The Further Education and Training Sector Glitters at WorldSkills Ireland in Sep 2023
The Further Education and Training (FET) Sector in Ireland proudly showcased our programmes at the annual WorldSkills Ireland event held in RDS Dublin.
This year’s event was significant for the FET Sector as it marked the remarkable collective collaboration of the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs), supported by SOLAS and Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI). This collective effort provided the FET Sector with a platform to exemplify its commitment to our learners, and to excellence, innovation, and skill development.
WorldSkills Ireland is a partnership that brings enterprise, industry, education, training, and government together to promote the recognition and importance of skills and apprenticeships in Ireland. The event features apprenticeship competitions and celebrates the skills and talents of Ireland’s future workforce across various disciplines like construction, engineering, IT, and hospitality.
Nurturing skills
The FET Sector’s participation at WorldSkills underscored its dedication to nurturing skills and its significant contributions to building careers and a highly skilled workforce. The collaboration of the 16 ETBs highlighted their collective strength and vision for the future.
By combining resources, knowledge, and expertise, the ETBs projected a powerful identity that demonstrates how the FET Sector can cater to Ireland’s emerging talent by offering diverse and enriching training and learning experiences.
This collaborative effort further emphasises the FET Sector’s pivotal role in the Irish apprenticeship and Further Education and Training systems. Events like WorldSkills Ireland underscore the importance of fostering skills, nurturing innovation, and preparing students and adult learners for a competitive and an ever-evolving job market.
It also provides us with the opportunity to highlight how the FET Sector can equip individuals with the skills they need to succeed in a fast-paced and demanding labour market, further solidifying its essential role in shaping Ireland’s future workforce
Well-represented
Mayo, Sligo, and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB) were well-represented at WorldSkills Ireland with apprentices participating in competitions across many fields of learning. These included Craft Butchery, Joinery, Carpentry, Industrial Control, Architectural Stonemasonry, Automobile Technology, Construction Plant Fitting, Digital Infrastructure and Mechanics competitions.
MSLETB has winners in the following competitions; Kieran Finnerty (Architectural Stonemasonry), James Etherson (Craft Butchery), Sean Doyle (Digital Infrastructure), and Gary Golden (Industrial Mechanics) and we look forward to supporting them in their quest for the gold medal at the 47th WorldSkills taking place in Lyon, France in September 2024.
One of the most popular stands on the day was the Commis Chef “Try-a-Skill” demonstration which was facilitated by MSLETB’s Commis Chef Apprenticeship Team, Eileen Buchanan, Rory Culkin and Shelia Flynn.
Students from across the country participated in cookie decorating with the end results creating a large WorldSkills student cake. Minister for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris, tried his hand at decorating some cookies aided by our own Glitter Fairy Shelia Flynn!
Our team also created the infamous WorldSkills cake which represented many of the different apprenticeships available in Ireland.
Overall, a great 3-day event.
