Professor Craig Brazil from the School of Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship recently returned from an amazing educational and cultural experience in Taichung, Taiwan. The 48th Taiwan National Skills Competition was held in three different venues in the city of Taichung and had over 1,095 outstanding young talents from all over the country compete in the biggest annual event in the skilled trades communities.
The Taiwanese Government and Worldskills Taiwan invited Craig because of his role as the Skill Competition Manager for the Industrial Mechanic Millwright competition at Worldskills Abu Dhabi last year. He will take on the same role in Kazan, Russia in 2019. Craig joined 12 other Skill Competition Managers and Chief Experts from around the world to assist in evaluating practices and procedures and judging methods in a variety of Skilled Trade and Vocational competitions ranging from Cabinet Making to Graphic Design.
These competitions, like those held in Ontario and Canada, encourage youth to learn about the opportunities that trades and skills can give them as a viable career option and enhance the public’s understanding of the skilled trades. The National Skills Competition takes place every year.
“The Industrial Mechanic Millwright competition had 17 competitors from around the country compete where their knowledge and ability were tested over three days,” said Craig. “The competitors had to manufacture a belt driven assembly that encompassed machining, welding, fabrication and mechanical assembly skills to a high degree of accuracy of +/- 0.02mm. To see these young men and women compete at this level was a remarkable sight. Having the opportunity to interact with the IMM competition experts, the competitors’ trainers and the other independent judges was a fantastic opportunity to explore the ways we do things and the way they do things. This will only enhance what I bring to the classroom this coming year; each individual was very giving of their time and their willingness to share information and ideas was fantastic”.
