As the 'World Skills Competition' (WSC), which outlines international competency standards in the industrial trade and service sectors, and existing 'trade descriptions' (TD) are now felt to be outdated and no longer reflect the changing nature of the global economy, this project sets out to update these with respect to three new industrial trades; namely: electronics; mechatronics; and polymechanics. The project also sets out to establish a common model for vocational skills development that can update descriptions of other trades and their skills requirements. The project will compare three different vocational training/skills systems and VET practices, namely, the German dual system, the Nordic model and the British NVQ system. The project partners will work closely with national skills organisations and companies/modern industry in an effort to upgrade and modernise WSC and TD criteria, and to encourage corresponding changes to curricula and examination requirements in different countries. Resulting material will be made available via the project website and as on CD-Rom. The project will result in a survey of the electronics, mechatronics, and polymechanics industries, the results of which will feed into the development of modern trade descriptions and competition tasks for these industries. These findings will assist the development of a common model for vocational skills development, which will benefit from input by experts in related industrial fields. Project partners will take part in annual skills competitions events where the project's results can be applied and tested in an international arena.