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The world skills championships are taking place in 15 countries this year because Shanghai had to cancel the event due to Corona. Switzerland collects many medals again. And she is now applying to host an international professional championship.
Actually, the World Skills should have taken place in Shanghai in 2021. But because of Corona, the Chinese first postponed the professional world championships to autumn 2022 and then canceled the event completely. That’s why the World Skills are now taking place in 15 different countries, including Switzerland.
As in previous years, the Swiss professionals are successful. In Basel yesterday there was bronze in the carpentry discipline. Last week in Montreux there was second place for hotel receptionists and in Stuttgart there was gold in the Industry 4.0 discipline and bronze for mechatronics.
Mega event costs 100 million Swiss francs
The World Skills are actually a mega event. This became clear in 2019 in Kazan, Russia. There was a pompous opening ceremony with the arrival of the participants and announcements of the rankings reminiscent of the Olympic Games. The costs amount to around 100 million Swiss francs.
The federal government decided in 2018 that it was too expensive. At that time, Basel-Stadt wanted to bring World Skills to Switzerland for 2021. But because the Federal Council did not want to help with the financing, the application was not submitted. Shanghai was awarded the contract.
The fact that Switzerland of all places, with its global pioneering role in vocational training, did not want to spend any money on World Skills, annoyed many in Berne. Without much resistance, the National Council and the Council of States then passed a motion that instructed the federal government to support international professional championships in Switzerland.
Switzerland wants to organize Euro Skills 2029
This is exactly what is now on the agenda. “We want to bring Euro Skills 2029 to Switzerland,” André Burri told SRF. He is the managing director of Swiss Skills, the professional organization that can apply for the event. The Euro Skills take place every two years, alternating with the World Skills.
There are several reasons why Swiss Skills only wants to organize the European and not the World Championships. “The World Skills are so big that we can’t practically do them in Switzerland,” says André Burri. “The Euro Skills also give us more leeway. In this way, we can also present our own professions and make the event more attractive for visitors with other elements.»
Basel, St. Gallen and western Switzerland are interested
The federal government also likes the candidacy. Rémy Hübschi, Deputy Director of the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), says: “We expect costs of between CHF 20 and 25 million for Euro Skills. The federal government is willing to contribute up to 60% of these costs.” However, in the end, Parliament must give the blessing. “But we clearly have the political will to support this,” said Rémy Hübschi – also knowing that a motion calls for this.
Swiss Skills has now asked all cantons if they want to apply for Euro Skills 2029. Basel-Stadt, St. Gallen and western Switzerland have already expressed an interest, as André Burri confirms.