WYSD 2024

Youth Skills for Peace and Development

In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship, as well as for addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable development.

The theme for World Youth Skills Day 2024 was Youth Skills for Peace and Development. It highlights the crucial role that young people play in peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts.

The world faces a multitude of challenges today, many of which affect the youth. Violent conflicts disrupting education and stability, a polarized online environment fostering negativity, and persistent economic inequality limits opportunities. These issues threaten not only individual futures but also the overall stability of societies. It is crucial to equip youth with the necessary skills for fostering a culture of peace, nurturing responsible global citizens, and promoting sustainable development to build a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future for all.

On World Youth Skills Day, let us unite in recognizing the potential of young people as agents of peace and commit to providing them with the skills and opportunities to address challenges and contribute to a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future.

Find out more about UNESCO-UNEVOC's work on Inclusion and Youth.

Building an equitable and inclusive future of work that fosters peace, global citizenship, and sustainable development

WYSD online event, 10:00 - 12:30 (CEST)

View agenda and speakers bios (pdf)

Click here to view the agenda

Time		Agenda
10:00-10:05		Welcome and introduction Moderator: Ms Priscilla Gatonye, Programme Officer for Inclusion and Youth Employability, UNESCO-UNEVOC
10:05-10:20		Opening remarks Mr. Friedrich Huebler, Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC Mr. Niels Knudsen, Chief of the External Relations and Communications Section, United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Mr. David Hoey, Chief Executive Officer, World Skills International
10:20-10:45		Impulse talks: Addressing youth challenges in skills development and work Mr. Efrem Bycer - Sustainability and Workforce Policy Partnerships @ LinkedIn Influences and predictions of work: Emerging trends in the demand for green skills and the importance of developing skills that contribute to sustainable development, such as environmental literacy, sustainable practices, and green entrepreneurship Ms Priyardashani Joshi, Senior Project Officer (Research) GEM report Addressing youth gender disparity: How can TVET systems be reformed to promote greater participation of women and girls in the future of work Ms Yoko Mochizuki, Associate member, EDA, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Université Paris Cité Whole-person development: How can global citizenship education and intercultural dialogue contribute to fostering a culture of sustainability and peace among youth? What is the role of TVET systems?
10:45-10:55		2024 Youth Survey Report Youth perspectives on skills for peace, global citizenship, and sustainable development
10:55- 11:05		World Youth Skills Day video Youth interventions from UNEVOC Centres in the regions commemorating the day – (recorded). Africa, Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and CIS, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean
11:05-11:35		Panel 1: Youth focus group - Youth skills for peace and development Mr Florian Zimmer, Euroskills Winner 2023 ICT skills, Germany Mr Joshua Redmond, Kenya Ms Lina Pickhardt, UNCCD Land Hero Ms Maike Carolin Adel, Wastewater Technology Specialist, Germany Ms Sophie Charlotte Keunecke, Bronze medal winner in Future Skill “Robot System Integration” at WorldSkills 2019 Mr Vincent Ariesto Gunawan, Chairman of the Indonesian Student Association in Bonn
11:35-11:40		Q&A session 1
11:40 – 12:10		Panel 2: Stakeholders panel - Policy, Partnership and Collaboration This panel will provide a comprehensive exploration of the challenges and opportunities in building an equitable, peaceful and inclusive future of work, drawing from policy, industry, youth perspectives, TVET and academic insights. Ms Heike Kuhn, Head of Division for Education, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Ms Sally Gregersen, BeChangeMaker Alumni, Lulu Lab Mr Lawrence Mukhongo Manyonge - Deputy Director Quality Assurance for TVET Technical University of Mombasa Kenya Mr. Markus Schwertel, HP, Director Government Affairs & Public Policy, Global Policy & Strategy team Mr Nurfitra Asa, Southeast Asia Coordinator, Generation Global
12:10-12:20		Q&A session
12:23-12:30		Closing remarks Youth representative, Kanis Jabin Mr Borhene Chakroun, Director, Policy and Lifelong Learning Systems Division, UNESCO

Download presentations:

Efrem Bycer, Sustainability and Workforce Policy Partnerships @ LinkedIn
Influences and Predictions of Work

Ms Priyardashani Joshi, Senior Project Officer (Research) GEM report
Addressing youth gender disparity

Yoko Mochizuki, Associate member, EDA, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Université Paris Cité
Whole-person development

Priscilla Gatonye, UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for TVET
Youth Survey Results

Key Questions

Skills Development for a Complex World - Which skill development aspects of peace, global citizenship and sustainable development are relevant to the future of work?
Addressing Gender Disparity - How can TVET systems be reformed to promote greater participation of women and girls in the opportunities for future jobs such as green jobs?
Whole-Person Development - How can TVET systems play a more active role in going beyond technical training and fostering well-rounded socially responsible individuals who can contribute to a more inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable future?
Partnership and Collaboration - What are the best strategies for engaging stakeholders, such as youth, policymakers, and the private sector, in discussions about relevant skills development.

Youth Skills Survey

Thank you for taking part in the WYSD 2024 Youth Survey
and in sharing your perspectives with regard to skills for peace, global citizenship and sustainable development.
Your insights informed our discussion during the commemoration of World Youth Skills Day on 15 July 2024.

Click on the image above to view a presentation of the survey.

