

“Sustainability is important for the future of all of us. The work that these young competitors demonstrated was so impressive. They showed the importance of not only doing a job well but doing a job efficiently and with minimal materials and resources. They are special champions who show it matters how we do our work,” says Maureen Tholen, Sustainability Director, 3M.

“For BASF and Glasurit, sustainability is in everything we do, and this is also why we support car paint competition. I think sustainability practice is skill number one to the world,” emphasizes Roar Solberg, Vice President Automotive Refinish Coatings Solutions, BASF.

Joern Stoever, Export Sales Manager, SATA, adds: “Sustainability is important for SATA as there is a direct link to profitability for our customers as they save products. It is important for the environment as we are saving resources.”

Inspired by the Sustainable Practice Award piloted in Car Painting at WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017, it was continued at WorldSkills Kazan 2019.

WorldSkills Kazan 2019

WorldSkills Kazan 2019 was held from August 22-27. Close to 1,300 competitors from 63 WorldSkills Member countries and regions competed in 56 skills. This was the largest international event in Russia in 2019.

Kazan was awarded the right to hold the event in 2015, after a vote of WorldSkills Members. WorldSkills Russia works in all 85 regions of the country and is one of the priority projects for the federal government in the field of personnel training and economic development.

The volunteer programme of the 45th WorldSkills Competition was summarized today, on 28 August. The best volunteers were awarded souvenir gifts and medals.

A team of over 3,500 volunteers contributed to the success of the world competition built up of 2,900 volunteers from Kazan and the Republic of Tatarstan, 500 representatives from the regions of Russia, and 100 volunteers from abroad.

The gathering to celebrate and award best volunteers included WorldSkills International President Jos de Goey, Deputy Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Irina Potekhina, WorldSkills International CEO David Hoey, and WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Project Executive at the Young Professionals Union (WorldSkills Russia) Karina Salikova.

"You’ve been outstanding. You have been the best volunteers we have ever seen in comparison with other WorldSkills. All our Members, or nearly, have all returned home. Three words we received from them about you, vounteers, - friendly, hopeful, happy. Spasibo. Rakhmet. I hope to see you the next time in the future in Kazan again. Thank you very much," said Jos de Goey.

"WorldSkills is pretty unique, cause it's not a sporting competition. What you saw up there is one of the world’s biggest, most complicated events of the kind. To me, it’s not just the city of Kazan, but it’s you as the face welcoming the world to the city and making everyone feel so special," said David Hoey. 

“Nowadays, impressions define life quality. Volunteers have had an opportunity to get impressions and experience at the best WorldSkills Competition. Thank you for being with us and helping our guests to also get unforgettable memories,” Irina Potekhina welcomed the volunteers.

“The Competition was a success owing to your efforts to a large extent. Thank you for everything,” said Karina Salikova.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Leila Fazleeva handed out Letters of Commendation to volunteers signed by the President of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Ministers Cabinet of the Republic.

“Kazan has delivered the biggest and most triumphant Competition in the entire history of the WorldSkills movement. You have done an enormous job. Today, we are honouring volunteers: those who have contributed their effort, energy, and soul to make this unforgettable event happen. Now, summing up the outcome, we can tell that you have fully accomplished all of your tasks. Dear volunteers, your role in making the Competition a success has been crucial. Thank you!” expressed Leila Fazleeva greeting the volunteers.

Th Minister of Youth Affairs of the Republic of Tatarstan  Damir Fattakhov and other officials of Ministries and Agencies of the Republic presented the volunteers with awards.

“Volunteers are the core group of any tournament. We have delivered numerous events in Kazan. I’m absolutely sure that volunteers were the central participants of those events. Meeting you, the guests form their impression about the hospitality of Tatarstan and the atmosphere of the Competition. You have so much on your shoulders. Thank you! I wish you to get as many positive emotions from this time and from what you’re entrusted with. You’re happy people! Feel it! You’re living the coolest time of your lives, everything is ahead, waiting for you. Embrace it and go for it!” said Damir Fattakhov.

The volunteers with outstanding achievements at WorldSkills Kazan 2019 were awarded gifts, medals, and medallions.

During WorldSkills Kazan 2019, the volunteers worked in 33 functional areas and at 97 different positions: at each skill area at the Competition and in such services as Transport, Accreditation, Uniform, Food and Beverages, etc. They also accompanied national delegations and also had shifts at the information points around Kazan constructed for the city’s residents and guests.

The volunteers assisted the Competition Organizer at each venue of the event, with about 2,500 volunteers at Kazan Expo on 23-26 August and over 900 volunteers at the Kazan Arena Stadium on the days of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Besides, they helped at the WorldSkills Village, Main International Centre, airport, railway stations, and other venues.

WorldSkills Kazan 2019

WorldSkills Kazan 2019 was held from August 22-27. Close to 1,300 competitors from 63 WorldSkills Member countries and regions competed in 56 skills. This was the largest international event in Russia in 2019.

Kazan was awarded the right to hold the event in 2015, after a vote of WorldSkills Members. WorldSkills Russia works in all 85 regions of the country and is one of the priority projects for the federal government in the field of personnel training and economic development.

Press Office of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Competition Organizer

The WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Competition Organizer used building information modelling (BIM) for the first time to manage the development of the competition site. The digital twin of the Competition’s website ⎼ in 3D information model ⎼ is developed on the basis of Autodesk BIM 360 platform and contains all data on the project. Furthermore, BIM was a competing skill within the framework of the Future Skills section.

