WorldSkills Competitors and local students unite as One School One Country

More than 50 schools across Lyon welcomed WorldSkills Competitors today, giving students a chance to meet their skills heroes in person following six months of communication and cultural exchange through One School One Country (OSOC).

OSOC is a cornerstone WorldSkills initiative that unites young people with inspiring role models who can show them the power of skills. Launched at WorldSkills Shizuoka 2007, the programme is driven by the belief that you cannot be what you cannot see. By pairing schools from the host country with WorldSkills Member delegations, the programme aims to build lasting connections.

Since the pairings were announced in January 2024, 5,000 students from 52 participating schools have been learning about the culture and traditions of the country or region of their assigned delegation. Teachers at the schools have been using resources provided by WorldSkills Lyon 2024 and the OSOC team.

When they arrived at the schools today, Competitors were delighted to see schools decorated with their delegation’s flag and colours. Many were also treated to the best of French cuisine. One teacher at La Martiniere-Duchere School was paired with WorldSkills Colombia and has loved seeing the impact of OSOC at her school over the last few months. She said, “Opportunities like this are so important to bring people, different cultures, and nations together.”

Following an eventful day of new friendships, insights, and interactions, the schools will return the visit later this week, coming to WorldSkills Lyon 2024 at Eurexpo. It promises to be a unique chance to experience skills firsthand, by having a go at the Try-a-Skills, observing their Competitors in action, and chatting to Experts and representatives from the WorldSkills Champions Trust.

Gabrielle Stemphlet, Manager of the OSOC programme, could see the significance of the day in the faces of everyone who took part. She said, “OSOC has been a great success and is a powerful reminder that young people are changemakers and that our world is in their skilled hands. Watching the students and Competitors interact today, it was clear to see how inspired they were by each other. If, in one small way, OSOC can unite them and build bridges between countries, then it can only lead to better cooperation in the future. It gives me a lot of hope that these skilled young people can help us build a fairer, more sustainable, and more secure future.”

Find out more about OSOC and the participating schools and teams.

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.