Region’s Biggest Skills Competition, WorldSkills ASEAN 2023 commences today

• First time Singapore plays host to WorldSkills ASEAN

• A 44-member Team Singapore to compete in 22 skills areas

The region’s biggest skills competition, WorldSkills ASEAN 2023, has commenced in Singapore from 22 July to 27 July 2023. This marks the first time Singapore hosts the WorldSkills ASEAN competition, which is in its 13th edition. President Halimah Yacob was the Guest-of-Honour at the opening ceremony at Singapore Expo this evening. She was accompanied by Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Education and Manpower.

More than 170 youths from the ASEAN Member States are set to compete across 22 skills areas from 23 July to 25 July 2023, at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. Singapore will be represented by 44 youths from the Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) in all 22 skills areas. This is the largest contingent that Singapore has sent to WorldSkills ASEAN, since our first regional participation in 2008.

WorldSkills ASEAN will also include a new skills area – the Rapid Transit Systems – a team event introduced by Singapore for the competition. The new skills area was developed in collaboration with Land Transport Authority, SMRT Trains, SBS Transit, selected IHLs and partners, to raise awareness of the in-demand area among youths, and help build a pipeline of skilled railway professionals for Singapore’s transport economy. Other skills areas include Cooking, Electronics, Fashion Technology, Mobile Robotics, and Restaurant Service. Refer to Annex A for the list of Team Singapore competitors and their skills areas.

Singaporeans are encouraged to show their support for Team Singapore by either posting their well wishes on go.gov.sg/cheeronTeamSG, or posting their messages through their Instagram and/or Twitter accounts with the hashtag #WorldSkillsSG. The support garnered is available for public viewing on the WorldSkills ASEAN 2023 social wall.

Mr Tan Kok Yam, Chairman of the WorldSkills Singapore Council and Chief Executive of SkillsFuture Singapore said: “Singapore is privileged to be hosting the WorldSkills ASEAN. We are thankful for the contribution and strong participation of our ASEAN partners, which reflect our shared commitment to supporting and celebrating skills mastery among our youths. Finally, we hope Singaporeans will cheer on our own competitors with some home ground support!”

Team Singapore competitors for the individual category will receive cash prizes of $3,000 (Gold), $2,000 (Silver) and $1,000 (Bronze) respectively, while winning teams will receive cash prizes of $4,500 (Gold), $3,000 (Silver), and $1,500 (Bronze) respectively. The results of the competition will be announced at the closing ceremony on 27 July 2023.

WorldSkills ASEAN 2023 is organised by WorldSkills Singapore Office in collaboration with the IHLs, as part of the SkillsFuture Festival 2023. The competition aims to promote skills excellence and raise skills standards among youths, as well as showcase opportunities in vocational training and education in the region. This year, over 40 sponsors are supporting the skills competition. For more information, please visit https://www.worldskills.sg/.

Engaging youths and public through WorldSkills ASEAN  

On 21 July, seven Singapore secondary schools each hosted youth competitors from the ASEAN Member States as part of the competition’s cultural exchange programme, One School One Country (OSOC). The OSOC was an opportunity for our secondary students to meet and interact with overseas youth competitors, learn more about skills mastery and build new friendships.

MOE and the IHLs are organising the Education and Career Guidance Fair from 23 July to 25 July to provide education, skills and career guidance to youths. The fair will feature interactive activities, try-a-skill stations and workshops set up by over 70 industry partners. About 10,000 secondary students are expected to participate at the fair.

From 24 July to 25 July, Cyber Security Agency, Singapore Science Centre, and VEX Robotics will organise their respective junior skills competitions. Close to 1,000 primary and secondary school students will compete in skills such as cybersecurity, drone coding and robotics programming. These junior skills competitions are designed to teach technical skills, as well as soft skills such as teamwork, collaboration, time management, and communications. Refer to Annex B for details on the One School One Country, Education and Career Guidance Fair, and Junior Skills competition.

The WorldSkills ASEAN is open to visitors. Visitors can observe and support our Team Singapore at the competition, and explore the interactive booths and workshops featuring different skills areas. The three-day event is expected to attract 12,000 visitors.

Refer to Annex here.

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