BIM technology was applied for the first time to arrange the Final of Young Professionals (WorldSkills Russia) National Competition in May 2019. Basic functions of BIM 360 Docs platform were used for viewing the current development plan and exchanging tasks. Sector managers, supervising large-scale building activities, got tablet PCs. Workshop managers were connected to the platform via the mobile application on their smartphones.

“We have been training personnel in the area of digital production together with Young Professionals Association (WorldSkills Russia) for years. But digitalization issues in the building industry are to no extent less urgent, and thus the introduction of the skill in the area of BIM is absolutely logical today,” noted Anastasia Morozova, Director General of Autodesk in Russia and CIS.

All field staff at WorldSkills Kazan 2019 used tablet PCs.

Kirill Pavkin, a 17-year-old high-school student from Stavropol, ranked first in IT Software Solutions for Business Sandbox skill competition. From August 23 to 26, nine Competitors from eight countries (Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Morocco, Russia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Finland, and South Korea) competed in this skill. Their results were evaluated by an international jury of experts from Costa Rica, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Finland, and South Korea.
The Russian development platform 1C:Enterprise was presented at the WorldSkills Kazan 2019 for the first time. Three of the young programmers developed applications using 1C:Enterprise, while the other six used C# and Android Studio.

Here are the scores of the six top medal winners:

As a special prize from 1C Company, all winners received invitations to undergo internships at the 1C Development and Training Centre and with leading 1C partners. They will be able to take advantage of the resources of 1C-founded departments at leading universities and take part in exciting automation projects on the 1C:Enterprise platform.

Chief Expert Joey C. Manansala Jr (Philippines) noted that the objective of the Sandbox competition was to evaluate 1C:Enterprise together with other development platforms and that it would be considered as part of the infrastructure list for Skill 09 in WorldSkills Shanghai 2021. Competitors using 1C:Enterprise ranked 1st, 3rd, and 5th out of nine competitors. The results of Sandbox 2019 demonstrate that 1C:Enterprise can be used in the Competition and, moreover, has the potential to meet the requirements for creating major business solutions.

“1C Company thanks WorldSkills International for the opportunity to partner with such a large-scale professional event. Training is key to the development of the information technology industry. We were pleased to provide the hardware and software for 21 skills of the Information and Communication Technology sector and the Future Skills Competition and are happy that Russian technologies have been used at such a high-profile competition, alongside the products of world-famous IT giants. I think this experience will be useful for many members of the WorldSkills movement who are trying to support their national IT business,” said Boris Nuraliev, Founder and Director of 1C Company.

About 1C Company

1C Company is engaged in the development, distribution, publication, and support of software products and IT services. The company’s best-known products are 1C:Enterprise ERP-class applications for managing and optimizing enterprises and institutions. These applications are built on an innovative technology platform that provides flexibility, scalability, and high performance and operates on-premise, in the cloud (SaaS), and on mobile.

1C:Enterprise has been successfully used to automate management and accounting in more than 1,500,000 organizations – from small businesses to major corporations and government agencies. The system leads the Russian ERP market in terms of the number of workstations.

1C Company works with users through an affiliate network that includes more than 10,000 regular partners in 25 countries, including more than 7,500 certified companies in the 1C:Franchisee network.

Official website: www.1c.com

WorldSkills Kazan 2019

WorldSkills Kazan 2019 was held from August 22-27. More than 1,300 competitors from 63 WorldSkills Member countries and regions competed in 56 skills. This was the largest international event in Russia in 2019.

Kazan was awarded the right to hold the event in 2015, after a vote of WorldSkills Members. WorldSkills Russia works in all 85 regions of the country and is one of the priority projects for the federal government in the field of personnel training and economic development.

Press Office of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Competition Organizer

The 45th WorldSkills Competition came to an end with the Closing Ceremony, which took place at the Kazan Arena Stadium today 27 August.

Famous Russian hosts, Yana Churikova and Anton Komolov, ran the Ceremony.

At the very start, a video with highlights of previous skills competitions was shown. After welcoming the official guests of the show, the anthem of the Russian Federation was performed by the Kazan Chamber Orchestra La Primavera, orchestra Aurora, Tatarstan State Song and Dance Ensemble, and Chamber Choir of the Republic of Tatarstan.

The winners of skill competitions, top-scorers among the national teams’ members, as well as Competitors with distinguished results were awarded during the Ceremony.

Brio Sonores Bolero, a crossover quartet from Moldova, and famous Russian singer from Zventa Sventana musical project performed at the event. WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Ambassador rapper Levan Goroziya sang “No one but us”, a song about motivation and inner strength specifically recorded for the Closing Ceremony.

At the final part of the Ceremony, 63 Competitors ⎼ the best of each national team – appeared on the stage. They were bestowed with the Best of Nation Awards by members of the WorldSkills Champions Trust, followed by a group photo in the Winner’s Circle. This is traditional at each WorldSkills Closing Ceremony.

Another long-awaited moment arrived with the Albert Vidal Award, given to the top-scorer of WorldSkills Kazan 2019. The award honours the founder of the WorldSkills movement, Francisco Albert Vidal. This year, President of WorldSkills, Simon Bartley, and Albert Vidal’s daughter, Paloma Vidal, handed out the award to Anastasia Kameneva, Team Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the Competition participants and spectators in the grandstands with a welcome speech.

Simon Bartley declared the 45th WorldSkills Competition closed.

