Press releases

MINSK, 23 October (BelTA) – The Belarusian team placed 16th at the WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017, BelTA learned from the press center of the Belarusian Education Ministry.

Team Belarus took part in 27 skill competitions in six vocational fields. Belarus also introduced 27 coaches-experts in Abu Dhabi. They were given international certificates enabling them to bring forward proposals on programs for further world championships of vocational skills. “Attending the competition were international experts-representatives of the European Commission and WorldSkills Europe. They praised the high level of skills of Belarusian specialists. For participants, Worldskills is a good venue that offers good opportunities to exchange experience along with access to cutting-edge technologies. Over the long term, it helps develop the system of vocational education and hold national championships,” the press center said.

All in all, the WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 which took place from 14 to 19 October gathered over 1,200 contestants from 59 countries. This year, requirements were even more demanding than in 2015. For instance, 700 points in the individual competition were enough for a Medallion of Excellence, as compared with 500 at the WorldSkills Brazil 2015. Nadezhda Kashtelyan, a graduate of Brest State College of Service Industry, won a medallion in the Hairdressing category. Most Belarusian participants scored over 650 points.

WorldSkills is the biggest vocational education and skills excellence event in the world, a sort of Olympics for aspiring workers and specialists. The international WorldSkills Competition is held every two years. Taking part in the event are young skilled workers, students of universities, lyceums, and vocational education institutions aged up to 22. The WorldSkills movement is meant to promote blue-collar jobs in the modern society and increase their popularity among young people.