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WorldSkills frequently asked questions
What is WorldSkills?
WorldSkills is a not for profit international membership association whose mission is to promote, through the cooperative actions of Members, a worldwide awareness of the essential contribution that skills and high standards of competence make to the achievement of economic success and individual fulfillment.
WorldSkills provides a unique means of exchange and comparison of world-class competency standards in the industrial trades and service sectors of the global economy.
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What is WorldSkills Calgary 2009?
WorldSkills Calgary 2009 is a pinnacle event for the WorldSkills movement. For seven days in September of 2009, Calgary will play host to 49 countries, represented by over 900 young competitors demonstrating their talents in 40 skill categories, from welding and robotics to telecommunications and joiner. With over 150,000 expected attendees, made up of students, parents, educators, international judges, industry and government, WorldSkills Calgary 2009 stands to be an optimal opportunity to raise awareness and understanding of skilled trades within the province of Alberta.
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When is it happening?
The dates of the competition are September 1-7, 2009.
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Where is it being held?
The competition venue is Stampede Park. Parallel events to the competition include Opening and Closing Ceremonies, a World Leaders’ Forum, and a Global Skills Village. The competitors will be housed in a Competitors’ Village, located on SAIT Campus.
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Who will participate?
More than nine hundred competitors from 49 member countries will compete (20 languages). These individuals are ages 17-22 who are in post-secondary programs or Apprenticeships.
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How will they participate?
The competitors will participate in 40 trades, skills and technology categories plus up to eight demonstration skill categories will be presented.
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Where can I learn more about World Skills?
You will be hearing and seeing much more about WorldSkills Calgary 2009 over the coming months and learning how our schools and our students will be involved, however to find out more about this event, visit their web site at www.worldskills2009.com
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What is the schedule of events at WorldSkills?
| September 1 |
Opening Ceremonies (invitation only) |
| September 2,3,4 |
Grade 9 and 10 students visiting events at Stampede Grounds with their school.
Event Open to the public free of charge |
| September 5 |
Competitions continue, open to public free of charge |
| September 6 |
Closing ceremonies, medal distribution |
| September 7 |
Stampeder Football Game, half time show – WorldSkills competitors |
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What are the categories of competitions?
The "Transportation & Logistics" category covers all the skilled areas that are related to the transportation world. This includes creating, repairing and maintaining transportation vehicles. The competition areas included in this area are: Autobody Repair, Automotive Technology and Car Painting.
The "Construction & Building Technology" category covers all the skilled areas that are related to the construction world. This encompasses everything from the foundation, grounds, building, finishing and maintaining of all sorts of buildings. The competition areas included in this area are: Wall & Floor Tiling, Plumbing & Heating, Electrical Installations, Industrial Control, Bricklaying, Stonemasonry, Painting & Decorating, Cabinetmaking, Joinery, Carpentry, Landscape Gardening, Refrigeration, Metal Roofing and Plastering.
The "Manufacturing (& Engineering) Technology" category covers all the skilled areas that are related to industrial development and creation. This encompasses everything from the design, creation, making and maintaining of anything involving electronics and machines. The competition areas included in this area are: Polymechanics/Automation, Manufacturing Team Challenge, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineer Design - CAD, Welding, Electronics, Mobile Robotics, Sheet Metal Technology, CNC Turning, CNC Milling, Mould Making, Aircraft Mechanics, and Construction Metal Works.
The "Information & Communication Technology" category covers all the skilled areas that are related to information services. This encompasses everything from network creation and maintenance to development and finishing information technologies. The competition areas included in this area are: IT/Software Applications, Web Design, IT PC/Network Support, Telecommunication Distribution Technology and Offset Printing.
The "Creative Arts & Fashion" category covers all the skilled areas that are related to fine arts and fashionable design and creation. This encompasses everything from multi-media creative, interior decoration and fashion. The competition areas included in this area are: Jewellery, Floristry, Fashion Technology and Graphic Design Technology.
The "Social & Personal Services" category covers all the skilled areas that are related to the service industry. This encompasses services related to the food and beverage industry as well as the hospitality and personal care. The competition areas included in this area are: Ladies/Mens hairdressing, Beauty Therapy, Confectioner/Pastry Cook, Cooking, Restaurant Service, and Caring.
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Will there be publicity in the newspapers and on t.v.?
WorldSkills is producing ads and Public Service announcements around WorldSkills 2009. Calgary Board of Education will have access to these ads and announcements to share with the schools. We also will be highlighting all of our work on the CBE website.
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Why is the CBE participating?
As a school district, we believe the benefits to students participating in WorldSkills Calgary to be so positive, we did not want to lose the opportunity. WorldSkills Calgary 2009 is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime event that we believe opens a world of possibilities for students. This event is the biggest international competition in Calgary since the 1988 Olympics. Given the shortage of skilled labour in Alberta and Calgary, the Minister of Education is fully supportive of WorldSkills Calgary 2009 for the opportunity it provides students. He personally requested that all Alberta school boards consider starting school three days earlier to allow students the opportunity to discover career options and possibilities they had never before dreamed of.
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How will CBE be involved?
All CBE students will have an opportunity to participate in some way related to the WorldSkills 2009 Calgary event. Our students are not actively involved in the competitions, but will be active observers and learners about the countries and competitions. We are working directly with WorldSkills Communication, Marketing and Education personnel to coordinate all of our initiatives and publicity.