“Thank you on behalf of WorldSkills, thank you from the bottom of my heart. This week demonstrates that we are on the right path, that with our young people, and the right attitude, we have the spirit and the tools to help them create the bright future they deserve.”

Then, Kazakh singer and composer Dimash Kudaibergen performed several songs, one of which was dedicated to the city of Kazan. The artists and the spectators danced together to the chorus part.

The 46th WorldSkills Competition will take place in Shanghai, China, in 2021. As is tradition, the next host country performed a theatrical piece about their national culture and customs. The Chinese leader, President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, addressed the audience at Kazan Arena from the screens and the WorldSkills flag was handed over to the Chinese Delegation.

The Ceremony was crowned with the performance of Svetlana Loboda and Filipp Kirkorov.

WorldSkills Kazan 2019

WorldSkills Kazan 2019 was held from August 22-27. Close to 1,300 competitors from 63 WorldSkills Member countries and regions competed in 56 skills. This was the largest international event in Russia in 2019.

Kazan was awarded the right to hold the event in 2015, after a vote of WorldSkills Members. WorldSkills Russia works in all 85 regions of the country and is one of the priority projects for the federal government in the field of personnel training and economic development.

Press Office of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Competition Organizer

The WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Closing Ceremony took place at the Kazan Arena Stadium on 27 August, announcing the winners of the 56 skills competitions. Outstanding top-scorers of the Competition were also recognized, with the Albert Vidal Award, Best of Nation Award, and Medallions for Excellence.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who flew into the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan for the purpose, addressed the Competition participants and spectators.

“I sincerely congratulate the medal and award winners of the 45th WorldSkills Competition. I want to thank all the Competitors! You have performed brilliantly, showing excellent skills,” said Vladimir Putin.

“The 45th WorldSkills Competition has ended. And our common responsibility is preserving its legacy for citizens of all our countries so that everyone of any age and health condition is able to reach their potential, choose their own path in training and development, and master relevant skills throughout their life.”

President of WorldSkills Simon Bartley directly addressed Competitors, Experts, Sponsors and Partners, volunteers, Delegates and Members, the Board and Secretariat of WorldSkills, as well as the audience.

“All ten thousand of us in the visiting WorldSkills community, the 45,000 of us in the stadium tonight, the millions watching on television and the Internet – we are celebrating with one single voice united in our passion for skills and skills competitions.”

“To the Competitors, I say a huge well done. To the medal winners of course, but also to all the young women and men who have taken part in Kazan: our Champions!”

The Competition Organizer fascinated the audience with a colourful and vivid show involving various singers and bands: Levan Gorozia, Dimash Kudaibergen, Zventa Sventana, BRIO SONORES, as well as LOBODA and Filipp Kirkorov.

To crown the WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Closing Ceremony, the WorldSkills flag was handed over to the Delegates from China, the host of the next world championship, WorldSkills Shanghai 2021.

WorldSkills Kazan 2019

WorldSkills Kazan 2019 was held from August 22-27. More than 1,300 competitors from 63 WorldSkills Member countries and regions competed in 56 skills. This was the largest international event in Russia in 2019.

Kazan was awarded the right to hold the event in 2015, after a vote of WorldSkills Members. WorldSkills Russia works in all 85 regions of the country and is one of the priority projects for the federal government in the field of personnel training and economic development.

Press Office of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Competition Organizer

Ambassador of the 45th WorldSkills Competition, Nina Tarasova, is known for her impressive career in the world of Pâtisserie and Confectionery. At the age of 24, she quit her job in HR and started self-teaching the new skill through the books of Pierre Hermé, the renowned French confectioner. She has now become a guest chef, confectionery artist, ambassador for several European culinary brands, and one of the most popular advisors in the field.

- Nina, after visiting the skill competition areas, what are your impressions?

- We have been to almost all skill areas. And I was impressed with the scale and quality of the Competition. I think the Competitors must feel incredibly excited. It’s just amazing!

- You are a referee at international contests too, how would you evaluate the Competitors’ work in Pâtisserie and Confectionery?

- These guys rule. The sugar statues are pure art, simply awesome! And hot sugar is not easy to work with at all. A Competitor from Belarus made me feel so proud. I actually recognized her from one of my workshops in Portugal. I anticipate the Experts will have a hard time choosing the best ones. I also observed the plating stage, when the Competitors started making dessert ⎼ strawberry tartelettes. All the guys have been given the same ingredients, but each of them served the dish in a unique way to impress the judges. Good job!

- You often go abroad to retrain and update your skills. In your opinion, will WorldSkills push Russia to develop local confectionery schools?

- I have great hopes that the large-scale media coverage of the event will attract local restaurant owners. Actually, headhunters should offer jobs to WorldSkills Competitors right away ⎼ internships, and employment contracts. The youth participating in the Competition are creative modern people with their own vision of professions, they can make an enormous contribution in their field of expertise.

- What do you focus on when creating your masterpieces?

- The client can always feel the attitude of the chef. That is why when I cook I do it with all my heart. And I get love in return, always.

- What is your motivation?

- My family. Their support, love, and faith in me are what I value the most.

- What is the secret to being a professional?

- Hard work. Not for a week, month, or even a year. In fact, a journey to professionalism is a lifelong commitment. You go to sleep thinking about your work, and in your sleep, you dream about the ideas you want to implement. You are always improving your skills. Of course, it’s very, very hard to pursue your dream. But, if there is no one, then what’s the point?

- One of WorldSkills’ main goals is the promotion of vocational skills. What is the Competition’s role in that mission?

