Going for Gold – German apprentice team aims for titles and medals in WorldSkills Competition in Calgary
23 apprentices and young specialists are representing Germany at the 40th WorldSkills Competition from September 1 to 7 in Canada. Federal Minister of Education Schavan – as patron – is keeping her fingers crossed / German Federal Government welcomes Leipzig’s bid to host the Competition in 2013 – WorldSkills General Assembly in Calgary will decide venue
Stuttgart, August 20, 2009 – The 40th WorldSkills Competition will begin in Calgary, Canada in just under two weeks. Following intensive preparations in their companies at home, special courses and final training with trainers and experts, the 23 German participants will soon be on their way. “The SkillsGermany team is in great shape and super-motivated to top their performance at the last competition in Japan,” says Elfi Klumpp, Managing Director of SkillsGermany optimistically. In 2007, the Germany national team brought home 4 silver medals, 1 bronze, and 8 Medallions for Excellence. “Our participants in Calgary have the ability to repeat this – and to top it off with Gold.”
After all, the team includes the current European champion in Mobile Robotics as well as other members with excellent track records in their fields. The German national team – with specialists from the manufacturing and service industries and trades – will compete in 20 skills from September 1 to 7. “We are competing in disciplines that are exemplary for our domestic industry and trades,” emphasizes SkillsGermany Managing Director Elfi Klumpp, “These 20 categories represent between 150 and 200 professions in Germany.“ A total of some 1,000 competitors from 50 countries are competing in 49 skills in the world championship.
The national skill competitions – and in particular the EuroSkills and WorldSkills championships which alternate each year – represent peak performance in vocational training. As Federal Minister of Education Prof. Dr. Annette Schavan puts it, “They offer the participants an excellent platform for fair competition and for transparent benchmarking of their capabilities”. In her Welcome Address as patron she emphasizes that the German training system stands for innovation and progress. “The Dual System is the trade mark of vocational training in Germany.” She is keeping her fingers crossed for the German team. “Many WorldSkills participants have become role models for friends and peers in their companies and home towns. We want to support this multiplication effect in Germany”, she continued.
For this reason, the German Federal Government welcomes Leipzig’s bid to host the WorldSkills 2013 competition. Under the leadership of SkillsGermany, the Federal Republic of Germany, the state of Saxony, the city of Leipzig and the Leipziger Messe exhibition centre have jointly bid to host the competition in four years’ time. The decision on the venue will be made in Calgary following presentations on the eve of this year’s WorldSkills Competition in Calgary. “We have done our homework really well – and have broad support from trades and industry. Our invitation to the WorldSkills competition in Germany is also intended to lend further weight to a focus on education and training “Made in Germany”, stressed Elfi Klumpp.
The German National Team flies to
40th WorldSkills 2009 Competition in Calgary, Canada
Photo and interview opportunity
Time: Wednesday, August 26, 11.30 am
Place: Frankfurt Airport
Terminal 1 C
Air Canada check-in, counter 765/772
Please let us know if you are coming. Thank you.
About SkillsGermany
SkillsGermany – An association for promoting national and international skills competitions, SkillsGermany combines the commitment and ideas of 45 partners – companies, associations and individuals. Founded in 2006, SkillsGermany promotes peak performance and – by organizing national and international skills competitions – provides a benchmarking platform for the future success of young people. In addition to competition for medals and rankings, the competitions provide a valuable stimulus for vocational education, support the establishment of economic ties, and allow new trends to be identified. The vocational competitions give young people an early opportunity to develop their will to perform and motivates them to the highest possible achievement in their training. The Chairman of the Management Board of Skills Germany is Dr. Theodor Niehaus, Managing Director of Festo Didactic GmbH & Co. KG. Elfi Klumpp heads up SkillsGermany as Managing Director.
For further information, please visit:
www.skillsgermany.de
www.worldskills2009.com
Contact:
Jörg Wehrmann – Communication / press, SkillsGermany e.V.
Phone +49 70239 50327
Email wehrmann@skillsgermany.de
Cell +49 177 8896889
Photos provided free of charge on request.
Copy may be used free of charge. Please send a specimen copy in the event of publication. Thank you.
