In selection competitions the State Education Development Agency (VIAA) has found the eight most skilful young professionals who will represent Latvia at the competition WorldSkills 2017 which is currently the largest vocational skills competition for young professionals in the world and will be held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from October 14 to 19.
At the international competition which will be held for the 44th time more than 1300 young professionals representing 77 Member States of the WorldSkills International will participate at 51 skills competitions.
Dita Traidās, the Official Delegate of the Latvian team says: “WorldSkills is in essence the Olympic games of the skills of vocational education where the most excellent young professionals and industry experts from all over the world meet. Therefore participation in this major skills competition is an opportunity for Latvia to attest the competitiveness of the vocational education by testing the professional skills of Latvian young people by competing with representatives from other countries. At the same time, such an important competition encourages the professional growth of young people, promote integration of the global practice and experience in the vocational education in Latvia, as well as strengthens and develops cooperation between the industry and education”.
The preparation process for the final selection was long and intense. There were several selection stages organised on the level of schools, regions and the national competition SkillsLatvia 2017. More than 30 candidates for the team of Latvia participates in trainings and master classes with industry professionals organised by VIAA during several months.
Eight young professionals were selected for participation at the competition WorldSkills 2017:
- Fashion technology, Elīna Skrindževska, Jelgava Secondary School of Crafts;
- Visual Merchandising/Window dressing, Linda Vilka, Liepaja Secondary School of Music, Art and Design;
- Graphic design technology, Katrīna Elizabete Sīle, Riga State Technical School;
- Web design, Igors Novickis, Riga Technical College;
- Cooking, Kristiāna Šteinfelde, Kandava Agriculture Technical School;
- Electrical installations, Andis Lācis, Riga State Technical School;
- Cabinet making, Dāvis Raimonds Rasups, Riga Technical School of Art and Media;
- Heavy vehicle maintenance, Jānis Ozols, Priekuli Technical School.
You are welcome to follow the experience of the SkillsLatvia team on Facebook and at VIAA website.
Information about the selection rounds of the competition WorldSkills 2017 and assignments there, as well as the photo gallery is accessible here.
The competition WorldSkills for young professionals is an event held every two years and alternates with the European scale professional skills competition EuroSkills. At present the Worldskills International Association unites 77 member states from all over the world. Each member state is represented in the association by only one delegated institution and Latvia is represented by the VIAA.
The participation of the Latvian team in the competition WorldSkills 2017 takes place within the project “Career support for general and vocational education institutions” financed by the European Social Fund and co-financed by the Latvian state.