Unlock New Opportunities with World Skills

WorldSkills is an independent charity and partnership between employers, educational organisations and governments.  WorldSkills UK is part of a global movement of more than 80 countries supporting young people across the world to succeed via competition-based training, assessment and benchmarking.

The benefits are not just for students there is plenty for lecturers to experience too.

For nearly two decades our own Mike Swan, Curriculum and Quality Leader for Construction, has been at the heart of WorldSkills and leading the way in painting and decorating for Dundee & Angus College.

Since joining WorldSkills in 2005, Mike has played a key role in supporting students to achieve their best, including a gold medal win in 2009. Mike is now the Chief Expert for Painting and Decorating and is preparing for the Euroskills in Denmark (2025) and WorldSkills final Shanghai (2026).

But WorldSkills isn’t just about student success. It’s a global platform that offers incredible opportunities for lecturers too.

We caught up with Mike to find out more: “The importance of WorldSkills competitions cannot be underestimated. In context with the Olympics, you can have a WorldSkills competition without Olympic sports, but you cannot have an Olympics without WorldSkills. Think about all the skills that are required to run an Olympics, construction of venues and stadiums, infrastructure, logistics, catering, hospitality, and computer systems. That gives you a measure of how important skills are to the economy and everything we do as lecturers.”

So, why should you consider getting involved in WorldSkills as a lecturer? It’s a unique opportunity to stay at the forefront of your field and learn the latest techniques and innovations, whether you teach construction, beauty therapy, or cyber security. You’ll gain access to the latest techniques, tools, and trends from across the globe.

With WorldSkills covering 63 different skills covering areas such as 3D Digital Game Art, Bakery, Beauty Therapy, Bricklaying, Cabinet Making, Cooking, Cyber Security, Fashion Technology, Hairdressing, Health and Social Care, Hotel Reception, Landscape Gardening, Patisserie and Confectionary, Restaurant Service, and Jewellery, you are bound to find your area of expertise.

Mike’s journey with WorldSkills has been packed with memorable moments and incredible experiences.  Since getting involved as the UK Training Manager in 2005, Mike has supported numerous students to reach their full potential on the world stage.  Over the past two years, he has been working with Dior Regan, guiding her through the intense preparation needed to compete in painting and decorating at the highest level. Mike has gone with Dior to China and Poland for overseas pressure tests before heading off to the WorldSkills finals in Lyon, France. With Mike’s support and Dior’s hard work, she walked away with a Medallion for Excellence, a huge achievement at a global level.

Don’t take our word for it, here is what Mike has to say: “I've been privileged to be involved with WorldSkills for some time now and to work with the world's best educators and trainers, and highly skilled and motivated young people has been enriching. Please don't be daunted by getting involved, the rewards are amazing.”

WorldSkills also opens doors to global networking and taking part will give you the opportunity to travel, experience other cultures, and collaborate with the world’s top young professionals. It’s more than just a competition, it’s a community of like-minded educators and experts working together to set new standards of excellence.

For more information contact Mike Swan: m.swan@dundeeandangus.ac.uk

Or check out: https://worldskills.org/