2. A brief survey of the past - agreements
In March 2015, an agreement was signed between regional school authorities in Russia, Finland and Norway to enter into a collaboration to arrange Arctic Skills, competition in various professions in the Barents region for students and apprentices.
2014 Kirkenes Upper Secondary School project owner
2015 Finnmark County agreement with WorldSkills Norway (School competition)
2016 The Barents Secretariat and Finnmark County were main sponsors.
2017 New partnership agreement was prepared. The Barents Secretariat and Finnmark County were main sponsors.
2018 New agreement was signed in Tornio. All colleges in Murmansk, all upper secondary schools in Finnmark, all vocational schools in the region of Lappia and Tornedalsskolan in Haparanda are partners. In addition the Reindeer school in Taimyr participate coordinated by the Sami institute in Inari. Barents Secretariat, Finnmark County and the North Calotte Council were the main sponsors.
Application process for a new 3-years period based on financing from the Kolarctic Programe and the Norwegian Barents Secretariat has started.

3. A brief survey of the past - competitors
2016 First competition was held In Kirkenes, Norway, (11) Finnmark County was the main sponsor
2017 Second competition was held in Murmansk, Russia (12) Norwegian Barents Secretariat was the main sponsor in 2017.
2018 Third competition was held in Tornio, Finland (14) Norwegian Barents Secretariat and Finnmark County were the main sponsors in 2018.
2019 Competition 2019 will be held in Kirkenes, Norway

4. Originally, we intended to hold competitions in 15 competences
Originally, we intended to hold competitions in 15 competences. Today we have reached 14. In most of these competences, participants from all four counties compete against each other – and we have experienced that the number of participants increase each year.
News from Murmansk TV
YRKES NM 2014
WORLD SKILLS - ARCTIC SKILLS
Building construction – Car body repair – Cooks – Doudji – Electrician – Hairdresser – Health and social care – Heavy machine operator – House painting – IKT services – Motor vehicle mechanic – Plumber – Reindeer herding - Welder

5. The achievements of Arctic Skills so far:
The project is rooted in the participating countys’ training departments.
Is a part of the bilateral formal cooperation agreements between Murmansk and Finnmark Countys’ Education and Training departments.
Established an Executive Board comprised of representatives from all of the counties. A Steering Committee at Kirkenes Upper Secondary School has been responsible for coordinating Arctic Skills.
Created a temporary, part-time Project Manager position financed by the project owner, Kirkenes Upper secondary School and the county of Finnmark.
Established a Skilled Trades network of 14 skilled trades’ experts/teachers who are responsible for the tasks and evaluation criterias. Today the networks include 46 teachers in total, they meet once a year.

6. The achievements of Arctic Skills so far:
Created a website
Reached out to a number of different branches, industries and companies regarding equipment and judging services.
Tornedalsskolan in Sweden has entered the project as partners and participants in Tornio 2018.
The Norwegian Trade Union (LO Finnmark) and the Norwegian Union of Employers (NHO Finnmark) have signed an agreement for support of the project. We are in discussion with WorldSkills Norway, Statoil and KS for similar agreements.
An executive Committee has arranged the tournaments in Kirkenes, Murmansk and Tornio with great success
The Boards first meeting with next year’s organizer in Kirkenes has been conducted.

7. Participation
The ArcticSkills Tournament is not only the final, but also includes the qualifying competitions in each region.
We estimate that behind each finalist there are at least competitors, the total number will be more than students. This is a conservative estimation, considered that we know that the qualifications in Finnmark alone included at least 300 students. Most likely, the figures will be the same in Finland, possibly even higher in Murmansk. This year we also had 6 participants from Taimyr, competing in Duodji and Reindeer herding.

8. Interaction
A gathering of more than 200 students, experts, judges, leaders, politicians, organizations, branches and businesses from four nations, offers a great opportunity for interaction between people. It is an arena for developing new ideas and projects, new contacts and friendship. We will also underscore the importance of the networks between experts as an arena for continuous cooperation, and with a great potential for the future.
People meeting people, developing understanding and knowledge, is a goal of high importance in these kind of projects. It can come without planning, but it is important that the organizeres have this goal in mind while planning the Tournament.

9. The future supporters 
Troms
Nordland
Murmansk Oblast
Norrbottens län
Lappi
EuroSkills 2016

10. THE FUTURE SKILLED WORKERS
IN THE ARCTIC