Skills in the spotlight as WorldSkills Ireland 2024 launches
Welcoming over 24,000 students, across 300 secondary schools, through its doors last year, WorldSkills Ireland returns this September to promote skills and apprenticeship careers and opportunities for young people as they navigate future options following secondary education.
A Government and Industry led event, WorldSkills Ireland 2024 is taking place from the 25th – 27th September 2024 at the RDS, Simmonscourt, and will build upon the success of previous events, when thousands of visitors, including students and their parents, gathered to see first-hand the wealth of career options available. The WorldSkills Ireland 2024 event takes place two weeks before the Auto Trade EXPO and CV Workshop EXPO at the same venue.
Plans are underway for the 2024 event, and it’s been confirmed that the National Skills finals will be taking place at the event showcasing more than 30 varied skills in a competitive setting. These include in the Automobile & Heavy Vehicle Technology category: ‘Automobile Technology’ and ‘Heavy Vehicle Maintenance’, as well as the likes of: ‘Logistics & Freight Forwarding’, ‘Construction Plant Fitting’. Welding also features in the Manufacturing & Engineering Technology category.
Automobile Technology 2023 Competition
The ‘Automobile Technology’ competition involves the maintaining light vehicles from various manufacturers, diagnosing complex mechanical problems, and delivering solutions within commercial cost and time constraints.
Heavy Vehicle Maintenance 2023 Competition
The ‘Heavy Vehicle Maintenance 2023 Competition’ involves the Rrepairing and maintaining of large stationary and mobile machines and industrial equipment in environments that include transportation, mining, agriculture, and forestry.
Killian Naughton (Galway). The Chief Examiner was Philip Cleary.
WorldSkills Ireland 2024 will run concurrently with Higher Options, both events aim to raise the profile and recognition of skills and apprenticeships, preparing the talent of today for the careers of the future. Supported by industry partners such as ESB Networks, Bus Eireann, and Dublin Bus, the event is a partnership between enterprise, industry, education, training, and government.
Announcing the return of the event, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan, was joined by past WorldSkills Ireland competitors. He commented: “Once again WorldSkills Ireland will celebrate the best of Irish skills opportunities, with competitors from up to 30 disciplines showcasing the best of their skills and professions”.
He added: “It is a brilliant opportunity for young people from all over the country to explore the variety of skills-based career paths available to them, from traditional fields, like construction and mechanics, to newer areas, such as financial services, green skills and retrofitting. I hear consistent messages from employers in areas of skills demand, so it’s great to see events like WorldSkills returning, benefitting both students and employers from across Ireland.”
Commenting on the broader impact of the event, Ray English, WorldSkills Ireland-Chair/Technical Delegate, adds: “The skills shortage is one of the major challenges across all sectors today. Simply put, we need more skilled people across multiple sectors, and this event reflects the collective support from education, industry, and government.”
He added: “Skills drive the future, and WorldSkills Ireland 2024 will be a true showcase of the ‘best in class’ across many different disciplines, offering young people a wealth of options as they transition from secondary education into the workforce.”
Also pictured are WorldSkills Ireland announcement were (L-R): Hubert Fitzpatrick, Director General of Construction Industry Federation (CIF); Michael Hourihan, WorldSkills Ireland Executive; Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Caroline Kinsella, ESB Networks; David Poynton Rowley, Apprenticeship Manager, Bus Eireann/Dublin Bus and Ronan Murphy, Training Centre Manager, SISK.
New for 2024, The Institute of Guidance Counsellors have been announced as the official education partner, commenting on the partnership, Tadhg Crowley, President of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors (IGC), said: “Skill-based jobs and apprenticeships are the backbone of our economy, offering invaluable pathways to fulfilling careers. In the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, we firmly believe in empowering our youth through hands-on learning and real-world experience. Events like WorldSkills Ireland are crucial in celebrating and promoting the talent, dedication, and innovation of young apprentices, who are shaping the future of our industries.”
WorldSkills Ireland 2024 is set to inspire the next generation of skilled young people to follow their passions, interests, and talents.
