MEDIA RELEASE

WORLDSKILLS SINGAPORE 2018 ENHANCED TO

ELEVATE SKILLS MASTERY IN SINGAPORE

SINGAPORE, 05 JULY 2018 –WorldSkills Singapore (WSS) 2018 was launched today by Minister for Education, Ong Ye Kung at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre.

2      In celebration of skills excellence across a wide range of industries, nearly 250 of Singapore’s top youth talents will be pitting their skills against one another in this biennial national competition. This is a key programme in the month-long SkillsFuture Festival. With the theme “Our Skills, Our Future”, this year’s WSS 2018 recognises the diversity of talents that young Singaporeans possess, and highlights how we can secure a better future for ourselves through skills mastery and lifelong learning.

3      To reinforce the national focus on skills development, WSS 2018 has been enhanced to position it as a celebration of skills mastery for all.

New Emerging and In-Demand Skill Areas Introduced

4      The 13th edition of this competition will showcase a dynamic demonstration of skills by our young talents across a wider range of areas. This year, nine new skills areas have been added, bringing the total number to 26. Some of these new skills areas, such as Cyber Security, Water Technology and Rapid Transit Systems, have been identified as emerging and in-demand skills that are key to Singapore’s future economy.

Expansion of Participation to all Singaporeans

5      For the first time, WSS 2018 will also be held at a public venue to widen its reach and enhance the promotion of skills excellence among Singaporeans. Twenty- three of the skills areas will be at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, with the remaining three held at ITE College Central. Over 20,000 visitors are expected at WSS 2018, including 12,000 secondary school students. The full list of skills areas and competition venues is in Annex A.

6      As part of efforts to raise the profile of skills development among the wider community, this year’s competition will see participation by students from the Autonomous Universities (AUs) for the very first time. Together with competitors from ITE, the polytechnics and the industry, WSS 2018 will involve close to 250 competitors, a significant increase from the 150 competitors who took part in WSS 2016.

7      Winners will receive Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals, together with Cash Awards of $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.

WorldSkills Ambassadors Scheme

8      A new initiative, the WorldSkills Ambassadors Scheme, will be introduced to recognise past competitors who embody the spirit of skills mastery, and can act as advocates of skills mastery. This year, six WSS past competitors have been appointed as the pioneer batch of WorldSkills Ambassadors, and they will be reaching out to youths to inspire the pursuit of skills mastery through outreach activities and WSS events.

Strengthening Education and Career Guidance

9      To support youths in discovering and developing their interests and strengths, WSS 2018 will also be used as a key platform to strengthen the delivery of Education and Career Guidance (ECG) to secondary school students, building upon the ECG efforts in schools. Students will have the opportunity to experience first- hand the excitement and intensity of the skills competition, and develop an appreciation of what it takes to achieve skills excellence. More importantly, they will learn about various industries through an interactive exhibition, as well as explore different education and career pathways through talks and workshops. Overall, this is a marked increase from the 5,000 students who attended WSS 2016.

10      WSS 2018 will also be hosting the finals of the Drone Odyssey Challenge, organised by the Science Centre Singapore. Open to primary and secondary school students, this inaugural competition will see participants working together to perform coding and specified tasks with programmable drones.

11      Besides students, adults are also invited to participate in over 30 free workshops across five industry clusters on 7 July 2018 at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. These workshops cater to diverse interests, from mobile phone photography and sushi making to fabric art making and digital animation creation. More information can be found at www.worldskills.sg/workshops.

12      In addition, students and members of the public can download the MySkillsFuture mobile app for quick access to information on WSS 2018 and to help them navigate the event venue. The mobile app features interesting trivia and quizzes on the 26 skills competitions, as well as information on the ECG exhibitions, talks and workshops.

Strong Industry Involvement

13      WSS 2018 has attracted an increase in industry involvement, with 59 industry partners and educational institutions providing holistic skills learning experiences through interactive booths, skills workshops and talks for visitors. The event has also attracted over 50 sponsors in various categories. Their participation reflects the growing industry recognition and support of WSS, and its role in driving the national skills movement. The list of sponsors and industry partners are in Annex B and Annex C respectively.

