Time flies and the WorldSkills competition is once again almost upon us; this year’s meeting will be the 47th professional world championships and the second occasion the event has been held in Lyon, France. Some 1,500 young experts from around 80 countries are lined up to test their mettle in more than 60 vocational disciplines, and crowds approaching a quarter of a million people are expected to turn up to cheer their teams on.
As ever, Team Austria has strength in depth, with 47 competitors looking forward to showcasing their skills in 41 professions, making it one of the largest delegations of participants from the European countries.
The first international WorldSkills competition was held in 1950 and the event, in which young experts meet to display their vocational talent and expertise, is now held biannually. Just as in sports, the highest achievers in each skills discipline are awarded a gold, silver or bronze medal, although at WorldSkills, the various training systems are also put to the test in addition to the individual events.
Austria has been a regular participant since 1961 and can boast a proud track record; in addition to netting countless medals, the country has come as out as top nation or featured in the top three on several occasions. The team’s ongoing success at the event is also a feather in the cap of Austria’s dual education system, in which apprentices receive parallel training at vocational schools and in company placements, integrating theory and practice and establishing close connections between the ivory tower and the shop floor.
Team Austria’s official send-off was celebrated in Vienna on 22 August and ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA wishes our young Austrian experts bonne chance and every success at WorldSkills 2024!
