Partnership in Technical Vocational Training ensures Recovery and Prosperity

This close partnership between WorldSkills and Festo has existed for 30 years. As a partner from the very beginning, the company provides learning systems for the skills competitions, where the young talents prove their know-how every two years. The next WorldSkills, already the 46th of its kind, will take place in Shanghai in 2022 - one year later than planned due to the pandemic. This increases the importance of the learning systems provided by Festo Didactic: Due to the postponement, WorldSkills has declared 2021 the "Year of Innovation". On the one hand, the time gained until the next WorldSkills will be available for training, preparing and building up skills, but on the other hand it is also a matter of making the competitions fit for the digital age in terms of content with new technologies and knowledge.

Countering the shortage of skilled workers

"As a learning company, Festo attaches great importance to the topic of technical vocational education and training (TVET) in order to equip future generations with the necessary professional skills to combat the shortage of skilled workers and unemployment and to apply new technologies," explains Dr. Hans Jörg Stotz, member of the Management Board of Festo Didactic SE, which is responsible for technical education and training within the Festo Group. This makes Festo, a global player in electrical and pneumatic automation technology, the ideal partner for WorldSkills.

Global Industry Partners must be internationally positioned and provide the competition material and equipment to the teams of the participating countries. For this reason, Festo Didactic is providing the CP Lab Industry 4.0 learning system for the new skill Industry 4.0, the Modular Production System MPS for the skill Mechatronics, and the EDS (Environmental Discovery System) learning system for Water Technology, in which participants of the competition simulate the processes of a waterworks and a sewage treatment plant. The learning systems enable young people to solve industry-related tasks using the most innovative products and solutions in electrical and pneumatic automation technology and process automation from technology leaders such as Festo.

Successful careers in technical professions

"We believe more than ever that the skills of young people will lead us down the path of global economic recovery and prosperity," says David Hoey, CEO of WorldSkills International. Partnerships with innovative and globally positioned industry partners help WorldSkills to prepare young people for successful careers in technical professions. In the process, WorldSkills competitions are an unforgettable experience for the young people, who proudly represent their country and start their professional lives motivated.