The search begins for the WorldSkills Champions Trust 2027 to 2028

Today, the search begins for the next WorldSkills Champions Trust cohort. WorldSkills invites Competitors from WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition, WorldSkills Lyon 2024, and WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 to apply to become the newest youth representatives in the global skills movement.

Since it began in 2014, the WorldSkills Champions Trust has had a significant impact on the world stage. For twelve years, skilled young people have added their insights to discussions on TVET strategy. They have represented the needs and ambitions of young people, and they have inspired the next generation of students to consider a skills pathway.

Over the last two years, the current cohort has joined world-leading discussions hosted by UNIDO, UNESCO-UNEVOC, and the Learning and Knowledge Development Facility, to name a few. They have spoken at the WorldSkills General Assembly, WorldSkills Conferences, and WorldSkills Competitions.

Sonya Hill, WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for the Americas, reflects, “This role opened doors I would never have imagined, travelling across multiple countries, speaking on prestigious global platforms, and sharing my skills journey on live TV and radio.”

The real-world impact of their work is also not lost on these impressive young people.

Aapo Paunonen, WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for Europe, recalls, “After speaking at a school in Finland, one boy said he was going to tell his parents he wanted to study at a vocational college instead of going to high school. That interaction has meant more to me than I can put into words. It reminded me that sharing my own journey can genuinely help someone else find the confidence to choose the path that’s right for them.”

The new WorldSkills Champions Trust for 2027 to 2028 will be the seventh cohort. Successful applicants will undergo training in public speaking, content creation, and stakeholder engagement. They will then spend two years travelling the world, sharing their stories and bringing the perspective of young skilled professionals into pivotal conversations.

WorldSkills International is anticipating a huge interest from its young community. As with previous cohorts, WorldSkills International will be looking for a group that represents a broad mix of industries, regions, ideas, and lived experiences, all united by a passion for skills.

Nurit Davidowicz, WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for Europe, urges all former Competitors to think about applying and taking up this rare opportunity to sit at the heart of systems change. She says, “When you’re on the WorldSkills Champions Trust it is your chance to have a seat at the table with policymakers and industry leaders. It is your way of showing what youth wants and what youth needs.”

Shawna Bourke, Director of Marketing and Communications for WorldSkills International, reflects on the value of this unique group of ambassadors to the global skills movement. She says, “It doesn’t matter whether someone comes to the Champions Trust already comfortable on stage or feeling completely out of their depth, what I’ve watched, cohort after cohort, is the same remarkable evolution. They grow into confident, articulate individuals, each with a story that is uniquely theirs. That diversity of voice and experience is exactly what gives this group of ambassadors an important seat at the table in these global conversations.”

Champions from WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition, WorldSkills Lyon 2024, and WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 who want to represent their skill and their region on the global stage for skills can find out more and apply.