The regional stage of the WorldSkills Ukraine National Skills Competition was held in Zaporizhzhia.
Students of vocational education institutions and young employees aged up to 22 are competing for the title of the best in their respective professions. This year, the competition is being held across four skill categories: welding, electrical installation, CNC machining, and mechatronics.
The first participants to begin completing the competition tasks were those competing in the Welding skill category. They are demonstrating practical skills in manual metal arc welding, semi-automatic welding, and argon-arc welding, completing a series of tasks under strict time constraints.
According to Oleksandr PARZHYTSKYI, Director of the Scientific and Methodological Centre for Vocational Education and Training in Zaporizhzhia region, holding the competition in an in-person format is an important event for the region’s vocational education system.
“The fact that we are holding these competitions in person today is a truly significant breakthrough. Despite the challenging circumstances and the blended learning format, we are creating opportunities for young people to gain high-quality training in their chosen professions and further develop their skills.
Ukraine has been participating in the international WorldSkills movement since 2016. One of the competition’s long-standing partners is Metinvest Group, which consistently supports the development of technical education, promotes engineering and skilled trades professions, and creates opportunities for the professional growth of young people.
During the competition, participants are required not only to demonstrate their technical competence but also to prove their ability to work accurately, efficiently and to a high standard, even under pressure.
According to Vitalii ZELIK, a WorldSkills Ukraine expert, the competition entries are assessed against clearly defined criteria.
“Each sample undergoes thorough measurement and inspection. The quality of the completed work is assessed, with particular attention paid to the presence or absence of defects. All work must comply with the established standards and specified tolerances,” the expert explained.
One of the key objectives of WorldSkills Ukraine is to strengthen cooperation between educational institutions and employers. For young people, the competition provides an opportunity to showcase their talents, while for businesses it offers a chance to meet and engage with future professionals.
“As far back as 2021, Metinvest partnered with the national final of WorldSkills Ukraine, where our representatives achieved prize-winning places. We are always open to young professionals and recruit graduates of specialised educational institutions every year. It is important for the company that young people have opportunities to develop, enhance their professional skills and build successful careers,” said Roman LIASHENKO, Head of Recruitment, Training and Personnel Development Department at Zaporizhstal.
Among the participants in this year’s competition is Denys HORDIIENKO, an electric and gas welder from the Open-Hearth Shop at Zaporizhstal. He says that taking part in WorldSkills has been an excellent opportunity for him to assess his own skill level and gain new experience.
“The experience has been very positive, But I also understand that there is still room for growth. The biggest challenge was working with electrodes of a smaller diameter than those I normally use in production,” Denys shared.
Despite the nerves, the participant remains hopeful of a successful outcome and is aiming to secure a prize-winning place.
The winners of the regional stage will go on to represent Zaporizhzhia region at the WorldSkills Ukraine final. The competition once again demonstrates that modern skilled professions remain in high demand, while young professionals are eager to refine their expertise and develop their capabilities in order to contribute to the future growth of Ukrainian industry.
Metinvest consistently supports the development of technical education, engineering disciplines and young professionals. At the company’s operations, young people are offered extensive opportunities for professional development, training and career growth. In particular, at Zaporizhstal, one in every four employees is a young professional under the age of 35.
Young employees benefit from adaptation and mentoring programmes, a wide range of learning and development opportunities, as well as sports, creative and volunteering initiatives, in addition to the company’s Steel Bonus corporate discount programme.
