The WorldSkills competition won’t be the only event taking place at Sao Paulo’s 400,000 square metre Anhembi Park this week.
As competitors go head to head for a place on the medals podium, skills sector leaders from around the world will be putting their heads together to work out how to improve skills training internationally.
City and Guilds WorldSkills manager Michael Osbaldeston will be among the delegates at the conference, which will take place from from August 11 to 15.
“As well as cheering the team on, while I’m out there, I’ll also be attending the international conference because it’s really important we have the thought leadership behind the skills,” he told FE Week.
“I’ll be looking forward to meeting old friends for the WorldSkills family and community — that’s one of the great things about WorldSkills, you have friends in Canada, Korea and China.”
The conference will include sessions on the Brazilian training system Senai, future trends in skills development and opportunities to gain insights from vocational training around the world.
The Brazilian Education Minister Renato Janine Ribeiro will also lead a seminar on best practices and strategies.
Mr Osbaldeston said: “We need to share best practice, we need to understand what best practice looks like, we need to do work that encourages the further development of WorldSkills around the world, and the recognition of the role those skills play in the international economy.
“It’s going to be great privilege and I’m thoroughly looking forward to it.”
Mr Osbaldeston also said he and City and Guilds wanted to wish Team UK “the very best of luck”.
He said: “They’re a great bunch of young people, they’ve got a tremendous bunch of training managers and people behind them and they’ve just demonstrated what a fantastic team we’re putting forward on this occasion.
“In many ways they don’t need good luck, because they’re well prepared, they know what they’re doing.
“These are the finest of the finest young people in the land, so do well, enjoy and good luck, we’re proud of you.”
Keep up with all the action before and during the competition with FE Week – on feweek.co.uk or on Twitter with the handle @FEWeek and the #GoWSTeamUK hashtag.
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