A Runway to the Global Stage

14      WSS 2018 winners in each skills area will have the opportunity to represent Singapore at the regional and international WorldSkills Competitions. The upcoming ASEAN Skills Competition will be in Bangkok, Thailand, in August 2018 and the next international WorldSkills Competition will be held in Kazan, Russia, in August 2019.

15      Mr Ng Cher Pong, Chairman of WorldSkills Singapore Council and Chief Executive of SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), said: “WorldSkills Singapore is an excellent platform for our youths to discover their passion, hone their skills, and celebrate skills mastery. With the expanded scope of WSS 2018, it is a key platform to raise the profile of skills mastery in Singapore, and highlight the role of skills in our economic transformation. The strong support from the industry also reflects the growing importance that they attach to the development and promotion of skills. I look forward to seeing more youths embark on their journey towards skills mastery.”

Awards Presentation at WSS Closing Ceremony on 10 Jul 2018

16      The results of WSS 2018 will be announced at the Closing Ceremony on Tuesday, 10 Jul 2018 at 10.00 am at Republic Polytechnic. Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Trade and Industry, will officiate at the Ceremony and present Certificates and Medallions to winners.

17      The programmes for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of WSS 2018 are in Annexes D and E respectively.

18      For more information please contact:

Ms Jamie Chan

Head/Media, ITE

Tel: 6590 2026 / 9845 0910

Email: Jamie_Chan@ite.edu.sg

 

Mr Hans Yeo

Corporate & Media Relations Officer,

ITE

Tel: 6590 2040 / 9759 7389

Email: Hans_H_Z_Yeo@ite.edu.sg

Ms Cherlyn Tan

Manager/Media Relations,

SkillsFuture Singapore

Tel: 6307 7404 / 9800 0108

Email: Cherlyn_Tan@ssg.gov.sg

About WorldSkills Singapore

The WorldSkills Singapore Competition is led by SkillsFuture Singapore, and jointly organised by the Institute of Technical Education, Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic and the Ministry of Education. WorldSkills Singapore supports the national SkillsFuture movement and offers a platform for competitors to showcase their capabilities in the pursuit of skills mastery. It is but one of many milestones in a lifelong journey for Singaporeans to deepen skills and to discover their passions.

About SkillsFuture Singapore

SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) drives and coordinates the implementation of the national SkillsFuture movement, promotes a culture of lifelong learning and strengthens the ecosystem of quality education and training in Singapore. Through a holistic system of national SkillsFuture initiatives, SSG enables Singaporeans to take charge of their learning journey in their pursuit of skills mastery. SSG also works with key stakeholders to ensure that students and adults have access to high quality and industry-relevant training that meet the demands of different sectors of the economy for an innovative and productive workforce. For more information, visit www.ssg.gov.sg

Annex A

WorldSkills Singapore 2018 Skills Areas & Competition Venues

Venue	Skill Areas	Hall/Room
Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre	1.      3D Digital Game Art (New) 2.      Automobile Technology (New) 3.      Beauty Therapy (New) 4.      Cooking 5.      Cyber Security (New) 6.      Electronics 7.      Fashion Technology (New) 8.      Freight Forwarding (New) 9.      Graphic Design Technology 10.   Health and Social Care 11.   Hairdressing (New) 12.   Industrial Control 13.   Information Network Cabling 14.   IT Network Systems Administration 15.   IT Software Solutions for Business 16.   Mechatronics 17.   ME-CAD 18.   Mobile Robotics 19.   Rapid Transit Systems (New) 20.   Restaurant Service 21.   Visual Merchandising 22.   Water Technology (New) 23.   Web Design and Development	Halls 401 - 405
ITE College Central (2 Ang Mo Kio Drive, Singapore 567720)	24.   Aircraft Maintenance	Aerospace Hangar, Block G, Level 2
	25.   CNC Milling	CNC Milling Workshop, Block H, Level 5
	26.   CNC Turning	CNC Turning Workshop, Block H, Level 7

