The 47th WorldSkills Competition provided a grand stage for young professionals from around the globe to demonstrate their technical and vocational skills and expertise. The competition was hosted by France and took place in Lyon from 10 to 15 September 2024. Thousands of schoolchildren observed the inspiring competition. Often referred to as the "Skills Olympics," this biennial event brought together more than 1,500 participants from 85 countries and regions. They competed in over 60 skill categories such as mechatronics, robotics, wood technology, information technology and culinary arts. Several side events took place, such as the BeChangeMaker competition and the WorldSkills Conference.

In the BeChangeMaker competition, Friedrich Huebler, Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC, was one of the judges. Since its inception in 2017, BeChangeMaker, an initiative by WorldSkills and the HP Foundation, has inspired young professionals to use their expertise for social good. UNESCO-UNEVOC supports the initiative. During this year’s competition, UNESCO-UNEVOC provided mentorship and capacity-building workshops, guiding participants on how to tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change, poverty and healthcare inequities. The competing teams developed innovative solutions, including a platform for eco-friendly housing or the idea of this year’s winning team from Nigeria, Sekofia: a digital platform for mental health support. The top five teams were awarded a cash prize and entrepreneurship training by WorldSkills.

Insights from WorldSkills Conference 2024

Global leaders and experts gathered to emphasize the importance of TVET in shaping the future workforce. Discussions highlighted the need for TVET to address pressing global challenges, including displacement, climate change, and gender inequality. Throughout the conference, it was underlined by several speakers that skills acquired outside of formal training need to be recognized. For new technologies, for example AI, only a limited number of trainings are available at this point in time.

Priscilla Gatonye from UNESCO-UNEVOC was one of the speakers in a session on Women in STEM, which focused on reimagining workplace solutions to break barriers and reach gender equality in STEM-related jobs. The audience was highly engaged and showed great interest in how to overcome obstacles which prevent girls from pursuing careers in STEM. Ms Gatonye also presented recent findings from the World Youth Skills Day event, which took place in July.

Participants also underscored the importance of partnerships across sectors to ensure quality assurance in apprenticeships and the need to adapt existing skills for the green transition. The conference stressed TVET's role in empowering young people, ensuring sustainability and preparing societies for the future, with leaders like WorldSkills President Chris Humphries calling for a collective effort to elevate TVET globally and create opportunities for youth to thrive in evolving industries.

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AI, data, and foundational skills

A vibrant mix of global leaders, youth voices and skills experts were engaged in discussions about the future of skills development. The air buzzed with conversations about the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), foundational skills and data-driven strategies for transforming TVET.

AI was at the centre of discussions. Mike Haley from Autodesk illustrated how AI is revolutionizing tools and redefining lifelong learning. Shweta Ratanpura shared stories of young people who are not only embracing these changes but thriving in the midst of technological evolution.

Singapore’s Second Minister for Education, Mohamad Maliki Osman, reminded everyone that foundational skills remain essential in tackling the complex challenges of today’s world.

Research also played a starring role. Neil Bentley-Gockman, leading the WorldSkills Global Research Council, provided insights into ways in which data can enhance TVET systems. The PISA-VET assessment for vocational programmes promises to bolster skills systems by providing an internationally standardized assessment of outcomes of VET programmes.

At the heart of the event were the passionate voices of young changemakers. UNESCO’s Global Skills Academy echoed their call for inclusivity, urging the global community to prioritize marginalized groups in training efforts.

As the conference drew to a close, WorldSkills International CEO David Hoey left a lasting message: the work is far from over. He urged delegates to keep pushing forward, fostering collaboration and advocating for skills development that leaves no one behind.

One of the side events was a meeting of the Inter-Agency Group on TVET, coordinated by UNESCO. UNESCO-UNEVOC updated the IAG members on work in the field of Greening TVET and called for a more action-oriented approach with concrete suggestions to move forward.

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