WorldSkills Competition concludes successfully with Hong Kong Team claiming a record of 11 prizes and showcasing globally-recognised professional level

Hailed as the “Skills Olympics”, the WorldSkills Competition held this year in Kazan, Russia, came to a successful close last evening (27 August) with the Hong Kong Team winning Medallions for Excellence in 11 trades, the highest-ever number, including Cooking, Electrical Installations, Graphic Design Technology, Hairdressing, Jewellery, Mechatronics, Mobile Robotics, Pâtisserie and Confectionery, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Visual Merchandising, and Web Technologies. Among the winning trades, Hairdressing, Mechatronics and Visual Merchandising made it for the third time. Clearly the skill level of Hong Kong Team was on par with world standards.

Under the guidance of trade experts over the year, the Hong Kong competitors' fine performances testified to their globally benchmarked expertise. Medallion for Excellence winner in Web Technologies CHEUNG Kuen-yuet, also the top scorer of the Hong Kong team, is a Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) graduate of Higher Diploma in Software Engineering. He noted that competing with young professionals from the world over in the four-day tournament, every part of it was equally challenging. He was thrilled with the win which affirmed his career aspiration to be a software engineer in the future.

WONG Pun-shing, winner of Medallion for Excellence in Hairdressing and a Youth College graduate of Diploma of Vocational Education (Hairdressing), treasured the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as every competitor is allowed to partake in the WorldSkills Competition only once. Pun-shing said the competition in Russia enabled him to compare notes with and make acquaintance with international peers. More so, he was apprised of the latest know-how of the hairdressing trade, which was eye opening. He attributed his excellent performance to the coaching of his experts and mentors in preparation for the tournament.

Meanwhile, winners of Medallions for Excellence in Electrical Installations and Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, CHAN Yu-tai and KWOK Chun-ming work respectively as a technician and a technician trainee in the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD). They specially thanked EMSD for the support and training for playing to their best.

The biennial WorldSkills Competition is aimed at promoting professional expertise and the mastery of skills, as well as raising understanding and awareness of vocational and professional education and training in the international community. WorldSkills Kazan 2019, held between 22 and 27 August, was the largest ever WorldSkills Competition, attracting over 1,300 competitors from 63 countries and regions, fiercely contesting in 56 skills. The 24 Hong Kong competitors took part in 22 skills competitions, namely 3D Digital Game Art, Car Painting, Cooking, Electrical Installations, Fashion Technology, Graphic Design Technology, Hairdressing, IT Software Solutions for Business, Jewellery, Mechanical Engineering CAD, Mechatronics, Mobile Robotics, Pâtisserie and Confectionery, Print Media Technology, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Restaurant Service, Visual Merchandising, Web Technologies, Joinery, Plumbing and Heating, Wall and Floor Tiling, and Welding.

The Hong Kong competitors include prize winners of the local WorldSkills Hong Kong Competition 2018 jointly organised by the Vocational Training Council (VTC), the Construction Industry Council and the Clothing Industry Training Authority, as well as representatives selected by experts of respective trades. Since first joining the WorldSkills Competition in 1997, the Hong Kong Team has won two Gold, one Silver, five Bronze prizes and 57 Medallions for Excellence.

Established in 1982, the Vocational Training Council (VTC) is the largest vocational and professional education and training provider in Hong Kong. The mission of VTC is to provide a valued choice to school leavers and working people to acquire the values, knowledge and skills for lifelong learning and enhanced employability, and also to provide support to industries for their manpower development. VTC has 13 member institutions, namely the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) , the Institute of Professional Education And Knowledge (PEAK) , the School for Higher and Professional Education (SHAPE), the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) , the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) , the Hotel and Tourism Institute (HTI) , the Chinese Culinary Institute (CCI) , the International Culinary Institute (ICI) , the Maritime Services Training Institute (MSTI) , Youth College , Pro-Act by VTC , the Integrated Vocational Development Centre (IVDC) and the Shine Skills Centre.
 
Website: www.vtc.edu.hk

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Annex 1: WorldSkills Kazan 2019
22 to 27 August 2019
List of Medallion for Excellence Winners of HK Team