Daniel selected to train for a place in WorldSkills UK squad

A computing student from Pumpsaint has been selected to train and compete for a place to represent the UK at WorldSkills, the largest international skills competition being held in Germany next year.

16 year-old Daniel Koehler, a computing student at Coleg Sir Gâr’s Graig campus took part in a selection process competing with two other candidates from Newcastle and Milton Keynes. They were competing to be shortlisted for training for a position in Team UK where at the end of the training process, could be selected to represent their country in the web design category of next year’s WorldSkills competition in Leipzig.

Daniel, who’s studying a level three extended diploma, has been successful in recent competitions including Skills Competition Wales and the WorldSkills UK regional competition where he took gold, so he’s prepared for the intensity of the training.

Jennie James, training manager for WorldSkills UK complemented the college’s approach to skills competitions. She said: “I feel that Coleg Sir Gâr has such a pro-active attitude to competitions it’s a pleasure to bring my WorldSkills selection events to the college.

“The college has the asset of Mike David who has now judged at two selection events which enables the college to understand the required standards for WorldSkills competitions in web design.”

Computing lecturer Mike David said: “This is potentially our second student to be selected for Team UK.

“Last year, one of our students was the only competitor from Wales to compete with Team UK at the WorldSkills competition held in London, so we decided to incorporate what we’ve learnt into our student programmes.

“Since we introduced the academy of excellence which offers a targeted range of extra-curricular learning in specialist IT areas, we’ve seen a significant increase in student success at high-level competitions.

“WorldSkills significantly invest in their country’s competitors so Daniel has an extraordinary experience if front of him.”

Pic: Coleg Sir Gâr computing student Daniel Koehler from Pumpsaint is training and competing for a place to represent the UK at WorldSkills, the largest international skills competition being held in Germany next year. He’s pictured with his gold award from the Skills Competition Wales and the WorldSkills UK regional heat.