Parlaying their skills at ‘Olympics'

Duo fly the flag for S'pore with expertise in trains

- Elisha Tushara

Growing up, Mr Muhamad Izuddin Zainudin had always been fascinated with trains, and, to date, has amassed a collection of 20 Lego train sets.

Now at 22 years of age, he represented Singapore on the global stage in a competition, dubbed the "Olympics of vocational skills", testing his expertise in trains and the technology behind rail vehicles.

He was one of a pair of competitors from the Republic in a skill area called rail vehicle technology who joined the WorldSkills Competition - known as the gold standard for skills excellence - in Lyon, France.

The event, held from Sept 10 to 15, saw 35 young people from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), polytechnics and transport operator SBS Transit representing Singapore across 30 skill areas.

Unlike the rest of the contingent representing the polytechnics and ITE, Mr Izuddin and teammate Mohamed Rady Mohamed Sany are from SBS Transit.

This is the first time that a Singapore organisation other than an educational institution is on board WorldSkills.

Currently pursuing his workstudy diploma in land transport engineering (rail), Mr Izuddin splits his weekdays toggling between work at SBS Transit and going to ITE College West for theory and practical lessons. He will graduate in October.