WorldSkills challenge comes to UAE for first time

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During the five-day event, 80,000 students from the UAE will compete, in what is dubbed as the world’s largest skills competition
During the five-day event, 80,000 students from the UAE will compete, in what is dubbed as the world's largest skills competition

The 44th edition of the WorldSkills will run from Sunday to Thursday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

By Jasmine Al Kuttab

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Published: Sat 14 Oct 2017, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Tue 17 Oct 2017, 1:20 AM

WorldSkills comes to the UAE for the first time ever, since the event began in 1950. As many as 34 Emirati students are competing in 31 categories in the five-day global skills contest.
They are experts in 3D art to web design and bricklaying to information technology: In the next five days, the UAE can witness a pool of such young talents from across the world, who are in the Capital to take part in the WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the 44th edition of the WorldSkills, a popular global event, will run from Sunday to Thursday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).

During the five-day event, 80,000 students from the UAE will compete, in what is dubbed as the world's largest skills competition, which was originally founded in 1950. This is for the first time a Middle Eastern country is hosting the WorldSkills event.
The competition will have the participation of 77 member countries and regions; 1,259 competitors, 110,000 visitors, of which 100,000 are from the UAE; 80,000 UAE students, and 1,000 volunteers. Ministers of education from around the world are also participating in this year's event.
The venue is spread around 135,870 square metres and the estimated cost of the equipment alone stands at around Dh95 million. 
The skill contests falls under six categories: Construction and building technology; creative art and fashion; transportation and logistics; manufacturing and engineering technology; information and communication technology; and health and social care.
Over the recent months, the WorldSkills team visited schools across the UAE and gave an outline of the event to ensure the presence of students at the competition.
During the pre-event conference, Mubarak Saeed Al Shamsi, director-general, Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Actvet), told Khaleej Times the event is expected to have a significant impact on the UAE's education sector.
He stressed the importance of supporting young talent, while providing unlimited opportunities to students, and developing initiatives that will feed the minds of future generations.
"We have no limit in terms of supporting young Emiratis and empowering them."
The strong commitment from the UAE's young generation is evident in the high domestic interest in pursuing vocational careers, he added.
The Emirati students have been training for more than a year, are the largest team of students from the competitors of the Arab region, with 34 students participating in 31 categories, according to Al Shamsi,
The event is considered a breakthrough in nurturing young talents which will help young Emiratis as wells talented youth across the Middle East.

Young Emiratis competing for gold

> Ali Kashwani, 22, design management graduate
Category: Painting and Decoration
 Ali Kashwani, a graduate from American Univeristy of Sharjah (AUS) will showcase his passion for art in the airing and decoration competition.
"I participated previously in Emirates skills in April and received a gold medal, which helped me qualify for WorldSkills," said the 22-year-old Emirati youth. "I was contacted by the people at the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Actvet) who said I must put my full commitment" for the training.
Kashwani said the competition requires solid commitment and many hours of training. "The category I am going to compete is what I studied. So I thought to myself, if I don't compete, then who would? Besides, I am going to represent my country." Kashwani added that he does not know the challenges that lie ahead but determined to deliver his best.
> Faisal Alameri 22, electrical engineering student
Category: Electrical Installation
Faisal Alameri , a student at the Abu Dhabi Polytechnic University, will be competing in electrical installation category.  The 22-year-old student, graduating in 2018, said: "Competing in this event is something that is very special for me: to represent my country means is a great moment in my life."
"I was playing volleyball before and wanted to play in the UAE team, but I received another opportunity to represent the UAE." Alameri said when he received the call, he agreed to the offer without the slightest hesitation. "When I heard about it, I instantly said, Okay, I will do it!"
"This means I will be part of the UAE team.  I couldn't make it in volleyball, so this is another way of representing my country and giving my best." He said his eyes at the gold medal. "I will not join something if my target is not winning."
> Maitha Omar Mohammed 20, UAE University student
Category: 3D Game Art
Maitha Omar Mohammed, studying special education for the gifted at the UAE University, will be competing in 3D game art - her passion - as well as a new category at this year's WorldSkills.
The 20-year-old said: "I was already developing games for education, creating games is my true hobby. I draw games in 2D, but for the WorldSkills they didn't have the 2D game art, so I learnt the 3D. I'm glad that I already had the background on how to create characters for games."
 Maitha Omar added: "This is the very first time WorldSkills is having this category only nine countries are competing including the UAE.  "What's more fun than playing games is creating them!  Winning is not her priority. "Even if I don't get the medal, I will not say that I didn't win, as I am already a winner for representing my country."
> Hessa Alshawab 20, graduate in fashion design
 Category: Fashion Technology
Hessa Alshawab ,French Fashion Institute Esmond Dubai graduate, will be representing the UAE in fashion technology at WorldSkills.
"This is a huge deal for me. I am representing my country in something that I have a passion for is great, "the 20 year-old Emirati said. Excited to face the challenges that lie ahead this week, she added: "I have been practising, sketching and stitching different dresses all by hand."
In the future, Alshawab hopes to open her own fashion empire,. "My dream is to open my very own brand in fashion design, I would like to do something different from what is already out there - create ready-to-wear for all women."
She also gave solid advice for young Emiratis who are unsure about where to start. "Follow your passion you will eventually find success."

Some of the skills on display

WorldSkills recognises the power of skills and the need to promote and encourage vocational training and education to the highest level. From the 51 skill competitions at the event, we pick our favourite 10:
> 3d digital game art
> Aircraft maintenance
> Beauty therapy
> Bricklaying
> Cooking
> Electronics
> Floristry
> Jewellery
> Landscape gardening
> Print media technology
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com


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