Workers test skills on the global stage

Chinese competitors net rich haul of gold medals

Chinese workers displayed their prowess in manufacturing and digital technology skills at the recent WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition.

Held from September to late last month, the competition comprised 62 events organized in 15 countries and regions, including France, Switzerland and Austria. Chinese competitors won 21 gold and three silver medals in the 34 events the nation entered, topping the gold medal tally.

Zhang Rui, associate researcher at the WorldSkills Competition China Research Center in Tianjin, said that China has its advantages in events focused on manufacturing skills. This is thanks to the sound development of the real economy and the manufacturing industry, as well as supporting policies for these sectors.

"The competitors also did a very good job in some events in which China used to be inferior to other countries, such as health and social care. This is a very difficult field, which requires competitors to offer healthcare different from the services provided by medical institutes. This year, we even achieved breakthroughs in events focusing on information and communications technologies," Zhang said.

For example, in October, Chen Xinyuan, 22, from Shenzhen Institute of Technology in Guangdong province, won gold in the cloud computing event staged in South Korea — the first gold won by a Chinese team in this event.

Cloud computing is the only networking event in which competitors' grades are displayed on screens in real time during the competition, posing a significant mental challenge to participants.

Chen said the competitors were required to build a website in four days, but they were only allowed to work six hours each day. The website had to run smoothly without any lagging.

In a recent interview with China Central Television, Chen said: "I got excited after winning the championship. I'd prepared for this competition for more than 1,000 days. During the preparation period, I woke up around 9 am and took training courses until midnight. I only got one month's leave for the whole year, but I became accustomed to the training.

"I was under so much pressure at the time. The competitors were all top participants, so I could not afford to make any mistakes. The second prize was won by a competitor from Germany, who is a strong rival. I could not afford to let down my guard. I kept to my own pace and refused to be rattled by my opponent. On the third day of the competition, I thought I had won the championship."

Zhang, the associate researcher, said China first attempted to enter the WorldSkills Competition in the 1980s, and since officially joining the WorldSkills organizations in 2010, it has devoted much more effort and resources to skills training and competition.

She added that the nation set up the skills competition research center in Tianjin in May 2012 to become better acquainted with WorldSkills competition rules. Additional researcher centers in Guangzhou, the Guangdong provincial capital, Shanghai and Chongqing were then established to advance the skills competition standards and scientific development.

Liu Xiaohong, who led a team of Chinese technical experts for the cabinetmaking event at the special edition, said the good performances by the Chinese competitors were a pleasant surprise. Their success was well earned, as the nation has established an improved mechanism to support the skills competition in recent years, Liu added.

Citing the cabinetmaking event as an example, Liu said that in around 2016, China had only two training bases — usually vocational schools, for cabinetmaking competitors, while experts from the two bases had no clear idea about the WorldSkills contest.

"The teachers and coaches were senior carpenters temporarily transferred from local factories, but they lacked knowledge of the system and the WorldSkills competition rules. At the time, I was at a loss, as I neither knew the competitors nor gave them any onsite guidance," Liu said.

However, the situation began to improve when China started to make more efforts to build training bases.

"In 2017, we had three bases for the event, and last year, we had five — in Ganzhou, Jiangxi; Guangzhou, Guangdong; Nantong, Jiangsu; Wuhan, Hubei; and Huangshan, Anhui. Three of the bases are vocational schools and two are at companies, which can offer competitors more comprehensive and precise guidance," Liu said.

She added that it took about 18 months to select 10 candidates for the national team for the cabinetmaking event. These candidates received three rounds of training at the bases in June, with each round lasting for 10 to 15 days.

"In July, I was told about the special edition, and took the competitors — selected from the 10 candidates — to the bases for intensified training. We always give the competitors new tasks during training to let them get used to the competition," Liu said.

Figures from the China Organizing Committee for the WorldSkills Competition show that the nation now boasts 345 training bases for 63 events, including health and social care, baking and cloud computing. Most of these bases are vocational schools, while companies and universities also offer professional guidance to competitors.

Song Fangzhi, who led a team of technical experts for the CNC turning event at the special edition, said that although China has not taken part in WorldSkills competitions for that long, the progress it has made is due to the efforts of the entire nation. CNC Turning is a manufacturing process used for work on cylindrical, conical or elliptical-shaped materials.

"Governments at all levels provide systematic plans, and schools, companies and investors give their support to help train competitors. We have no worries about training under such a system, as we can go to any training base to meet our needs," Song said.

He added that for the final preparation for CNC turning, some 15 candidates and coaches nationwide voluntarily set tasks for Wu Hongyu, who won gold in the event at the special edition. These tasks enabled Wu to become used to the pace of the competition.

"These candidates and coaches are not members of our team of experts. They all worked voluntarily, and their selfless contributions were admirable," Song said.

China first sent a delegation to the WorldSkills Competition in 2011, when the 41st such event was held in London. The nation won its first gold medal at the 2015 event in Brazil. The nation won the right to host the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai in 2026.

Zhang said: "The skills competition can help change people's stereotypical views of vocational students' talent, which can also help promote the benefits of work. Whenever our competitors stand on the awards platform, they showcase the good image of Chinese people and our nation's achievements in vocational education."

She added that she hopes the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai will be a "grand gathering", not only for the competitors, but to tell people about skills and the benefits they bring to everyday life.