EuroSkills has been set up – a new three-day biennial event, where over 500 young European craftsmen and women demonstrate their talents and compete to become “the Best of the Best” in one of 50 European trade areas.
The premiere edition of EuroSkills takes place at the Ahoy Exhibition Centre in Rotterdam, Holland between 18 and 20 September, 2008. EuroSkills 2008 is organised by Skills Netherlands, in association with the European Skills Promotion Organisation (ESPO) and WorldSkills.
EuroSkills 2008 is the first international Skills event subsequent to WorldSkills 2007 in Shizuoka, Japan, last November. Malta is already a member of ESPO and intends to participate in this first Euroskills competition. MCAST will be representing Malta and E Zahra, Director of IME also attended for the first general assembly of ESPO in Budapest as the technical delegate.
J Sciberras and Mr Zahra also attended the Euroskills preview that was held in Rotterdam in March, 2007.
Compared to WorldSkills and national Skills contests, EuroSkills offers more team competitions than individual competitions. In team-based competitions, assessments are based on technical and social skills. Also, given that no European country will host the WorldSkills event in 2007 and 2009, EuroSkills will be a necessary means of promoting VET and craftsmanship in Europe.
EuroSkills 2008 is open to young people who have gained, or are gaining, vocational skills in a wide range of industries and businesses, at many different levels.
The candidates should be between 17 and 25 years of age, and born on, or after, 1 January, 1983. Each competition has a restricted number of participants.
Competitors should be registered before 1 May, 2008. They can only register via the local Skills organisation.
EuroSkills 2008 is about education, engagement, and excitement. Throughout the competition, there is a constant element of excitement derived from watching the different skills performed live, being involved in hands-on activities and by getting information about vacancies, earnings, and training opportunities in the presented skills.
The EuroSkills organisation has just launched the new EuroSkills 2008 website. www.euroskills2008.eu, carries news and updates about the event, as well as all relevant information about the programme, competitions and Euroskills Village, the campus in the host city Rotterdam, and details about joining EuroSkills as a competitor, supporter, or visitor.