WorldSkills 2013

What is WorldSkills?

“It is the biggest education competition in the world. At WorldSkills, the most skilled young people from around the globe compete in 40 disciplines for the prestigious title of world champion in their skills category.”

The 42^nd WorldSkills competition is set to take place in Lepizig, Germany in June 2013. You may be asking what’s involved, its not easy and requires a lot of dedication.

WorldSkills Restaurant Service

Restaurant Service demands an extensive knowledge of international cuisine, of beverages and bar service. The waiter is the most important contact person in attending the customers. It is therefore necessary to have a complete command of serving rules and to know the preparation of special dishes and drinks at the guest’s table. Basic requirements are skill and resourcefulness, good manners, aplomb and practical ability.

Restaurant service requires excellent skills in areas such as:

Serving food and drinks
Mixing international drinks and working behind the bar
Preparing food in front of customers, e.g. carving or flambéing
Serving wine
Identifying alcoholic drinks
Folding napkins

Service skills require competence across these types of restaurants:

Bistro – Plated service
Cocktail Bar – Gueridon service
À la carte restaurant – Cooking at the table
Fine dining – Gueridon service

Getting Involved

How do you get involved in WorldSkills? Before you can be put forward to be part of Team Ireland for 2013 you need to take part in the National Skills competitions in Ireland. The winners from the National Skills finals in 2012 and 2013 are then put before an interview panel, who make the final decision. The rule for the WorldSkills Competitions states that competitors are required to be under the age of 23 in the year of the competition, For Leipzig this would require competitors to be born on or after 1 January 1991. However there is no age restriction for entering the national competitions.

If you are interested in representing Shannon College in the National Finals please contact me using the contact tab to the right of the page or call by my office. Participation will require giving of personal time after college.

Check out the video below from this years WorldSkills in London