The Olympics games of skills concludes in the capital on Thursday after five days of rigorous competitions testing skills from welding to waitering.
More than 1,300 pupils and students between the ages of 17 and 25 and representing 77 member countries took part in WorldSkills this year with more than 100,000 local visitors estimated to have travelled to Abu Dhabi for the event.
Finals will be held on Thursday followed by the closing ceremony at 7.30pm in Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, which had to be expanded by nearly 40 per cent to accommodate the world’s largest vocational skills competition.
Ministers and experts who took part in the event said the competition helped project the country’s vision for future industries and encouraged the nation’s young to look to vocational skills as an arena for achieving sustainable development post-oil.
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The competition also provided a platform for dialogue between experts and young people from around the world in a bid to help improve the future of the education sector, they said.
“The ministry has worked with Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, ACTVET, within a strategic framework to implement the UAE leadership's directives to make the most of the world's most significant skills competition taking place for the first time in the Mena region,” said Minister of Education, Hussain Al Hammadi.
This week, representatives from Unesco-Unevoc agreed on the need for international action regarding the future of technical and vocational education and training, Mr Hammadi said.
“The UAE presented a unique vision of the future and the role of the youth in developing future industries,” said Simon Bartley, President of WorldSkills International.
He said WorldSkills 2017 Abu Dhabi embodied this vision and provided a platform for young people across the globe to create, innovate, and prepare for the future.
Mr Bartley thanked the UAE for its efforts in organising the competition which he said provided a space for knowledge exchange and dialogue.
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS
England v New Zealand
(Saturday, 12pm UAE)
Wales v South Africa
(Sunday, 12pm, UAE)
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
China and the UAE agree comprehensive strategic partnership
China and the UAE forged even closer links between the two countries during the landmark state visit after finalising a ten-point agreement on a range of issues, from international affairs to the economy and trade and renewable energy.
1. Politics: The two countries agreed to support each other on issues of security and to work together on regional and international challenges. The nations also confirmed that the number of high-level state visits between China and the UAE will increase.
2. Economy: The UAE offers its full support to China's Belt and Road Initiative, which will combine a land 'economic belt" and a "maritime silk road" that will link China with the Arabian Gulf as well as Southeast, South and Central China, North Africa and, eventually, Europe.
3. Business and innovation: The two nations are committed to exploring new partnerships in sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, energy, the aviation and transport industries and have vowed to build economic co-operation through the UAE-China Business Committee.
4. Education, science and technology: The Partnership Programme between Arab countries in Science and Technology will encourage young Emirati scientists to conduct research in China, while the nations will work together on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, renewable energy and space projects.
5. Renewable energy and water: The two countries will partner to develop renewable energy schemes and work to reduce climate change. The nations have also reiterated their support for the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency.
6. Oil and gas: The UAE and China will work in partnership in the crude oil trade and the exploration and development of oil and natural gas resources.
7. Military and law enforcement and security fields: Joint training will take place between the Chinese and UAE armed forces, while the two nations will step up efforts to combat terrorism and organised crime.
8. Culture and humanitarian issues: Joint cultural projects will be developed and partnerships will be cultivated on the preservation of heritage, contemporary art and tourism.
9. Movement between countries: China and the UAE made clear their intent to encourage travel between the countries through a wide-ranging visa waiver agreement.
10. Implementing the strategic partnership: The Intergovernmental Co-operation Committee, established last year, will be used to ensure the objectives of the partnership are implemented.
Match info
What: Fifa Club World Cup play-off
Who: Al Ain v Team Wellington
Where: Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
When: Wednesday, kick off 7.30pm
