The Kazan Expo's readiness for WorldSkills-2019 will be tested in May at the Young Professionals Championship

(KZN.RU, January 24). Today, Tatarstan is actively preparing for WorldSkills-2019. “Our task is to hold the championship at a qualitatively high level”, said Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT, today at the meeting of the organizing committee on the preparation and holding of the world championship WorldSkills 2019in Kazan. The event took place in the Kazan City Hall. Tatiana Golikova, the deputy prime minister, Farid Mukhametshin, the chairman of the State Council of the RT, Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, Robert Urazov, the general director of the Young Professionals Union (WorldSkills Russia), and others also attended the meeting.

Rustam Minnikhanov noted that holding an on-site meeting of the organizing committee in Kazan is a good opportunity to get acquainted with the preparations for the Worldskills championship, visit facilities, and meet with the leadership of an international organization and delegations of participating countries.

The President of the RT announced that the first guests will arrive in Kazan in 200 days. “Today we opened a countdown, which will become a new symbol of the championship and will get the attention of even more tourists to Kazan”.

Rustam Minnikhanov said that the preparation for the world championship is on schedule. He thanked the Government of the Russian Federation for their decisions on security issues, the choice of the object for the opening and closing ceremonies, and the use of the Universiade Village. He also expressed his gratitude to colleagues from federal authorities in addressing industry issues and the regions of Russia for their active participation in the training of volunteers, the flag relay and organized visitors’ groups.

“Today we saw the main object of the championship – the international exhibition center “Kazan Expo” and additional facilities. They are ready. In addition, another 50 thousand square meters of tent structures will be installed on schedule. In general, we completed the work on the design of this huge complex and transferred all the objects to the championship management”, said Rustam Minnikhanov.

He added that the next stage is testing the complex. A number of events are planned to be held on the base of Kazan Expo: conferences, seminars, presentation, and others. The main test will be the holding of the national championship “Young Professionals” (WorldSkills Russia) in Kazan this May.

According to Rustam Minnikhanov, the further fate of temporary buildings and structures deserves special attention. He noted that in terms of developing the heritage program, Tatarstan has the proven experience of the Universiade, FINA, and the World Cup.

The President of the RT noted that, despite the relatively short period of the championship competition program, the participants and delegates will stay for about 2.5 weeks. “Quantitative indicators, such as issues of catering, transportation, room stock, medical care, hospitality services, require the consolidation of a large number of resources for a short period of time. It does not always correspond to accepted financial standards”, said Rustam Minnikhanov. He suggested updating the list of financial standards under the world championship.

The most important question is the ensuring visa-free entry to the territory of the Russian Federation for participants of the championship. “We need to approve the form of an accreditation certificate as a permit document granting the right to visa-free entry and exit to the country for foreign participants of the world championship and document requirements. Thus, members of delegations and other categories of participants of the championship will have a comfortable stay in the country”, said Rustam Minnikhanov.

Tatiana Golikova said that since Russia joined the Worldskills movement, the country has become one step closer to solving the problem of training high-quality personnel. The demand for secondary vocational education has increased. The proportion of schoolchildren who choose colleges has increased to 59%. In 2013, this figure was 42%. World-class workshops have been set up in 914 colleges of the country. It is planned to equip at least 5 thousand workshops by 2024. There was an increase in the share of employment of specialists with secondary vocational education from 55.5% in 2017 to 61.8% in 2018.

“Today we visited the exhibition center “Kazan Expo”, Worldskills Village. We were shown the opportunities that all participants will have. According to our assessment and the assessment of our foreign colleagues representing WorldSkills, very significant work has been done, indicating that Russia is ready for the championship”, said the deputy prime minister.

According to her, the Russian team holds out high hope in the course of the competition. “We must direct all efforts to ensure that our team and experts have been prepared. Therefore, I ask you to do everything necessary within your competencies”, added Tatiana Golikova.

Also, the working meeting took place today with the participation of Rustam Minnikhanov, Tatiana Golikova, and Simon Bartley, the President of the WorldSkills International. The meeting participants discussed topical issues about the upcoming championship, reports the press service of the President of the RT.