Speed, concentration, tact, finesse – and a whole lot of sweat and toil. In Salzburg, the professional champions hammered, built and bolted together until Saturday 26 November 2022 before downing their tools. Switzerland dominated the last day of the WorldSkills Competition 2022: Swiss stonemason Ben Zaugg won a gold medal while Patrik Siegenthaler (electrical installation), Pascal Hofstetter (mechanics for agricultural machinery) and Yannick Flepp (electrical control systems) each won Bronze in their respective disciplines.
62 competitions across the globe
62 competitions across the globe
Salzburg was the magnificent conclusion of the WorldSkills Competition 2022, where more than 1,000 professional talents from all over the world demonstrated their skills. But the city of Mozart was not the only venue. This fall, the World Skills Championships took place in 15 countries for the first time.
Yet the 2022 World Skills Championships almost didn’t take place at all. Because of renewed COVID-19 measures, the major event due to be held in Shanghai in May was canceled. Was it a case of a lot of effort for no return? No, because flanked by associations from other countries, the SwissSkills Foundation in particular has campaigned for an alternative concept with decentralized competitions. That’s why Switzerland lost no time in organizing 14 out of a total of 62 competitions in professional excellence – more than any other country. But our neighbors France, Italy, Germany and Austria, as well as Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Japan, Canada, Luxembourg, Sweden, South Korea, the USA and the United Kingdom also proved to be excellent hosts of this “showdown” of the professional world.
The Swiss team on the up
The Swiss team on the up
All the effort invested in the “WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition” paid off. The competitions demonstrated an important lesson to a large audience: working can be really exciting – especially as a spectator. The “SwissSkills National Team” competed in 34 disciplines with a total of 37 young professionals, over half of whom made it onto the podium. With five gold, five silver and nine bronze medals, Switzerland won the most medals in Europe. In relation to the number of participants, only the teams from China and South Korea achieved more podium finishes. The Swiss team was also able to obtain 12 extra awards called “Medallions for Excellence” awarded by the jury for outstanding performances.
“The overall result is a clear improvement over the last WorldSkills 2019 in Kazan. Our team performed at a very high level throughout all the competitions. It’s proof that our young professionals, the experts and the entire staff have done an excellent job,” enthuses Martin Erlacher, the SwissSkills Technical Delegate and Head of Delegation.
Revenge in Lyon?
Revenge in Lyon?
Why is Switzerland always among the top nations? What is its secret? In contrast to other countries, the medal table reflects the sporting spirit of some of the exceptional talents as well as being representative of working life in Switzerland. The dual education system is firmly established in the country and its combination of theory and practice helps young people develop their talents to the full.
For UBS, the results of the WorldSkills Competition 2022 are confirmation of the path it has taken. UBS is convinced that the Swiss economy is well positioned internationally, also thanks to apprenticeships, and that is why we are the main partner for SwissSkills and the SwissSkills team. The national team receives specific support to prepare for international championships – and to make the Swiss vocational education and training system known abroad.
It won’t be long before the next opportunity. Our neighbor France will host the next WorldSkills Competition in 2024 in Lyon. After a close-run race between Switzerland and France, fans can look forward to more great performances by their national team.