Annex B

WorldSkills Singapore 2018 Sponsors

S/N	Sponsorship Category	Name of Sponsor
1	Principal Sponsors	Tote Board
2		Workforce Singapore
3	Platinum Sponsors	Singapore Telecommunications Ltd
4		Charles & Keith International Pte Ltd
5		SBS Transit Ltd
6		SMRT Trains Ltd
7		Temasek Holdings (Private) Ltd

S/N	Sponsorship Category	Name of Sponsor	Skill Area
8	Gold Sponsors	Singapore Telecommunications Ltd	Cybersecurity
9		Applied Materials South East Asia Pte Ltd	Mobile Robotics
10		CapitaLand Limited	Mobile Robotics
11		CISCO Singapore	IT Network Systems Administration
12		Energy Market Authority	Industrial Control
13		Festo Pte Ltd	Mecharonics
14		Info-Communications Media Development Authority	IT Software Solutions for Business
15		Makino Asia Pte Ltd	CNC Milling
16		PSA Corporation Pte Ltd	Freight Forwarding
17		Sandvik South East Asia Pte Ltd	CNC Turning
18		Singapore Health Services Pte Ltd	Health and Social Care
19		Social Service Institute	Health and Social Care
20		ST Engineering Ltd	Aircraft Maintenance
21		UOB Group	Mobile Robotics
22	Silver Sponsors	Air Transport Training College	Aircraft Maintenance
23		CAAS	Aircraft Maintenance
24		Inzign Pte Ltd	Mobile Robotics
25		Heidenhain Pacific Pte Ltd	Mobile Robotics
26		JEP Precision Engineering Pte Ltd	Mechanical Engineering CAD
27		Maritime Port Authority of Signapore	Freight Forwarding
28		PEC Ltd	Mechanical Engineering CAD
29		Public Utilities Board	Water Technology
30	Equipment Sponsors	Artizen	Cooking
31		CETM Global Test	Electronics
32		Keysight Technologies	Cyber Security
33		RATIONAL Cooking Systems	Cooking
34		Sarika Food & Beverage Pte Ltd	Restaurant Service
35		SBS Transit Ltd	Rapid Transit Systems
36		SMRT Trains Ltd	Rapid Transit Systems
37		Steward’s Solution Pte Ltd	Cooking
38		Steward’s Solution Pte Ltd	Restaurant Service
39		WACOM	3D Digital Game Art
40	Supporters	Adidas Singapore Pte Ltd	Visual Merchandising
41		Allure Beauty Saloon Pte Ltd	Beauty Therapy
42		ComfortDelgro	General
43		ESP xMedia	General
44		Fluke Networks	Information Network Cabling
45		Goodwood Park Hotel	General
46		Kao Singapore	Hairdressing
47		Luna Bianca	Beauty Therapy
48		Mimaki Singapore Pte Ltd	Visual Merchandising
49		Motor Image Enterprises	Automobile Technology
50		NN2 Cosmetics (Intl) Ote Ltd	Beauty Therapy
51		Pixel Automation Pte Ltd	Freight Forwarding
52		IA Engineering Company Ltd	General
53		SICK Product Centre Asia P/L	Electronics
54		Singapore Labour Foundation	General
55		STMicroelectronics	Electronics
56		UMW Equipment and Engineering Pte Ltd	Automobile Technology
57		Xcellink	General

