1. Developing & Understanding Vocational Excellence Suite of Research Projects Dr Susan James Relly Oxford University Department of Education 11 th September 2015 www.vocationalexcellence.education.ox.ac.uk WorldSkills Participation: Perspectives from FE colleges, competitors and training managers

2. WorldSkills Competitions The first Skills Olympics was held in 1950 between Spain and Portugal. WorldSkills São Paulo 2015 saw 53 countries competing in 46 skill areas. The UK first competed in 1953. https://www.worldskills.org/about/history/

3. The UK at WSC WorldSkills Calgary 2009: – Team UK ranked seventh of 50 countries in 45 skills 3 gold; 4 bronze; 14 Medallions of Excellence WorldSkills London 2011: – Team UK ranked fifth of 51 countries in 49 skills 5 gold; 2 silver; 6 bronze; 13 Medallions of Excellence WorldSkills Leipzig 2013: – Team UK ranked tenth of 47 countries in 48 skills 2 gold; 1 silver; 3 bronze; 17 Medallions of Excellence WorldSkills São Paulo 2015: – Team UK ranked seventh of 53 countries in 46 skills 3 gold; 3 silver; 2 bronze; 21 Medallions of Excellence

4. Team UK medalists, WorldSkills São Paulo 2015 http://www.findafuture.org.uk

5. The WSC in the UK The UK hosted: – WorldSkills Glasgow 1965 – WorldSkills Birmingham 1989 – WorldSkills London 2011 Key outcome of WorldSkills London 2011: National recognition of the value and benefits of skills competition activity in vocational education and training.

6. Legacy goals from WorldSkills London 2011 To raise the profile of vocational skills To recognise skills as critical to wider economic development To increase levels of employer investment and commitment For more young people to consider and enter vocational skills and careers To generate standards of excellence in the teaching of vocational skills to support future economic development and growth

7. Research & Development 1.International Standards Transfer Project Association of Colleges (AoC) & North Warwickshire and Hinckley College 2.Supporting ‘Performance Excellence’ with qualifications North Warwickshire and Hinckley College 3.International Exchanges and Development AoC 4.Vocational Masterclass Project Institute for Learning (IfL) and then AoC 5.Developing and understanding Vocational Excellence (DuVE) SKOPE, University of Oxford

8. Gold Dust Report A synthesis of the findings of the five R&D projects.

9. Developing and understanding Vocational Excellence (DuVE) 1.Modelling the Characteristics of Vocational Excellence 2.Learning Environments to Develop Vocational Excellence 3.Benefits of Developing Vocational Excellence 4.FE College participation in WorldSkills 5.WorldSkills Competitors and Entrepreneurship 6.Training managers: benefits and barriers to WorldSkills UK participation http://vocationalexcellence.education.ox.ac.uk