WorldSkills is an international charity that organises world and national championships for vocational skills[1] and is held every two years in different parts of the world, and also hosts conferences about vocational skills.[2] WorldSkills describes itself as the global hub for skills.[3]
The aims of the competitions include demonstrating the advantages of learning a vocational skill,[4] and encouraging 'parity of esteem' between vocational and academic qualifications.[5]
The city of Kazan, Russia, hosted the 45th WorldSkills Competition in 2019. At the previous event, WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017, there were competitions in 51 skills areas with roughly 1,300 young people taking part.[6]
WorldSkills International, formerly known as the International Vocational Training Organization (IVTO), was founded in the 1940s with the goal of creating new employment opportunities for young people in some of the economies that were devastated by the Second World War.[7][8][9] It operates in 85 countries and regions.[10]