National Skills Competition
One of the highlights of the apprenticeship area each year is the National Skills Competition. The overall winner in each Trade Area receives a silver medal from the Department of Education and Science and is eligible for consideration for selection for the national team which represents Ireland in the International World Skills Competition.
In 1956 Mr. Michael O’ Flanagain Priomh Chigire (R.I.P.) helped set up the National Apprentice Competition to further stimulate and motivate skill performance among young apprentices and to participate in an exciting new venture conceived in Spain in 1950, ‘The International Vocational Competition’ which was later renamed the ‘WorldSkills’. Thousands of apprentices have participated in the National Apprentice Competitions since 1956 and years later the Department of Education and Science still promote the pursuit of excellence by apprentices.
The competitions become a forum where examiners talks to examiners, apprentice to apprentice, educationalist to educationalist. Attitudes, skills, equipment and skill techniques are observed and exchanged and competitors take a great pride in their achievements. From these National and International Competitions new ideas and attitudes are brought back to the workplace.
Together with sending a team of apprentices to compete in the WorldSkills the Department of Education and Science also send a team of examiners who are lecturers from Institutes of Technology. The examiners act as jury members for specific trades in the International Competition. This experience of working with examiners from other countries is a valuable form of in-service course for lecturers, since participating countries exchange information on new methods and developments in their respective subjects.
The Department of Education and Science has the responsibility for the selection and participation of the Irish WorldSkills team. Post Primary Training Section administers the Competitions. Mr. Carl O’ Dalaigh, Deputy Chief Inspector is the Department’s representative on the International Administration Committee and Mr. Liam Corcoran, Senior Inspector is a representative on the International Technical Committee
Industrial Control
This competition involves the design; installation and commissioning of automated control systems incorporating computer controlled PLC controllers, LCD display and interface panels. This years World Skills Project consisted of a control panel, PLC, HMI panel and VSD which simulated an automatic bottling plant. Competitors need to have exceptional electrical installation skills and speed, but also need to have a high level of experience in PLC programming and automated control systems. All students from WIT, who reach the National Finals, receive a week of intensive training at WIT before attending the competition.Electrical Installations
This competition requires the competitors to show the wide range of skills needed for the installation and commissioning of domestic and commercial electrical applications. The competition tests competitors’ performance in a selection of tasks drawn from the role of the electrician. Under tight time constraints the competitor must design, install and commission a given electrical installation according to the recognized national standards. All students from WIT, who reach the National Finals, receive a week of intensive training at WIT before attending the national competition.Bricklaying
The competition involves building to an exacting standard a Set Piece of Brickwork over three days. The Set Piece is designed to incorporate all of the Disciplines that an Apprentice needs to master to become a Craftsman. These would include Arch Construction, accurate cutting, understanding the drawings, setting out the project, jointing, plumbing, levelling, gauge and range. Above all, the competitor will have the ability to complete the job in the given time to a high standard All students from WIT, who reach the National Finals, receive a week of intensive training at WIT to hone their skills prior to the competition. They are willingly assisted by the Lecturers on duty at the time and also the Support Staff
