1. What is WorldSkills International?

WorldSkills International is a unique, not for profit, international membership organisation with a mission to raise the status and standards of vocational skills and training worldwide. Its principal activity is organising the WorldSkills Competition in a different Member country/region every two years.

WorldSkills International has a growing number of Members and aims to have 70 Members by 2020 in line with its vision to spread high-level skills to all regions of the world.

2. Who are the Members of WorldSkills?

They are agencies or bodies that have responsibility for promoting vocational education and training in their respective countries/regions. Normally only one body per country/region will be recognised as a Member or Associate Member.

A Member is represented within WorldSkills International by an Official and a Technical Delegate who are appointed by the member body. Each Member has one vote in the WorldSkills General Assembly.

Note: An "agency representing a training system" can be an NGO that is established with the purpose of being the Member organisation of WorldSkills International. In such an instance, there would need to be evidence that the NGO has the support of the key stakeholders of that country's/region’s training system (e.g. government and industry).

3. What is the difference between a Member and an Associate Member?

Associate Members shall have all the privileges of full membership except for the right to vote or stand for election and they cannot enter an official team in the biennial Competition. However, Associate Members may be invited to enter up to three “guest” Competitors in the Competition for the purposes of learning about the Competition. The results of the guest Competitors will not be officially recognised nor will medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Medallions for Excellence) be awarded. However, a Best of Nation medal will be awarded if there are at least two Competitors.

4. What are the membership fees?

Full Member:

There is an Admission Fee (once only payment) and an Annual Fee (yearly payment). The Admission Fee is EUR 27,000 and is due within 30 days of being accepted as a Member. The Annual Fee varies depending on the application of the fee formula (the minimum Annual Fee is EUR 5,600). There is no Annual Fee for the first year as it is included in the Admission Fee.

Associate Member:

There is no Admission Fee and an Annual Fee (yearly payment) of EUR 2,900.

When an Associate Member becomes a full Member, any previously paid Annual Fees (up to a maximum of EUR 8,700) will be deducted from the Admission Fee.

5. How does an agency or body apply for membership?

Applications must be in writing on the applicant body’s official letterhead, addressed to the WorldSkills CEO and signed by the body’s official representatives.

The application must include:

1. A description of the applicant body’s position within the country’s/region’s vocational education and training system.
2. The names, positions and contact addresses of the nominated Official and Technical Delegates to WorldSkills.
3. A guarantee of payment of the Admission Fee within 30 days of written acceptance of the application.
4. Signed copies of the WorldSkills Constitution, Standing Orders, and Competition Rules. (Note: These documents can be downloaded from the Official Documents page)

6. Who decides on the membership application?

The Board of Directors of WorldSkills International will consider the application and arrange to meet with a representative of the applicant body to discuss all relevant issues concerning membership of WorldSkills.

When the application is accepted by the Board, the applicant and all the Members will be notified in writing. The admission of the new Member must be formally approved at the next General Assembly meeting, at which time the Certificate of Membership will be presented, and the new Member will have the opportunity to introduced its delegates and make a brief presentation on the training system it represents.

References:

WorldSkills Constitution : Article 4, 4.1 - 4.6
WorldSkills Standing Orders : 6.1 and 6.2

Download this page as a document:

 WSI 06 Becoming A Member EN
 WSI 06 Becoming A Member DE
 WSI 06 Becoming A Member FR

For further information please contact the WorldSkills International Secretariat .