- The skill areas were full of visitors. It is very important to demonstrate the process of completing a final product ⎼ whether a car part, dress, or a loaf of bread. Once, we shoot a film in Madagascar about vanilla farmers, and I posted the videos on social networks and received loads of comments. The more we show what we do, the more people will appreciate our work and its results. And WorldSkills plays a crucial role in this process!

Press Office of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Competition Organizer

WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Ambassador Vladimir Melnik is a Russian miner, Labour Hero of Russia, State Duma Deputy, member of the Labour, Social Policy, and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. After having visited the competition, he has shared his impressions with us.

- What is your opinion of the WorldSkills movement, and the organization WorldSkills Kazan 2019?

- This is the first time I’m at such event and I’m very impressed with the level of the organization. It’s not like it’s the first time I see skilled people in action. I also liked welding myself when I was young. But the young people performing here are at an absolutely different level. Also, I was very impressed when I saw a 3D printer; I think this is our future. Such an event requires a lot of effort and resources. Everything here is done at the highest level, Kazan has always been famous for this.

- You are a WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Ambassador. What’s your mission?

- My task as an Ambassador of the Competition, State Duma Deputy, and a worker with a 30-year service record in mining is to train professionals. There used to be a system of vocational training in our country earlier, but we lost it. To be competitive on the market, Russia should have professionals trained to the highest standards. There’s no alternative for Russia.

- Will the WorldSkills Competition encourage this?

- No doubt, previous examples speak for that. The WorldSkills Competition has taken place since 1947, and the world’s professional level has improved ever since. I’ve seen how young people are working now, and it’s amazing: they are so committed, nothing can distract them, they are focused on their job. It’s a pleasure to look at them. We work in the same way in the coal industry; every second is of value. For example, we need to mine as much coal as possible, while complying with all safety rules. Here, safety is the first priority too.

- They say, one of the reasons that skilled trades are unpopular among the youth is the consumer-oriented society we are living in. What can we do to turn into a society of creators?

- I think skilled trades won’t be popular until the salaries are increased and working conditions improved. These two factors must meet high standards. 

Press Office of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Competition Organizer

Cultural and entertainment activities will be held today in Kazan at the Baumana Street, Gorkinsko-Ometyevsky Forest, Nizhny Lake Kaban Embankment, and Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure. Kazan’s residents and guests will be able to enjoy performances by musical bands, join workshops, and watch the WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Closing Ceremony.

From 12:00 to 18:00, the Gorkinsko-Ometyevsky Forest will offer interactive activities, with a DJ and different contests. Feel free to visit the workshops and souvenir shops from 14:00 to 20:00.

From 17:00 to 22:00, the Izolenta musical laboratory will entertain visitors and there will be a DJ training course and workshops by DJ Bulat Bubble Gum and Mitya Burmistrov.

At 19:00, the Gorkinsko-Ometyevsky Forest invites everyone to watch the live streaming of the WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Closing Ceremony, which will last until 21:00.

The cultural programme in the Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure will run from 18:00 to 22:00. Residents and guests of Kazan are invited for an evening show dedicated to international fraternity and peace featuring singer Sofia Peres and cover bands that will perform vinyl musical medleys. The national Georgian dancing, the Italian pizza culinary show, and other master classes are scheduled to entertain the visitors of the park.

From noon, one can try their hand at the WorldSkills workshops and creative interactive activities. At 16:00, the food market will open, and at 17:00, visitors can take part in the Open Cuisine food project.

In Baumana Street, there will be workshops in folk dancing, national costume history, and national instruments playing to begin at 12:00. A jazz orchestra will start its performance at noon too.

There will also be performances by other musicians: the Kazan Nury orchestra of the local musical instruments starts at 13:00, the Vesyolyye Volgari vocal ensemble will give their performances at 14:00. From 15:00 to 17:00, the soloists of the Kazan City Philharmonic will sing for the public in Baumana Street.

Along Nizhny Lake Kaban Embankment, the bookstore of Smena Modern Culture Centre will be open from 12:00. From noon, you can also join a one-hour tour round the Nizhny Lake Kaban Embankment. The play The little bug by the Ugol creative laboratory will start at 13:00.

At 13:30, a workshop in silk-screen printing and stencil printing of fragments of the posters exhibited will start.

You can enjoy the live performance by the piano Sforzando band from 14:30 to 15:00 and from 16:30 to 17:00, and participate in a workshop in Tatar folk dancing starting at 15:00.

WorldSkills Kazan 2019

WorldSkills Kazan 2019 is taking place from August 22-27. More than 1,300 competitors from 63 WorldSkills Member countries and regions compete in 56 skills. This is the largest international event in Russia in 2019.

Kazan was awarded the right to hold the event in 2015, after a vote of WorldSkills Members. WorldSkills Russia works in all 85 regions of the country and is one of the priority projects for the federal government in the field of personnel training and economic development.

Press Office of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Competition Organizer

A report published today by global management consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG), WorldSkills Russia and energy company Rosatom has identified new ways for governments and employers to address the growing skills crisis and boost economies. .

The report, Mission Talent – Mass Uniqueness: A Global Challenge for One Billion Workers, has been presented at the WorldS         kills Conference 2019 in Kazan, as concerns increase around the world about how to address the dramatic shift in employment caused by new technologies and business models, as well as rapid and continuing urbanization.

