WorldSkills Conference message to the UN Summit of the Future

One week ago, WorldSkills Conference 2024 in Lyon, France included a Youth Forum which brought together 17 young leaders, aged between 18 and 30, and 13 representatives from TVET institutions. They came to share their concerns for the future and explore new ways to elevate skills to the top of the global agenda.

The Youth Forum, organized by WorldSkills Lyon 2024, WorldSkills France, and the Métropole de Lyon was integrated into WorldSkills Conference 2024 guided by four key themes: Youth and Empowerment, Youth and Wellbeing, Youth and Global Issues, and Youth and the Technological Transition.

Its goal was to create space to hear young peoples’ concerns and ideas and to create a set of actions that would ensure the inclusion of young people in the social debate and decision-making processes.

Building on this foundation of youth engagement, the spotlight now shifts to the UN Summit of the Future, taking place from 20 to 23 September. Bringing together over 1,000 delegates from over 190 countries, it will review the impact and relevance of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and look to create international mechanisms that better reflect the realities of the 21st century.

The voice of youth is critical to these discussions and skills are critical to future transitions, growth, and sustainability. Speaking after the Youth Forum, Yousra Assali, WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for MENA, addressed the assembled delegates at WorldSkills Conference 2024 with a clear and unequivocal message.

She said, “I am here today to remind us all that the systems that created our current problems will not be the same systems that solve them. We must think differently about the future. Young people have an important perspective that must be heard.”

Representing the voices and views of the Youth Forum, and millions of young people around the world, Yousra then tabled four direct questions for the audience to go away and address:

• How can you ensure TVET systems keep up with the rapid shifts in technology?
• How can you use AI to improve our lives?
• How can you help us feel valued at work, and tackle prejudice that have limited access for too many, for too long?
• How can you make sure we do not have to trade off sustainable practices in favour of profitability?

She closed by saying, “I know these are not small questions but many of the answers have been discussed over the last two day and many of the people who can advance progress are in this room. As you answer them, remember young people see things from a different angle.”

She urged, “Talk to us more. Give us the microphone more often. Draw on our diversity of thinking, and our lived experience. Include us in the planning, design and implementation of policies. Because when we work together, we have the power to reimagine our skills systems.”

David Hoey, CEO of WorldSkills International, wrapped the Conference by acknowledging Yousra’s plea and echoing her call for urgent change. He said, “The Conference is complete, but our work continues in haste.”

Talking directly to the Conference delegates, he said, “Whether you find yourself at the UN Summit of the Future next week, or are delivering grassroots programmes, we need you to raise this topic at every level. Continue to seek out opportunities to expand your work, find new collaborators, and work every day to elevate skills. Use this Conference and your time at WorldSkills Competition 2024 to be a catalyst for change.”

WorldSkills now calls on those attending the Summit to take the voice of youth and embed their ideas and aspirations into the decision making that lies ahead.

Follow news from WorldSkills for our assessment of the UN Summit of the Future and how it impacts our skills community.