Meet the winners of 2024 Albert Vidal Award, the highest honour at WorldSkills Lyon 2024

Junwei Lu and Huixuan Xie put in long days studying code and components in preparation for WorldSkills Lyon 2024. Their dedication paid off: they secured gold medals in Industry 4.0 alongside the prestigious Albert Vidal Award, setting an inspiring path for future digital manufacturing specialists.

Their paths to this historic achievement began in different corners of technology. Lu explained, “I was introduced to Industry 4.0 as a project area of study during my junior college years. At that time, there were constant reports of other students winning awards at WorldSkills Competitions in school, which made me realize the importance of skills in the future of work.”

Meanwhile, Xie’s foundation in computer networking naturally led him to the field. Xie said, “I studied computer networking in my vocational education and I participated in the Industry 4.0 programme.”

Success demanded unwavering commitment. Xie said, “We have trained for a very long time, the day goes from 8am to 9pm, even on weekends.“ For Lu, preparation meant developing both mind and skills. Lu shared, ”I would improve my practical skills by participating in mock competitions, which allowed me to better adapt to the pace and pressure of the competition. I also emphasize the development of my mental fitness, through some meditation and relaxation exercises.”

During the competition days in Lyon, their resilience was put to the test. Lu said, “The most challenging moment during the WorldSkills Competition was the announcement of the questions only on the day. I had to quickly understand the specific requirements of the questions and adjust my plan, which demanded a lot of resilience.”

Their excellence earned them the Albert Vidal Award, marked by a striking trophy that captures the WorldSkills spirit. The Albert Vidal Award is a prestigious award, named after the founder of WorldSkills International. In memory of Albert Vidal, the award recognizes the Competitor that achieves the highest number of points across all skill competitions.

The award’s designer, Jacqueline Tanzer, brought unique insight to its creation as both a WorldSkills São Paulo 2015 Competitor in Graphic Design for Team Austria and a former WorldSkills Champions Trust Regional representative for Europe.

Jacqueline shared, “The concept is based on the building blocks of WorldSkills, one of the brand’s primary design elements that symbolizes the idea that skills are the building blocks of life. The building blocks in the brand represent a multitude of skills and people, uniting and working together to bring change to our world.”

Looking to the future, Jacqueline shared her hopes for the recipients, “I hope they feel an immense pride in what they have achieved and a sense of having accomplished something truly extraordinary. But beyond that, I hope this award becomes something they treasure over the years – a reminder not only of their hard work but of the lasting impact WorldSkills has had on their lives. I hope every time they look at it, they feel proud and remember that it symbolizes more than just winning; it represents a journey of growth, skill, and the movement they have been a part of.”

The Closing Ceremony announcement was an overwhelming experience for Lu and Xie said, "Being awarded the Albert Vidal Award was a real surprise. From the initial surprise to the joyful excitement, the award is an honour that is only granted to the highest scorers in all competitions and is not something that we even dared to hope for when we were in training.”

Lu shared, “Standing on the podium, my heart was filled with excitement and gratitude. This award is a recognition of my personal skills and a recognition of our team and all the people who support us behind the scenes.”

Their journey reflects the transformative power of Industry 4.0 itself. Lu explained, “Industry 4.0 is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry through intelligence and automation technologies. With the Internet of Things, big data and artificial intelligence, factories are able to interconnect production equipment, which improves efficiency, and significantly reduces the risk of errors.”

Xie noted, “Industry 4.0 will enable deeper human-machine collaboration, the widespread use of digital twin technology, and the spread of data-driven decision-making.”

Neither Champion made this journey alone. Lu said, “Throughout my career education journey, I have had a mentor who has helped me a lot not only with my skills but in dealing with relationships. He was a beacon of light on my career path, teaching me to focus on interpersonal relationships and on technical improvement.”

Xie is hoping to inspire the next generation and has transitioned from WorldSkills Champion to project coach, and is already preparing Competitors for the 48th WorldSkills Competition which will be held in his home country, in the city of Shanghai. He says, “I will train more excellent skilled people and also actively participate in the promotion of vocational skills.”

To those following in their footsteps, Xie reflects, “Young people who are committing to Industry 4.0 should keep learning, gain practical experience, focus on sustainable development, make more friends, and seize this field of opportunity!”