The  skills mismatch already impacts over 50% of employers. By 2030, 1.4 billion workers will not have the right skills for their jobs. A third of all existing professions are expected to change by 2035 with the expansion of IT, AI and robots. According to a recent IMF study, because of the increasing gap between the skills of the current global workforce and the skills businesses need to adapt to technological and market changes, 6% of the world’s GDP, or USD 5 trillion, is lost every year. 

The research assessed the conditions affecting the skills mismatch in around 30 countries including the US, India, Russia and South Africa. Employment systems that were more “human-centric” were found to show both lower levels of skills mismatch and higher productivity. For example, the US which has a highly human-centric system, has a skills mismatch that impacts less than a third of the workforce and one of the highest levels of productivity of the countries assessed.  Meanwhile South Africa, which was classified as a labour workforce exporter, had a skills mismatch of over 50% and the lowest productivity.

The report found that adopting a more human-centric approach to human capital development could accelerate GDP growth in a given country by between 0.5% and 2%.  The recommended approaches to delivering this address three priorities: workforce capabilities, motivation and access to training.

Alexey Likhachev, CEO of ROSATOM, contributor to the research, said, “Employees are at the heart of everything, this is Rosatom’s business strategy. As we expand our operations globally and actively participate in developing, training and upskilling specialists in order to ensure that we have the right people with the right skills”.

“In Rosatom we highly value our workforce and so are striving towards finding the best practices that can help to alleviate the skills gap. This is why, in the search for a truly global solution to the problem, we are pleased to have sponsored global research, culminating in this comprehensive report which focuses on a human-centred approach to ensure that nobody is left behind in this fast-paced technological and digitally advancing environment”.

To improve the workforce capabilities, the authors of the study recommended development of educational and training programmes in co-operation with employers, and to improve the training of teachers and personalized teaching aids. To address employee motivation, the best strategic solutions are promoting the benefits of personal development and installing a system of incentives.

Robert Urazov, Director General of WorldSkills Russia, highlighted: “Developing the human resources for the future world economy is one of the key challenges currently facing the global community. At the same time, until a person takes responsibility for their own professional development in life, the support tools that are given to them won't work for them.”

“You can put all sorts of opportunities in front of them, at colleges, universities, with apprenticeships and so on, but as long as a person believes that they do not need this, or thinks that this isn't their responsibility, then the support tools available in the market won't work. Thus, for institutional partners and market players, the key task is to create tools of mass uniqueness.”

The researchers also found the best solutions to encourage access to opportunities were the development of domestic demand, increasing the talent available locally, and maintaining adequate supply and demand balance in the labour market.

“Mass standardization, one education and one profession for life — in today’s world no longer works, neither for the employees themselves nor for the economy and the country as a whole. The old system still exists by inertia, but the conflict with the real demands of society and business is obvious and will only worsen if nothing is done”, said Vladislav Boutenko, Managing Director and Senior Partner, Chairman of BCG Russia.

“We need to move to a new concept of human-centricity , which looks at the workforce not just as a resource, but at individuals with their own needs,  aspirations, capabilities, and potential. Countries that focus on  human-centric principles demonstrate much higher labor productivity rates than those where the skills mismatch  has reached its peak.”

The report is available here.

About WorldSkills Russia

WorldSkills Russia is an official representative of the international WorldSkills movement which covers all regions of the country. WorldSkills Russia upholds international standards in the attestation of practical exams held at colleges and graduate training schools. It also seeks to develop an expert community and implement best international and local teaching practices through further skills enhancements for job coaches and teaching specialists. Find out more under www.worldskills.ru.

Press Office of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Competition Organizer

The participants of the Future Skills competition were the first to finish at the WorldSkills Kazan 2019. Today, the names of the winners in 25 skills that represent the future were released. The award ceremony was held in the concert hall of Kazan Expo.

During three days, 169 participants from 16 countries competed for the title of champions in the professions which are making their place in the world’s economy.

Simon Bartley, President WorldSkills International, and Robert Urazov, Chief Executive Director WSR, took part in the event.

“Future Skills events became an important event in the history of the WorldSkills movement. We see how rapidly the real sectors of the economy are changing, how modern technologies simplify our life, transform the planet to a single house, connected by communications systems," said  Simon Bartley at the end of the competition.

“But technologies specify their requirements to us; we should be educated, be able to do what we never thought just ten years before, Future Skills is a beautiful example of the future that awaits us just after several years.”

The specific Future Skills competition area was initiated by WorldSkills Russia for the first time under the framework of the 45th WorldSkills Competition. It presented 25 skills simulating innovative development of the existing professions and representing brand new alternatives of employment.

The competition participants demonstrated skill in the computer-aided set-up of digital plants, controlled by application software. Furthermore, presented were various agricultural innovations enabling to control a farm’s equipment located at different fields from a single point being away from them at a large distance.

The competition visitors could observe how the properties of a dress are created and tested in a virtual environment using a body scanner, how the digital devices are remotely controlled, how artificial diamonds are born in the laboratories, how filigree adjustment of unmanned aerial vehicles – drones – allow them to perform acrobatics.

“The Future Skills project has three components: research, practical, and educational. The researches that were performed for many years allowed determining what skills will be in demand following the transformation of the labour market in the aerospace industry, metallurgy, IT, and other spheres. The practical part consists in implementing the research results in the course of competitions of various levels, including here in Kazan. But the most important part is the educational one, with training modules for the new skills formed following the competitions. It is the very part that allows training new production personnel”, said Robert Urazov, CEO WorldSkills Russia.

The competitions in the Future Skills area aroused a keen interest of guests at Kazan Expo, with more than 100,000 visits. The organizers will continue to work on the project. The next competitions will take place in Yekaterinburg in November 2019 under WorldSkills Hi-Tech.

