WorldSkills Lyon 2024: GAN Australia Study Tour

During 9-15 September 2024 AEN and GAN Australia supported the WorldSkills international competition in Lyon France and participated in a number of other meetings and events to promote the work we do in Australia and strengthen relationships with international stakeholders.

Approximately 60 other Australian delegates attended the events in Lyon including key Australian Government officials and industry stakeholders.

The WorldSkills competition and conference was held over 6 days from 10-15 September in Lyon with the opening and closing ceremonies attended by 20,000+ delegates, with over 150,000 spectators and delegates attending the competition, conference and related activities.

WorldSkills Competition Lyon 10 – 15 September

WorldSkills Lyon 2024 ends a summer of skills and success in France

A team of 32 talented young Australian apprentices, trainees and students, known as the Skillaroos, recently made the journey to Lyon, France to compete in the 47th WorldSkills Competition at the Eurexpo competition site.

Overall, the competition had 1400 competitors, from 70+ countries, 140,000+ visitors/delegates held over 6 days competed in 59 different skills. Australia had representatives in 29 different skills, including both individual and team competitions.

In the 2024 WorldSkills competition, Australia ranked 25th overall in average medal points, tied with Poland and Sweden, and 19th overall in average points per competitor. Australia was active in 29 competitions and earned one bronze medal, along with 14 Medallions for Excellence. The country’s overall average medal point score was 0.55, reflecting its competitiveness but placing it behind leading nations like China, Korea, and Switzerland.

In the 2024 WorldSkills competition, the top three countries were:

  1. China – With an average medal point of 3.17, China secured 36 gold, 9 silver, and 4 bronze medals, along with 8 Medallions for Excellence.
  2. Korea – Korea scored 2.20 average points, winning 10 gold, 13 silver, 9 bronze medals, and 11 Medallions for Excellence.
  3. Switzerland – Achieved 1.67 average points with 6 gold, 6 silver, 1 bronze medal, and 21 Medallions for Excellence.

WorldSkills International Conference 11-12 September Lyon

Conference had 1600 delegates from 200+ countries with another 5000+ online delegates.

Key conference themes included:

  • Strategies for excellence: Towards a global TVET agenda.
  • How TVET can lead the green transition.
  • Building gender equity in skills.
  • Creating excellence in every TVET system.
  • AI and the future of work.
  • Data for better skills systems.
  • Foundational skills for better TVET.
  • Attracting more women into STEM.
  • Skills initiatives for fragile economies.
  • Advancing TVET in low- and middle-income countries.

For further details please visit WorldSkills Conference 2024.

Conference Presentation: Collaborating towards success: Tools and Strategies for quality assurance in TVET

Presentation Dr Peta Skujins & Jayme Canon, Wednesday 11 September

Jayme told the story of his apprenticeship journey, including how he was support by his GTO (Westvic) and how he has now started his own business and taken on an apprentice at the age of 23. This contrasted with the other apprentice speaker, Rachel Crawford, also from Australia who had a poor apprenticeship experience but no support from a GTO.

Peta spoke about:

  • Australian apprenticeship system
  • Australian GTO system and benefits
  • Australian Quality Apprenticeship Employer Accreditation system.

Other presenters in the session were:

  • Ernest Nadome, Assistant Secretary General, Central Organization of Trade Unions, Kenya
  • Marty Guay, Vice President, Business Development, Stanley Black & Decker, USA
  • Georg Konetzky, Director-General for National Market Strategies, Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy, Austria

Image 1: Dean Luciani GAN Australia Chair, Jayme Cannon International Exchange Recipient, Peta Skujins GAN Australia

Image 2: Jayme Cannon International Exchange Recipient, Georg Konetzky Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy Austria, Ernest Nadome Central Organization of Trade Unions Kenya, Peta Skujins GAN Australia, Marty Guay Stanley Black & Decker USA

GAN Australian presentation with Canada & Swiss guest speakers to Australian Delegation

GAN Australia (facilitated by Peta Skujins) delivered a 60-minute informal presentation to the Australian WorldSkills delegation on comparisons and differences within the three VET and Apprenticeship systems – Australian, Switzerland and Canadian.

There was significant interest from the Australian delegation in hearing more about the Canadian system, particularly the relationship between apprenticeships and the ‘Red Seal’ for qualified tradespeople.

Speakers: Peta Skujins GAN Australia, France Daviault Canadian Apprenticeships Forum, Anna Zongollowicz International Training Centre of the ILO

WorldSkills Australia and WorldSkills UK presentation

On Friday 15 September there was a 60-minute presentation on the comparisons and differences within the Australian and UK TVET/ Apprenticeship systems. Comments from UK representatives noted that overall education system and community expectations has swayed too far in support of universities over the past 20 years, which is now why the UK has a skilled workforce shortage.

Overall, very similar issues to Australia, constant government changes, some “rorting of funding/programs” and a greater focus and funding for university, with the UK government now looking at ways to improve the apprenticeship system.