Try-a-Skills at WorldSkills Lyon 2024 brings out the best of skills, for everyone

Visitors to WorldSkills Lyon 2024 have been busy. While the 1,400 Competitors focused on one skill, people arriving at Eurexpo Lyon for the 47th WorldSkills Competition have been rolling up their sleeves and having a go at over 50 skill experiences at Try-a-Skills.

Dotted between the six sector villages, these booths explain more about each skill, show how it fits into our everyday lives, and give people a chance to try it out for themselves.

At the Cloud Computing Try-a-Skill, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been inviting visitors to play a 3D role-playing game set in a virtual city. Choosing roles likes Cloud Practitioner, Serverless Developer, Solutions Architect, Machine Learning Specialist, Security Specialist, Data Analytics Specialist, or Networking Specialist, visitors have learned how to apply cloud skills to help “virtual citizens” and earn a digital badge.

Global software leader, Autodesk transformed the Digital Construction Try-a-Skill into an immersive room with floor projections that give visitors the chance to step into the Notre Dame reconstruction story, using Autodesk tools and BIM visualization to explore the animation in an immersive way, without the use of VR headsets. 

At the Bakery Try-a-Skill booth, Bongard has been inviting groups of young people to roll up their sleeves and test their bread-making skills. Willing participants have got to go home with their own baked loaf of bread.

Studica gave people a chance to put an agricultural robot to work on a farm at its Autonomous Mobile Robotics Try-a-Skill stand and try and increase production while improving efficiency and safety. Meanwhile Festo took visitors through the three-stage journey of bubble soap production at its Mechatronics Try-a-Skill booth.

The immersive activities have caught the imagination of young students visiting the Competition. Inès, a student from La Martinière Monplaisir School said the Try-a-Skills felt so realistic. She said, “Each skill felt like stepping into a real-world job. I loved how hands-on everything was, and it gave me a real sense of what these careers could be like. It’s amazing to see how skills we usually just hear about come to life in such a practical and exciting way.”

Try-a-Skills have also encouraged parents and teachers to rethink some of the opportunities available through skills. Abdul, parent to Delia and Asad, said he was curious to visit the Competition and said the experience has more than surpassed his expectations. He said, “I came here out of curiosity, but seeing my children so engaged in learning more about skills has completely opened my eyes to the incredible opportunities in skills-based careers.”

Members of the WorldSkills Champions Trust have also been testing out Try-a-Skills. Melkon is WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for Asia and competed in Web Technologies at WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition. He had a go at Try-a-Skills for Painting and said, “I was just working on a small section, focused on my own piece. But when it was added to the final product, it became something truly amazing. It reminded me how even the smallest contribution can be part of something much bigger and more beautiful. The transformation was incredible, and it made me appreciate how every skill, no matter how small, plays a vital role in creating something remarkable.”

Alexander Amiri, Director of Sponsorship and Partnership for WorldSkills International, says, “It has been amazing to watch young people, their teachers and families get immersed in the world of skills. At Try-a-Skills, they not only get to test out a new trade, but they also come to appreciate the vital role of skills in our everyday lives. I am proud to say we have been inspiring the next generation of skilled professionals at these booths.”

Now, as the Competition reaches its final day and draws to a close, the hope is that visitors will take these experiences away with them and build a new perspective about the opportunities a career in skills can offer. To find out more about the variety of skills on offer, visit the WorldSkills website.

WorldSkills Lyon 2024

WorldSkills Lyon 2024, 10 to 15 September, is the world’s largest international skills competition, featuring 1,400 Competitors from almost 70 countries and regions. The 47th WorldSkills Competition showcases excellence in young skilled talent, while also bringing industry, education, and government leaders together to move skills to the top of the global agenda. WorldSkills is highlighting the critical role skills play in addressing global challenges, boosting economies and industries, and promoting excellence.