Full results of the Future Skills competition are available here. 

To learn about results of the WorldSkills Juniors competition, click here. 

WorldSkills Kazan 2019

WorldSkills Kazan 2019 is underway in Kazan from August 22 to 27, 2019. About 1,300 contestants from 63 countries across the world competing in 56 competitions are taking part in it. This competition is the largest scale international event in Russia in 2019.

In 2015 Russia got the right to host it following the voting of all the member countries of the international movement WorldSkills International. In Russia, WorldSkills Russia movement covers all the 85 regions of the country and is one of the top priority projects in personnel training.

Press Office of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Competition Organizer

The WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Closing Ceremony will take place at the Kazan Arena Stadium on 27 August to culminate the 45th WorldSkills Competition.

During the Ceremony, winners ranking first, second, and third will be presented gold, silver, and bronze medals respectively. Besides that, top-scorers of the Competition will be bestowed with the Albert Vidal Award, Best of Nation Award, and Medallions for Excellence.

The Competition Organizer is going to treat the audience to a colourful and vivid show. The Ceremony will involve various singers and bands, including Levan Gorozia, Dimash Kudaibergen, Zventa Sventana, BRIO SONORES, as well as LOBODA and Filipp Kirkorov.

The Ceremony will finish with then handing-over the WorldSkills flag to the Delegates from China, the host of the next world competition, WorldSkills Shanghai 2021.

WorldSkills Kazan 2019

WorldSkills Kazan 2019 is taking place from August 22-27. More than 1,300 competitors from 63 WorldSkills Member countries and regions compete in 56 skills. This is the largest international event in Russia in 2019.

Kazan was awarded the right to hold the event in 2015, after a vote of WorldSkills Members. WorldSkills Russia works in all 85 regions of the country and is one of the priority projects for the federal government in the field of personnel training and economic development.

Press Office of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Competition Organizer

Sergei Krikalev is a Russian cosmonaut and executive director for manned space programs of Roscosmos State Corporation. Sergei Krikalev’s career spans an entire epoch in the cosmonautics from his first flight in 1988 to his sixth flight in 2005. Working as part of international crews at the Mir station and the International Space Station (ISS) he was among the pioneers who “settled in” the new “space house” in the Earth’s orbit. Sergei Krikalev was also the first Russian cosmonaut to fly an American shuttle. From 2009 to 2014, Sergei Krikalev was head of the Yury Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre.

He received us after his panel at the WorldSkills Conference 2019, “The final frontier: skills lessons from the stars”, where he shared the stage with Scott Kelly, a NASA astronaut. He told us about his most thrilling experience in space, survival, and the skills future astronauts must require.

- You have visited the skills areas at the 45th WorldSkills Competition, what are your impressions?

- It is interesting for me to watch the competition, since I have been involved in many professions presented here. Being an astronaut requires mastering a vast number of skills: hydraulic systems, brazing, operating air and water treatment plants, or first-aid. Knowing how to cook is more important in space than in Earth. And all of this should be done in a zero-gravity environment. It is wonderful that the Competition is designed for the youth, and teenagers. The earlier one starts accumulating skills, the more skills you will have by the time you make your final career choice.

- What was your own career path?

- As a mechanical engineering student, I studied rocket engineering. Then, I became a pilot and got an aircraft maintenance certificate. Altogether, this entire experience laid the foundation for a job in the space industry.

- Soft skills are becoming more important in the modern world. Are they required for an astronaut?

- Of course, they are! In a limited space, so many things can make one feel uncomfortable. And it is essential to be able to adapt and focus on the things that really matter. Teamwork skills are paramount.

- I believe you have been through numerous stressful situations. How did you cope?

- It takes training to reduce the impact of stress. Training set specific “traps”, simulated scenarios. A trainee is expecting an emergency and is focused and nervous, but nothing is happening. The trainee does not know when or whether the emergency will actually happen. In such a situation, one should be able to keep calm. Moreover, preserve the ability to talk normally and stay focused. In case of failure, an astronaut must report the situation in real time to ground control, observe what is happening around, and take the necessary troubleshooting measures. All of these at the same time.

- So, an astronaut must be able to process information fast?

- And comprehensively. Our training involves survival tasks in remote environments, where there is no rescue ⎼ in open sea, mountains, or forests. On top of that, you need to add the complication of the suit. We have to use our skills according to the external factors and make the right decisions. For that, one should be good at biology, physics, chemistry, both in theory and practice and in various combinations.

- Is risk-taking a routine for you?

- Taking risk is good when it is reasonable, based on a thorough analysis and evaluation of its implications. Taking a spontaneous risk in space is dangerous.

- What was your biggest mistake?

- I may say, I made the biggest mistakes while training on Earth. That’s why I haven’t made them in space and that’s why I can talk to you right now.

- What impressed you in space?

- It is difficult to describe the incredible feeling of the flight. I guess, the strongest impression was seeing the gigantic International Space Station soaring in zero-gravity for the first time. It was difficult to believe that, in fact, it moved at 8 km/s.

- What experience from space have you been able to apply on Earth?

- The International Space Station is a closed environment. There, moisture from the air is processed into drinking water, air recirculates, waste is minimized... Many of these technologies can and need to be used here.

- How noticeable is the technological progress in the space industry?

