From being home-educated and attending North East Scotland College (NESCol) at 16 to studying at RGU, Charlie Priestley has had an extraordinary journey. Alongside his Cyber Security BSc (Hons) degree, Charlie works part-time as a lecturer at NESCol and recently represented Scotland and the UK at WorldSkills Shanghai as one of only two Scots selected for Team UK.
Often dubbed the “Skills Olympics”, WorldSkills is the world’s largest international vocational and technical skills competition, bringing together talented young people from around the globe.
In this blog, Charlie reflects on his WorldSkills journey and how his studies at RGU have supported his development.
The Journey to Team UK
My WorldSkills journey began in December 2022, when a former competitor and teacher at NESCol encouraged me to enter the IT Networks System Administration (ITNSA) competition. After progressing through the qualifying stages, I won silver at the national finals in Manchester in November 2023.
Determined to compete internationally, I entered again in 2024, this time in IT Support Technician (ITST), and won another silver medal. I was invited to join Squad UK and begin a two-year training programme for the international competition in Shanghai.
Training involved several international competitions, including AsiaSkills in Chinese Taipei. As this was the biggest competition I had taken part in at that point, I knew how important it was to take my preparation seriously. I would finish my university classes in the morning, head to work to teach in the afternoon, and then spend my evenings training in the library until 10 pm. Balancing my studies, teaching and WorldSkills training was demanding, but this routine became a consistent part of my journey with WorldSkills.
Choosing Cyber Security at RGU
I’ve always planned to pursue a career in the IT networks industry, so choosing the right degree was an important step towards that goal. I was drawn to RGU’s Cyber Security course because of its strong links with networking and the opportunity to develop my knowledge in both areas. RGU’s high graduate employment rates also played a part in my decision, as I wanted to choose a course that would support my long-term career ambitions. I felt that combining cyber security with my existing interest in networks would give me a valuable foundation for my future career.
How RGU Prepared Me for WorldSkills
Cyber security and IT networking are closely linked, and many of our WorldSkills tasks involved implementing security measures within a network. During my second semester at RGU, I took a module focused on securing web servers, which proved particularly valuable. As web servers featured regularly in our WorldSkills challenges, the knowledge and practical skills I gained helped me understand how to secure them effectively during the competition.
Competing on the World Stage
Meeting fellow competitors has always been one of my favourite parts of these competitions. Coming together with people from all over the world meant experiencing different languages, cultures and ways of interacting. Some competitors were more reserved and polite, while others were outgoing or more laid-back, but we were all united by our shared passion for what we do.
Meeting people who are so different from you, yet share so much in common, is an amazing experience. One of the highlights is exchanging pin badges. Each country has its own unique badge, and during the competitions, we make a point of swapping badges and collecting as many as we can from fellow competitors.
Preparing for the Pressure
During the two-year training process, my training manager organised several “International Pressure Tests” (IPTs) to help prepare me for the demands of competing on the world stage. These were smaller-scale international competitions where I travelled abroad to compete against participants from other countries.
As part of the IPTs, I travelled to Chinese Taipei, Korea and Hungary, took part in a remote competition hosted in Iran, and competed in two UK-hosted events. Each competition was designed to replicate the real WorldSkills environment, with three days of competition and a live audience. We approached every event as though it were the real competition, and afterwards, I would focus my training on addressing any weaknesses I had identified in my performance.
Overcoming Challenges in Shanghai
The first day of competition is always the hardest, as you have to adjust to a different time zone, manage your nerves and adapt to the crowds and unfamiliar surroundings. To put the scale of the event into perspective, an estimated one million visitors were expected over the four days of competition, making the environment incredibly loud and overwhelming at times.
To help us manage these challenges, we took part in several sessions with performance coaches as part of our training. They taught us techniques tailored to each competitor to help us cope with the pressure. For me, this involved focusing on pressure points, taking moments to process information and being more aware of my own anxiety. Taking the time to apply these techniques helped me manage my nerves and stay focused during the competition.
Discovering China
China is an incredible place. The people were kind, the food was amazing and the cities were lively. During my time there, I had the opportunity to explore both Beijing and Shanghai, each offering a very different experience.
Beijing’s rich history and culture fascinated me. Visiting the Great Wall and the Forbidden City and learning about their historical and cultural significance were particular highlights. Shanghai, by contrast, felt like stepping into the future, with its striking blend of traditional Chinese architecture and futuristic skyscrapers. At night, the skyline transformed into a spectacular display of lights, and seeing it all from the top of Shanghai Tower was a truly unforgettable experience.
A Medallion for Excellence
Receiving the Medallion for Excellence is proof to me of how far I’ve come on my journey through WorldSkills. It’s a reminder of the countless early mornings and late nights spent training, the days spent travelling, and the years of build-up to that moment.
It has become a memento of the countless people I met who helped and inspired me on my journey, and of my fellow competitors who gave their very best. Overall, it’s a reminder of the adventure I got to take.
Looking Ahead: Life After WorldSkills
After graduating, I plan to look for work in industry. WorldSkills helped instil a passion for skills into me, so I would also like to remain involved with WorldSkills, possibly as a trainer, and help inspire future competitors.
For anyone looking to take part in a skills competition, the best advice I could give would be to take that first step and run with it. Don’t let any self-doubt keep you from pushing yourself, because in pushing through, you’ll be left with a lasting experience.
Charlie Priestley
Hero image credit: https://flic.kr/p/2sD6gPH.
Related blogs
Taking part in the Inform Prize Competition with my computing team