Why host a WorldSkills Competition?

WorldSkills Lyon 2024 is just days away from welcoming 100,000 visitors for the 47th WorldSkills Competition, while WorldSkills China is moving at pace on its plans for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. But why would a Member Host the event, and what returns can they expect on their mammoth investment of time and resources?

Hosting a WorldSkills Competition offers Member countries and regions a unique opportunity to fast-track their national TVET strategies. By bringing the world’s largest celebration of skills excellence to their doorstep, Host countries or regions can catalyze change, align industry with education, and position themselves at the forefront of skills development globally.

David Hoey, CEO of WorldSkills International, emphasizes this point. He says, “Major events like WorldSkills Competitions put national priorities on a fast track for public, media, and industry awareness. It is like putting an idea into super drive or warp speed. The impact reverberates through the entire TVET ecosystem, energizing stakeholders and creating a lasting legacy that continues to benefit the host country long after the event concludes.”

Raising awareness and increasing uptake of TVET

One of the primary advantages of hosting a WorldSkills Competition is its potential to raise awareness of TVET – a key step towards encouraging young students to take up TVET courses and consider a skilled career. The national and international reach is significant: over 100,000 people are expected to take part in WorldSkills Lyon 2024, alongside over 1,300 accredited media representing 47 countries and regions.

Shifting perceptions

Hosting a WorldSkills Competition is a powerful way to show the impact skills have for young people personally, and in shaping our world. Gathering the best of the best together on one site allows a Host Member to show, not tell, people what skills excellence looks like.

Cultural exchange

Hosting a WorldSkills Competition brings international communities together as skills become a common language for sharing knowledge and making new connections. A key initiative in this community-building effort is One School One Country (OSOC), which pairs local schools with international teams. In their pairs, they shared information about their nations, learn about skills and embrace diverse ideas and lived experiences. For example, during WorldSkills Lyon 2024, over 5,000 students from 63 schools are participating in OSOC, fostering cultural exchange and showcasing global career opportunities.

Community-building

Hosting a WorldSkills Competition brings skills alive within a Host city and local residents and businesses have the chance to play their part in the planet’s biggest celebration of skills. For WorldSkills Lyon 2024, over 1,200 local people are due to join the vast team of 2,500 volunteers that powers the event, helping embed the value of skills deep within the community. Local businesses are also getting involved and throwing open their doors to visitors by conducting industry open days to give them a behind-the-scenes access to skilled trades. The centre of Lyon will host a vibrant Skills Village to cascade the excitement and impact of the Competition out into the city.

Global thought leadership

Hosting a WorldSkills Competition brings with it the WorldSkills Conference, a high-profile, high-level meeting of experts and influencers in skills. Attended by government ministers, international policymakers, and thought leaders in education, industry, and skills development, it offers a Host Member a once in a generation opportunity to be at the centre of skills excellence and take a lead in helping set global TVET strategy.

Economic benefits and global partnerships

A WorldSkills Competition brings significant economic advantages to the host city and country. The influx of hundreds of thousands of visitors stimulates the local economy through increased tourism, hospitality services, and infrastructure development, creating job opportunities and delivering long-term economic benefits. Hosting also puts the spotlight on the nation’s TVET sector, creating valuable opportunities for international collaboration, best practice sharing, and global benchmarking against WorldSkills Occupational Standards. It allows the Host country to position itself at the forefront of global skills development.

Enhancing TVET delivery

The longest lasting impact of hosting a WorldSkills Competition is often seen in the transformation of national TVET systems. Previous Host Members have all described a positive cascade effect it has had across its education infrastructure and skills development practices.

For many, it has supported the establishment of large-scale national finals, inspired by the international event. For instance, WorldSkills UK launched such an initiative following WorldSkills London 2011, as did Finland after WorldSkills Helsinki 2005. It equips colleges and TVET institutions with the latest technology from partners and sponsors. After WorldSkills Calgary 2009, $16 million worth of equipment was distributed to schools and post-secondary institutes in Alberta. And it upskills local industry experts through their involvement as Workshop Managers and their interactions with Skill Competition Managers, Chief Experts, and international Experts.

As we wait to experience the incredible atmosphere of WorldSkills Lyon 2024 and find out who will Host the 49th WorldSkills Competition, one thing is certain. All the planning and preparation involved, has a significant return for a Host Member, allowing them to build a stronger future workforce, align education with industry needs, and create a lasting legacy of skills excellence that will shape their economic and social landscape for years to come.

Follow all the news from WorldSkills Lyon 2024 on our X page @WorldSkills to find out who will be chosen as the Host Member for 49th WorldSkills Competition.

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.