- Above all other things, it’s the ever-improving equipment. It's something very interesting; it pushes our life forward. New flights, new experiences, new ideas, and new projects. I've heard more than once that aircraft maintenance is seen as a messy labour: screwdrivers, rags… But it has not been like this for a long time now. It's now telemetering, programming, automation.

- Why are practical skills important?

- The world is getting more and more technology-oriented. People benefit from technology without knowing how it actually functions. It’s far more interesting to be part of their invention process. I would like those young guys to shift to other skills after having mastered another one. That’s the path to become an astronaut.

Press Office of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Competition Organizer

Actor, TV-host, and scriptwriter for the Urgant Tonight and Comedy Woman, Alexander Gudkov is Ambassador for the 45th WorldSkills Kazan 2019. During his visit to Kazan Expo, he gave us some time to tell us why he is fond of assembling furniture himself, how to overcome failures, and why he loves being in Kazan.

- Alexander, in your opinion, what’s the mission of WorldSkills?

- WorldSkills is a super wonderful and very heart-warming story! Living in an age of technology, we have been forgetting about essential things such as trades and vocational professions. I have been in artistic camps many times and got a feeling that the young generation does not want to work hard. When asked about their future profession, 13-14-year-olds say that they wanted to spend time in a coworking space or travel. Very few answered that they would like a profession that caters to the everyday needs of those co-working or travelling. The idea of the Competition is so simple, yet super cool. We will not survive without bakers, welders, and many other skilled workers. And not many people realize that. The WorldSkills movement is the anthem of humanity. I wish I had invented WorldSkills!

- What does it mean to be a showman?

- A showman mostly talks and shows off. I’m not one. I’m more of a skilled worker. I like it when others implement something I came up with. For me, it’s way more awesome than performing stand-ups myself. To be a good author you need to keep up with what’s going on, you have to stay tuned to the real world. So we monitor the news daily as part of our jobs as Urgant Tonight show scriptwriters.

- What does the word “professional” mean to you?

- The word originates from a Latin word "profess", which means "to give an oath", "to uphold one’s reputation". A perfect definition. A professional is a person who proves the level of excellence and class each second, hour, and day.

- What do you do if your show or joke fails?

- I move on. An American showrunner who helped us launch Urgant Tonight told us not to fear failures. A great show can be followed by a terrible one, and that’s normal. It’s part of life. So, I support failures. They make us stronger, give us an opportunity to learn. Now I believe that rising after a fall is quite simple, and it’s even simpler when you have fallen in front of everyone. It’s a chance to take advantage of the attention you get!

- What skill would you like to compete in?

- Cooking, definitely. I love it. I have a feeling for recipes. My friends say that I cook very well and I humbly agree to this. I’d also give a go to animal healthcare, this is my childhood dream. Also, I’d choose cabinetmaking. For me, it’s pure pleasure to assemble my own furniture. I can buy a bedside table that I do not need at all, spend the entire night assembling it, and then give it away. Doing something with my own hands relaxes me, gives me rest from constant mental work.

- Have you come up with some jokes about Kazan by now?

- About Kazan… Not yet. But I do have memories. I visited Kazan for the first time about 15 years ago. I worked as a secret supervisor for a chocolate factory. I checked warehouses in Almetyevsk, Naberezhnyye Chelny, and Kazan. It was dark times in Russia. Of course, Kazan has changed beyond recognition since then. Now, after the Summer Universiade 2013, the city is so good. I like it in here. Today, it is a cosy, beautiful city for students and young people. I’m a fan of all new things and things intended for youth. That’s why I’m all in for this WorldSkills Competition, and that’s why I’m its Ambassador.

Press Office of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Competition Organizer

The 45th WorldSkills Competition at the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Centre is not just about the 1,300 Competitors, there are also a number of activities in special Try-a-Skill zones that are available for visitors to try. These zones include hands-on activities and demonstrations covering the many different skills on display at WorldSkills Kazan 2019.

If you are interested in Construction and Building Technology, then you might want to participate in some of the activities near the Plumbing, and Painting and Decorating in Cluster D. Try some plastering, paint your own keyring, or connect some taps and water pipes.

If Information and Communication technology is your passion, you can try stripping, cleaning and splicing fibers, or making your own networking leads in Cluster C1. You can even create your own customized shoe inserts and have them 3D printed at the Shining 3D stand.

Creative Arts and Fashion are also on show in Cluster C where you can make a small corsage at the Floristry stand or decorate some ceramics at the Academy of Ceramics stand. Finally, head over to Cluster B4 where you can try a delicious fresh piece of Ossetian Pie.

Many of the WorldSkills Global Partners are also running Try-a-Skills. Try virtual vehicle painting at the BASF Coatings stand or assemble the electrical circuit of a refrigeration system and connect to the Danfoss Cloud Control computer monitoring system which can be operated from a tablet device.

Lincoln Electric’s virtual reality welding allows students to try their hand at welding using VRTEX 360 virtual welding equipment. The virtual welder can simulate a vast range of welding techniques and is used extensively in industry to recruit and train welders as it provides a cost-effective, eco-friendly way of introducing the skills required to be a good welder.

Finally, the “Ticket to the Future” stands are able to give vocational guidance to students in grades 6-11 to assist them in choosing a profession for employment and vocational training.

Students answer three stages of questions which will guide ass assess their skills and preferences. They will then receive a report that will provide guidance for a potential future career.

WorldSkills Kazan 2019

WorldSkills Kazan 2019 is taking place from August 22-27. More than 1,300 competitors from 63 WorldSkills Member countries and regions compete in 56 skills. This is the largest international event in Russia in 2019.

