Supporting scientific skill development through WorldSkills UK
Events
Ashleigh Steele
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January 31, 2022
LearnSci is passionate about supporting skill development to help your learners succeed in their academic and career goals. Our digital learning tools were used in various stages of the WorldSkills UK Laboratory Technician competition 2021, and will continue to play a key role in the competition this year.
We have been able to support Mr. Duncan Allardyce and Dr. Dirk Wildeboer, our partners at Middlesex University, who organise and run the WorldSkills UK Laboratory Technician competition to use our digital learning tools in various stages of the 2021 competition which was impacted by the pandemic.
What is WorldSkills UK?
WorldSkills UK is an independent charity that champions apprenticeships and technical education to help young people and employers. It is part of WorldSkills, the global movement of over 80 countries that support young people via competitions-based training and assessment.
Annual multi-stage competitions cover approximately 60 skills across the following industries:
WorldSkills was an amazing experience that really put my lab skills and knowledge to the test. The problem solving and practical work involved is invaluable, completely different to anything you’d expect to see in a classroom. Overall it was a huge confidence boost that will hopefully open doors in my career.
Joel Farrant - Coleg Gower/Tata Steel
Laboratory Technician competition
The Laboratory Technician competition has been running as part of WorldSkills UK since 2017. It is open to college and university students studying academic or apprenticeship degrees, or newly qualified professionals with less than two years experience post certification. The following skills are a focus for competitors and judges throughout the multi-stage competition.
Critical thinking
Adaptability
Health and safety
Team work
Problem solving
Attention to detail
Time management
Shortly after registering, applicants completed the Passive Stage of the competition. LearnSci LabSims were used to inform the judges’ awareness of applicants’ engagement, initial scientific knowledge, and underpinning theory of laboratory skills in a convenient online format.
41 applicants then went through to the Regional Qualifiers and were assessed on their laboratory skills in-person. The top ten performers from each Regional Qualifier went through to the National Qualifiers that took place at various locations around the UK. The competitors’ performances were scored and quality assured, and ten were announced as the National Finalists.
A training and development stage then allowed the finalists to prepare and practise in readiness for the National Finals in Manchester. A wider collection of LearnSci LabSims were used in this stage to support their preparation. The finalists used the LabSims to practise key laboratory skills and techniques, to familiarise themselves with equipment, and to increase their confidence before the next in-person stage of the competition.
The National Finals were held at the University of Manchester in November 2021.
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And the winners are…
Congratulations to the 2021 winners of the WorldSkills UK Laboratory Technician competition.
Gold - Joel Farrant, Coleg Gower, Tata Steel
Silver - Maria Pop, Middlesex University
Bronze - Luke Ball, Coleg Gower, Tata Steel
What’s happening in 2022?
Register your interest in WorldSkills UK 2022 so you’ll be the first to hear when competition registration opens. Regional qualifiers are expected to be held by the end of June and National Finals in November.
