For the first time since its inception in 1950, 'WorldSkills' will be held in the UAE from October 15-18, gathering thousands of the brightest national and international students under one roof.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the international competition, held every two years around the world, will gather 77 member countries and regions, showcasing 51 skill competitions at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).

More than 1,259 competitors, 10,000 international and 100,000 visitors from the UAE, 80,000 UAE students and 1000 volunteers will join hands, in what officials claim will be the "largest WorldSkills Competition ever held," in history.

On the sidelines of a pre-event press conference held in Adnec on Sunday, Mubarak Saeed Al Shamsi, director-general, Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Actvet), told Khaleej Times the event will be a vital moment for the students of the UAE.

He pointed out that the country continues to invest in training and education, as part of a strong commitment to youth development, which is a fundamental aspect of the UAE Vision 2021 and Abu Dhabi Plan. The UAE has the largest team of students among the competitors of the Arab region, with 34 students participating in 31 categories.

He highlighted that welcoming the competition in the UAE adds another milestone to the nation's successful record of hosting educational events. "We have no limit in terms of supporting young Emiratis and empowering them. We just had two wonderful government meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday and most of these topics were discussed there - the topic of education had two sessions and one was attended by Sheikh Mohamed that itself sends a clear message on the importance of education in the development of the UAE."

"The team is working day and night to raise awareness about the importance of WorldSkills and how to empower young Emiratis."

He said he looks forward to witnessing young Emirati competitors compete for winning titles in the friendly competition.

"We have provided training for the competitors for over a year now. However, we know that some international teams have been training for 10 years, but this does not mean that our students are not prepared. We have confidence in them."

Source: Khaleej Times