Kazan was awarded the right to hold the event in 2015, after a vote of WorldSkills Members. WorldSkills Russia works in all 85 regions of the country and is one of the priority projects for the federal government in the field of personnel training and economic development.

Press Office of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Competition Organizer

The Future Skills Competition is being held on the sidelines of the 45th WorldSkills Competition for the first time ever, featuring the skills of the future, in demand in the era of hi-tech production and the digital economy.

Future Skills is one of the priority initiatives of WorldSkills Russia having for its goal proactive training of the workforce for hi-tech production in a transforming economic environment. WorldSkills Russia has been conducting relevant research to describe the professions demanded in the future, delivering competitions in new formats, and developing training courses to the WorldSkills standards aiming at ensuring international recognition of this range of skills.

In the speech addressed to an international media pool during the first day of WorldSkills Kazan 2019, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia for Social Policy Tatyana Golikova underlined that Russia had been acting as an innovative contributor to the development of the WorldSkills movement in the country offering its own initiatives, among which was the Future Skills project. She also expressed hope that WorldSkills Kazan 2019 would show the international community how valuable the innovations are to encourage other countries to take advantage of Russia’s experience in the next WorldSkills Competitions.

“The list of the Future Skills professions presented during the 45th WorldSkills Competition gives an insight into the next 10 years’ future,” notes Director General of the Young Professionals Union (WorldSkills Russia) Robert Urazov. “The robotics’ development impacts the economy and society greatly, eliminating existing jobs and creating new ones. Now, this process requires specific solutions rather than mere consideration”.

“By the Future Skills project, among other ones, we contribute to covering that risk. We are trying to understand the current processes and figure out what jobs will emerge, their number, and sectors. The country succeeding in forecasting what skills the future workforce should be taught will be on top of the world. But it is fair competition, you can see that we are not secretive about our approaches and practices,” added Robert Urazov in reference to the World Economic Forum experts’ claims that the next 20 years will see about a billion of jobs vanishing.

The 25 Future Skills have been included in the program of WorldSkills Kazan 2019, but will be evaluated by 112 Russian and international experts separately from the main skills. Out of the 171 Future Skills competitors, 115 are on Team Russia with the rest representing 16 other states.

This first-ever Future Skills Competition will see among the competitors delegates from major Russian companies, university and vocational school students, as well as winners of national skills competitions (“Young Professionals” (WorldSkills Russia) National Competition Finals, Digital Skills, and final of the intercollege competition WorldSkills Hi-Tech). Their rivals from WorldSkills’ associations from other countries and regions are ready to take the challenge in the following skills: Building Information Modelling (BIM) (Belarus, Ireland, Singapore, and Poland), Drone Operating (Portugal, South Africa, China, and Singapore), Industrial Design Technology (China, Belarus, India, and Iran), Robot Systems Integration (China, Germany, and France), Mobile Applications Development (Kazakhstan, Iran, and China), and Industry 4.0 (China, Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands).

The Future Skills Competition is designed to demonstrate changes in skills and job functions of a modern specialist given the technology advancements. The competitors will be getting individual scores.

The Future Skills area at the WorldSkills Kazan 2019 is an interactive space where visitors can dive into the technology agenda of Russia and the world and navigate across the technology trends and skills of the future. In addition, this area can help any visitor outline their personal path into mastering future technology skills with relevant tours offered at the Future Skills pavilion on 24-26 August.

WorldSkills Kazan 2019

WorldSkills Kazan 2019 is taking place from August 22-27. More than 1,300 competitors from 63 WorldSkills Member countries and regions compete in 56 skills. This is the largest international event in Russia in 2019.

Kazan was awarded the right to hold the event in 2015, after a vote of WorldSkills Members. WorldSkills Russia works in all 85 regions of the country and is one of the priority projects for the federal government in the field of personnel training and economic development.

Press Office of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Competition Organizer

WorldSkills Kazan 2019 is the seventh consecutive WorldSkills Competition supported by Samsung Electronics, the world’s leading manufacturer of consumer electronics and mobile devices.

Since 2007, Samsung Electronics has been supporting the WorldSkills movement whose goal is to raise the profile and recognition of skilled people, and show how important skills are in achieving economic growth and personal success. As part of the partnership, Samsung has been training WorldSkills competitors at the Samsung Skills training centre located in Suwon (South Korea).

In 2019, Samsung Electronics and WorldSkills International entered into an agreement whereby Samsung became the Overall Event Presenter of the 45th WorldSkills Competition to be held in Kazan, Russia from 22-27 August. The agreement was signed as part of the final of the 7th “Young Professionals” (WorldSkills Russia) National Competition Final in Kazan.

Samsung Skills is the company’s division created specifically in order to enhance the professional skills of young specialists by sponsoring the WorldSkills Competitions and training young competitors to become WorldSkills Competitors and Champions. The training is conducted according to a special system with the participation of internal and external experts as well as the WorldSkills Champions.

Samsung also holds an annual Global Samsung Skills Competition, which provides its skilled employees with a platform to improve and demonstrate their skills excellence. The company has sponsored the Korea National Skills Competition as well as the Korean national team for the WorldSkills Competition since 2007.

For 12 years, in Korea alone, the company has fostered 42 Competitors for Team Korea and 27 winners of WorldSkills Competitions. Since 2007, Samsung Electronics has hired approximately 490 young Korean specialists who participated in the Korea National Skills Competition.

Press Office of WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Competition Organizer

Photo courtesy of Samsung Electronics