Annex C

WorldSkills Singapore 2018 Industry Partners

Skill Clusters	Organisations
Creative Arts and Fashion	·        4As ·        A&C Atelier  ·        Animagine Pte Ltd ·        HP Inc. Singapore ·        NPE Print Communications ·        Ngee Ann Polytechnic ·        Serious Games Association (with TP) ·        Singapore Tyler Print Institute ·        Temasek Polytechnic ·        Wacom
Engineering	·        Association of Aerospace Industries Singapore (AAIS) ·        Beckhoff Automation Pte Ltd ·        Beckton Dickinson Singapore ·        Building and Construction Authority Academy ·        Energy Market Authority ·        Economic Development Board – Engine Room ·        Engineering @ Polytechnics ·        Makino Asia Pte Ltd ·        Sandvik South East Asia Pte Ltd ·        SICK Product Center Asia Pte. Ltd. ·        Siemens-GreenPower ·        STMicroelectronics Pte Ltd
Infocomm Technology	·        Amdon Consulting Pte Ltd ·        ESP xMedia Pte Ltd ·        Info-comm Media Development Authority of Singapore ·        JobTech Pte Ltd ·        Microsoft Singapore ·        MQ Spectrum Pte Ltd ·        SAP Asia Pte Ltd ·        SGTech (SiTF) ·        Singtel / NCS ·        Stone Forest IT ·        THINKSECURE® Pte Ltd ·        Vanitee ·        V-Key Pte Ltd
Social and Personal Services	·        Colourfully Pte Ltd  ·        Hair & Cosmetology Association (Singapore) – HACOS  ·        L’Oreal ·        Planet Beauti ·        Singapore Marriot Tang Plaza Hotel ·        Montfort Care (Metoyou) ·        National Healthcare Group Pte Ltd ·        National University Health System (NUHS) ·        O’Joy Care Services ·        Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) ·        SPD ·        Social Service Tribe ·        Taster Food Pte Ltd / BreadTalk Group Ltd ·        The Art Therapy Room ·        WeCare
Transport and Logistics	·        Air Transport Training College ·        Republic Polytechnic ·        Shalom Movers ·        Singapore Maritime Academy – Singapore Polytechnic ·        Singapore Maritime Foundation ·        Singapore Maritime Gallery ·        ST Engineering Land Systems ·        The Singapore Scout Association (supported by CAAS) ·        Yusen Logistics Singapore
Others	·        MOE ·        SSG ·        WSG

Annex D

WORLDSKILLS SINGAPORE 2018

OPENING CEREMONY

THURSDAY 5 JULY 2018 AT 0945 HOURS

SUNTEC SINGAPORE CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE

EXHIBITION HALL 406

1 RAFFLES BOULEVARD, SUNTEC CITY, SINGAPORE 039593

____________________________________________________________________________________

PROGRAMME

Time	Activity
9:00 am	Registration
9:45 am	Guests to be seated
10:00 am	Arrival of Guest-of-Honour Mr Ong Ye Kung Minister for Education Welcome Performance Presentation of Mementos to Sponsors by Mr Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive, SkillsFuture Singapore & Chairman, WorldSkills Singapore Council Opening Speech by Guest-of-Honour Official Launch of WorldSkills Singapore 2018 End of Opening Ceremony
11:00 am	Tea Reception
12:00 pm	End of Programme

 

Annex E

WORLDSKILLS SINGAPORE 2018

CLOSING CEREMONY

 

TUESDAY 10 JULY 2018 AT 1030 HOURS

THE REPUBLIC CULTURAL CENTRE

REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC

9 WOODLANDS AVE 9, SINGAPORE 738964

_____________________________________________________________________________________

PROGRAMME

Time	Activity
9:30 am	Registration
10:15 am	Guests to be seated
10:30 am	Arrival of Guest-of-Honour Mr Chee Hong Tat Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Trade and Industry Welcome Performance Closing Remarks by Mr Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive, SkillsFuture Singapore & Chairman, WorldSkills Singapore Council Video Presentation on WSS 2018 Highlights Presentation of Certificates and Medallions to WorldSkills Singapore National Experts by Guest-of-Honour [2 Recipients] Presentation of Distinguished Service Award by Guest-of-Honour [5 Recipients] Presentation of Medals to Winners of WSS 2018 by Guest-of-Honour [26 Skill Areas] Closing Performance End of Closing Ceremony
12:00 pm	Lunch Reception
1:00 pm	End of Programme