THE MISSION
Youth Skills Sweden´s mission is to increase the interest in trades and vocational education among young people. Youth Skills Sweden is a tripartite cooperation between the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) and the Government. The Government is represented by the following authorities: The Swedish National Agency for Education, the Ministry of Education Research and the International Programme Office for Education and Training.
Youth Skills Sweden is responsible for the Swedish skills team and Sweden´s participation in World Skills Competition (WSC) and also for arranging national skills championships in Sweden. (Yrkes-SM).
A COMMON EFFORT
The effort educational Sweden as well as working life put into Youth Skills Sweden shows that all parts have an interest in developing the quality of vocational education and training in Sweden and that they also take their responsibility for this.
Increased cooperation between school and enterprises can contribute to a bigger interest in this important field of education among young people.
INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION
The participation in World Skills Competition is international. Representatives from all member countries meet every year to discuss new versions of work descriptions, issues regarding vocational education and training and how to further develop young people who have basic vocational training.
-The competition increases the possibility to international contacts and exchange of knowledge, skills and experience among the countries. The impressions collected at such events can be disseminated and beneficial to young people, but they are also important for development of working life and continuous international cooperation, not least within Europe, says Boo Sjögren from the International Programme Office for Education and Training.
PARTNERS
In Youth Skills Sweden different partners work together to strengthen vocational education and training in Sweden.
The Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO)
LO is a federation of 16 trade union organisations who work together and represent around 2 million members.
Homepage: www.lo.se
Confederation of Swedish Enterprise
An organisation representing around 55.000 member companies organised in different branch-and employer associations.
Homepage: www.svensktnaringsliv.se
Ministry of Education Research
The ministry is responsible to prepare decisions for the government in issues regarding child care, education, study allowance and social conditions for education.
Homepage: http://utbildning.regeringen.se
The Swedish National Agency for Education
The Swedish National Agency for Education is the central administrative authority for the Swedish public school system for children, young people and adults, as well as for preschool activities and child care for school children.
Homepage: www.skolverket.se
International Programme Office for Education and Training
An authority working on missions from the ministries of education- and industry, and from the European Union to co-ordinate and inform about several EU-programmes and other international initiatives.
Homepage: www.programkontoret.se
ABOUT THE SWEDISH SKILLS TEAM - Best in Sweden-Soon Best in the World
In 1995 the first Swedish skills team was created. It was time to start fighting against the rest of the world; many countries have participated in skills competitions since the 1950´s.
The team is unique and consists of some 30 boys and girls, no more than 22 years old. Everyone has their own speciality and they are all experts in their field of activity.
After many years of training and hard work they have now reached their first goal and achieved maximum in their home country: they are all Swedish champions.
Then comes the ultimate challenge: In World Skills Competition this team will represent Sweden and they will compete against the most skilled youngsters from the whole world.
To win a gold medal in a trade is just as difficult as winning in any sports activity. Sweden has won the gold medal a few times since the start 1995-we are waiting for more ...
WORLDSKILLS
Behind the biggest skills competition in the world is the international organisation World Skills. It is a non-profit, non-political and non-religious organisation for authorities and national organisations with national responsibility for vocational education and training in the different member countries.
World Skills wants to motivate youngsters, teachers and employers to search for world class skills in industry, handicraft and service and to increase the status of vocational education and training.
To achieve this the organisation arranges World Skills Competition every second year. In World Skills there are some 40 member countries from all parts of the world. The secretariat for World Skills is at present in the Netherlands.
Read more: www.worldskills.org
CONTACT
Youth Skills Sweden
Administrative Director
Anneli Palm
+46 8 453 72 35
+46 70 617 27 70
anneli.palm@programkontoret.se
Address:
Youth Skills Sweden
c/o Internationella programkontoret
Box 22007
SE-104 22 Stockholm
Sweden
Office address:
Kungsbroplan 3A