Shanghai schools welcome WorldSkills Competitors for a cultural exchange

Today, across the Yangtze River Delta region, 62 local schools welcomed delegations of WorldSkills Competitors who are competing at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. The visit was part of the cultural exchange programme, One School One Member, which has been a much-loved aspect of WorldSkills Competitions since it was launched in 2007.

The initiative pairs local schools with visiting WorldSkills countries and regions. It gives Competitors and young people from the host nation a chance to connect and learn about each other’s culture, months before the event. They then meet the teams in person once delegations arrive to compete.

The Competition Organizer for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 first paired the schools and teams on 4 February 2026, during Competition Preparation Week. Schools and delegations then had time to exchange messages, share presentations, and ask questions about each other’s traditions and skills.

Today, after seven months, they received the Competitors into their schools and finally met them in person.

After an introduction from the schools’ principals and teachers, the Competitors were then treated to special activities laid on by the schools, including a chance to enjoy traditional dance, crafts, food, and music. They shared experiences and exchanged gifts and souvenirs from their countries.

Bjarne Weber is a Competitor in Landscape Gardening for Luxembourg. He said, “Today’s visit was very interesting, and the students were very welcoming. They are very ambitious and have lots of modern technology for their students. It is good to see how they train. I am very happy to be here.”

When asked what the day meant to them, one student from a Shanghai school said, “We have French students and Chinese students here together. We are talking about our different cultures and sharing examples of our food and things we have made. It makes today a very meaningful day for me and for everyone here.”

Mahel Brossier, a Competitor in Cyber Security for France, loved seeing inside a Chinese school, saying, “I was really curious about how different this school would be from France and have been so impressed about how skilled they are.”

In the days ahead, students from participating schools will return the visit and travel to the National Exhibition and Convention Center to see the magic of WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 unfold. There they will have the chance to try out some skills for themselves, watch the team from their paired country compete, and see for themselves what it takes to master skills.

Discover more about One School One Member and this year’s participating schools at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.