Celebrating Skilled Trade and Technology Careers

Michelle Turpin, Senior Consultant

It is interesting to think about where certain beliefs and stereotypes come from and how they are perpetuated in daily life. When you think of a plumber, or a roofer, what thoughts come to mind? What about a hairdresser or a server in a restaurant? Someone who fixes computers or a person who fixes cars? The people who choose these careers - do they do it because they couldn't think of anything else to do, or because they couldn't get into University? Or do they do it for other reasons entirely?

For the past decade, Michelle Turpin, a Consilium Consultant, has been involved in the promotion of skilled trade and technology careers to youth at a number of different levels - regionally, nationally and internationally - all meant to bring more awareness to the amazing opportunities available in these career paths. They are not careers chosen only because someone 'can't get into' University, but tend to be chosen by bright, committed, passionate, young people who want to use their creative skills to make the world a better place. The acknowledgement and celebration of these careers is carried out by WorldSkills International, an organization with over 60 countries who are 'WorldSkills Members', all of these countries/regions committed to promoting skilled trade and technology careers for young people. In Canada, the organization that promotes vocational education and training is Skills Canada.

And how do these countries go about bringing awareness to these careers? Through competitions of course! Every year, the Member countries of WorldSkills International host competitions, the easiest way to describe these competitions is as 'skilled trade and technology Olympics' where young people gather to compete against their peers in over 40 different trade and technology areas. From bricklaying and baking to landscape design and automotive repair, these competitions set out to do two things: recognize international industry standards in these careers and to celebrate the excellence of young people who are committed to training to be the best they can in their chosen skill area. International competitions take place every 2 years with the next one being hosted in Leipzig, Germany in July 2013. On 'off competition' years, delegates from the Member countries join for a General Assembly to talk about the event, how regions are working to promote vocational education and training and discuss how to best move the organization forward.

Michelle recently returned from the beautiful island of Jeju, Korea where the General Assembly was held. In addition to the General Assembly meetings, the 4th Annual WorldSkills Youth Forum was facilitated by Michelle. The entire event was hosted by WorldSkills Korea, and specifically Human Resource Development Korea and all events were an outstanding success.  Delegates at both the General Assembly and the Youth Forum worked hard to ensure that WorldSkills International will continue to grow and people will come to realize that skilled trade and technology careers offer some pretty amazing life opportunities.

More details on the Youth Forum will follow next week. Stay tuned...