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How will Junior and Senior High Students mainly be involved?
Junior High Students
- Grade 9 students will have one visit to event at Grounds.
- All schools have been informed what day(s) they are scheduled to attend the events at the Grounds.
- Information and off-site forms will be completed before the end of June. Students have been asked to register for their category of interest for the visit to the events.
- Students have chosen one of the six categories as a focus for their visit. (Categories listed.)
- Teachers will provide activities that highlight the countries attending and/or trades, skills, technology.
- Students will be asked to wear a CBE lanyard and ID card to identify them as CBE students.
- Students will be supervised from the time they leave the school until they return to school.
- Supervision is 1 to 10. All CBE supervisors will have a blue backpack with CBE logo.
Senior High
- Grade 10 students will have one visit to event at Grounds.
- Information and off-site forms will be completed before the end of June at the junior highs and sent to senior highs based on student’s registration for next year.
- Students will be asked to wear a CBE lanyard and ID Card to identify them as CBE students.
- Students will be supervised from the time they leave the school until they return to school or if we allow them to leave at the end on their own with parent permission.
- Students have chosen one of the six categories as a focus for their visit. (Categories listed.)
- Supervision is 1 to 10. All CBE supervisors will have a blue backpack with CBE logo.
- Teachers will provide activities that highlight the countries attending and/or trades, skills, technology.
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What are the plans for transporting the Grade 9 and 10 students to the Stampede Grounds?
- Transportation to event will be free for all grade 9 and 10 students.
- All schools have been informed what day(s) they are scheduled to attend the events at the Grounds.
- Students will travel to the Stampede Grounds using transportation suitable to where their school is located. The choices are:
- Picked up from the school around 9:00 by school bus (junior high) or CTS bus (senior high) and driven to closest LRT station. Ride LRT to Grounds. Return by LRT around 2:00 and school bus will be at LRT station to take students back to school.
- Walk to LRT station around 9:00 and ride LRT to Grounds. Return by LRT around 2:00 and walk back to school.
- Ride a bus to the Stampede Grounds and back. This is for schools in the northeast and students needing handicap transportation.
- No parking on Grounds. Only buses identified as transporting our students will be allowed on the grounds.
- System off-site forms will be used. They will be completed in June.
- CBE has hired a Transportation Consultant to coordinate the transportation plans.
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Can parents participate with their children for any events?
Parents are encouraged to consult with their school about how they can assist with all initiatives at the school level. Parents can take their children to the event as the event will be open late on Thursday September 4 and all day Saturday September 6. Parents may want to meet their grade 9 or 10 student at the Stampede Grounds to continue the visit rather than the student going back to the school. This needs to be arranged with the school prior to the visit. Parents may want to volunteer to be a supervisor with their grade 9 or 10 student’s school.
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How do we choose the competition category for my student to visit?
Schools will send home a form to be filled out after Spring Break to indicate the student’s preference for the competitions visit. Every attempt will be made to organize the groups by student choice.
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Is the visit to the competitions a regular field trip with forms to sign?
Yes, this is an “A” Off Site Activity in the city of Calgary. Parents will receive a letter explaining the activity and an Acknowledgement of Risk to sign and return to the school.
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Does my student have to attend the visit to the competitions?
As with all off site activities, the parent is required to give permission for the student attend by signing the Acknowledgement of Risk form.
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What if my student cannot attend the event? Is it an excused absence?
If, as the parent or guardian, you excuse the student from school the day of the competition visit, you would handle the absence according to the school policy for reporting that information to the school.
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What will the school schedules be the week of August 31- September 4?
All schools will start and end at their regular times. There will be no late entry or early dismissal days. All schools are expected to run classes during that week. There will be no Staff Development or Professional Learning Community Days. Students will be in attendance all week.
Elementary schools on modified calendar may have a Parent/Student/Teacher interview day when there are no classes, and students would attend for their interview time. Schools may also have a staggered kindergarten schedule that week. Each school will publish the information that applies to their school.
Junior and Senior highs will hold classes all week. The grade 9 and 10 students will visit the Competitions at the Stampede Grounds. Schools will choose to take their designated students for the visit all on one day or split the group over two or three days. Each school will publish the information that applies to their school.
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Will Other Grades Be Able To Visit The Competitions?
Schools may organize trips for grades other than 9 and 10 on their own. There is no funding for transportation of identification items. Schools will follow all of the “A” (in the city) off site requirements. Schools must inform Corporate Partnerships of their intention to take other grades as it could impact transportation. We are recommending that they not travel at the same time as the 9s and 10s.
Parents are also encouraged to take their children on Thursday evening until 7:00 or all day Saturday.
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What Else Will Students Do Besides Watch The Competitions?
Students will have the opportunity to participate in the “Try a Trade” where several of the trades and skills represented in the competitions will have a short, safe activity available for students to try their hand at. The activity is supervised by a journeyman and safety equipment is provided. Students do not need any prior knowledge of skill to participate. It is a fun way for students to learn more about aspects of the trade. Parents’ will provide their consent for the student to participate in this on the Acknowledgement of Risk form.
Also there will be booths for government agencies, post secondary institutions and industry associations which can be visited.
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How do we choose the competition category for my student to visit?
Schools have sent home a form.
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Last Modified:
September 20, 2011
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