Streamed event
Monday, 15 July 2024, 13:30-14:30 CEST

View agenda and speakers bios

Gen Z Insider's Guide: Navigating the Modern World

Youth today are dynamic and a forward-thinking generation, driving change and innovation across various sectors. This session aims to provide an insider's perspective on what defines youth today, their values, interests, and how they navigate the modern world. The insight gathered helps us understand how to engage youth meaningfully.

Topics to explore:

Future of work reflection (AI and greening) based on the morning session findings.
Entrepreneurship - The reality of starting a business.
Gen Z approach and insights (Lifestyles and interests)
Values and priorities (authenticity, mental health, work life balance, Diversity and inclusion)
Skilling, reskilling, and upskilling requirements
Challenges and opportunities

Online event
15 July 2024, 14:30 to 15:30 PM CEST

View concept note and agenda

View presentation slides

The event was held in English.

AI Skills for the Future of Work. UNESCO Global Skills Academy Session on WYSD 2024

World Youth Skills Day, observed on July 15th, recognizes the importance of empowering young people with skills for employment, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. This year, it also marks the fourth anniversary of the UNESCO Global Skills Academy (GSA), which provides high-quality training to youth worldwide. The GSA emphasizes Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a means to promote resilience and recovery in the post-pandemic era. In celebration of these two events, GSA hosts a session on “AI Skills for the Future of Work,” addressing the need to equip youth with essential AI skills for a sustainable future. This initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 8 with the following objectives:

Highlight the growing demand for AI skills across industries and job roles.
Explore the essential AI skills required for future employability.
Provide practical guidance on developing and enhancing AI skills.
Promote inclusive and equitable access to AI skills training.

UN website

UN Headquarters New York event

To celebrate World Youth Skills Day 2024, the Permanent Missions of Portugal and Sri Lanka to the United Nations, in collaboration with UNESCO, the ILO and United Nations Youth Office, will convene a panel discussion with Member States, young experts, social partners, and other stakeholders.

TVET Youth Voices

As part of our World Youth Skills Day celebrations, we ask young people to share their perspectives by answering the questions below and feature selected youth voices on our website.

What activities are you involved in that contribute to peace and global citizenship?
(Global citizenship encompasses traits such as multicultural knowledge, societal safety, social sustainability, flexible mindset, empathy, global perspective, intercultural discussion, ethical consumption, and advocacy, enabling individuals to interact responsibly and compassionately with the world and contribute to a more integrated and peaceful global community)
In your field of study, which green skills do you consider important to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable practices?
(e.g., if your field of study is plumbing, which green skills would lead to energy and water efficiency, reduction of waste and reduction of negative environmental impact?)
How has participating in social-emotional learning (SEL) activities helped you build stronger relationships and manage your emotions better?
(Social-Emotional Learning skills such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making, equip students with the skills necessary for academic success, emotional well-being, and positive social interactions.)

Mansoor Ahmed Mansoori, Sultan Raed Abdulqader, Hamad Mohamed Almarzooqi from ACTVET, a UNEVOC Network member in United Arab Emirates

Faris Islam Faris, Yareeb Samir Ahmed and Yaroub Younis Mahmoud from Iraq

Jay Chew from Australia

Si Thu Wai from Myanmar

Ellen Dixon from New Zealand

Trixie Ann Bautista from the Philippines

Caroline Arielo from Kenya

Miranda Eva Moutlane from South Africa

Tan Yee Ching from Malaysia

Sophia Mauia from india

Watch more on YouTube

Disclaimer: UNESCO-UNEVOC reserve the right to choose which videos to feature. The ideas, opinions, and viewpoints expressed in the featured videos belong solely to the creators and do not necessarily reflect the views of UNESCO-UNEVOC. UNESCO-UNEVOC shall not be liable for any damages, losses, or harm incurred as a result of using or relying on the information, documents, or materials shown in the featured videos.

Featured resources

UNESCO publication
Empowering youth to build peace
Drawing on existing activities and new proposals, UNESCO launched a broad integrated framework of action that was guided by a common objective: equipping young women and men with knowledge, skills and values that empower them to live peaceful, constructive and productive lives, engaging them as responsible global citizens and making them resilient to any form of abuse or manipulation, including radicalization and violent extremism.

UNESCO
Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development: an explainer
Commonly referred to as the “Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Sustainable Development”, it updates the previous “1974 Recommendation” that almost 50 years ago united countries in positioning education as a key driver of peace and international understanding.

UNESCO
2024 Gender Report: Technology on her terms | Global Education Monitoring Report
A companion to the 2023 GEM Report

, this gender edition asks in what circumstances technology is helping with gender equality in education. The report posits that education has a critical role to play in determining whether the future direction that the digital transformation may take us in will be gender-balanced or not.

See more related publications

Winners of the Skills in Action Photo Competition 2024

We are happy to announce the winners of the 2024 Skills in Action Photo Competition.

View the winners

Thank you to all the photographers who participated.
We are thrilled by the overwhelming number of submissions we received. Your creativity and enthusiasm are truly inspiring.

Archive of previous WYSD celebrations

UNESCO-UNEVOC WYSD Celebration 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017

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Tel. +49 228 8150 100

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unevoc @ unesco.org

unevoc.unesco.org/wysd/

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