24 October 2025
WorldSkills General Assembly 2025 connects history with future ambition
During this landmark 75th anniversary year, delegates at WorldSkills General Assembly 2025 showed how the power of skills can unite countries, deepen global cooperation, and create new opportunities.
More than 350 people convened in Dubrovnik from 12 to 17 October 2025 for WorldSkills General Assembly 2025. Over the week, delegates took part in plenary sessions, contributed to engaging side meetings, and cast crucial votes that would strengthen WorldSkills for the decade ahead.
WorldSkills Croatia welcomed WorldSkills Members and Global Partners to the city of Dubrovnik. Against the backdrop of the Adriatic Sea, the host team created the perfect conditions for reflection, best practice sharing, and problem-solving.
The week opened with the premiere of a new video charting 75 years of WorldSkills, from its origins in 1950s post-war Europe through to the impact of WorldSkills Lyon 2024. The video reminded those gathered together of just how much WorldSkills has achieved – and transformed – in seven decades. It provided the perfect platform to then turn to the future.
WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Competition Organizer shared significant milestones, updated Members about Competition and Conference packages, and revealed plans for Competition Preparation Week in February 2026. During her speech, China’s Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, Minister Wang Xiaoping, urged delegates to harness Shanghai’s potential, saying “Let us use the power of skills to change the world, light the way forward for young people, and write a new chapter for the skills movement.”
Looking longer term, WorldSkills Members made critical strategic progress in the development of Vision 2035. The roadmap outlines the ambition and strategic focus areas for WorldSkills over the next ten years. It has been co-designed over six months of collaboration via Strategic Development Committee Opt-in meetings, including in-person events in Vienna and Hong Kong.
In his address to delegates, David Hoey, CEO of WorldSkills International, reminded them that, “Vision 2035 charts our long-term ambitions and vision of a world that values skills as the building blocks of dignified lives, resilient communities, and healthy countries.”
The success of Vision 2035 will rely on strong collaborative partnerships. This week, WorldSkills welcomed four new Global Partners. Software company Neusoft and lifelong learning provider Pearson, joined as Global Premium Partners, alongside existing partners Samsung, Stanley Black & Decker, and Festo. FXB, a leading automotive training manufacturer, and LIXIL, the parent company of GROHE, were welcomed as Global Industry Partners. Zhonghui was also recognized for joining earlier this year as a Global Industry Partner.
Throughout the week, delegates had the opportunity to learn about Croatia’s advances in skills development. By hosting WorldSkills Croatia Conference 2025, the Member was able to show how Croatia has undergone its largest-ever reform of TVET, including the introduction of 140 new programmes. National industry partners described the ways they are feeding into the development of new skills curricula, while Croatia’s Minister of Science, Education and Youth, Dr Radovan Fuchs delivered a rallying cry to assembled delegates.
He said, “The changes of today demand that we are adaptable and responsible. TVET gives us the power to shape our own future. By working together – governments, employers, educators, and international partners – we can make skills the true global currency of the world. Excellence in skills is excellence in life.”
Building on its already-strong relationship, WorldSkills and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) used the conference to sign a Joint Declaration that would see the two partners strengthen their cooperation and advance their work in skills development worldwide.
Gathering in a single location gave delegates the perfect opportunity to discuss challenges and opportunities more deeply together. A series of side meetings and breakout sessions allowed Members and Partners to build on the Impact Measurement and Management work, make new strides in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and help craft the agenda for WorldSkills Conference 2026.
As the week drew to a close, some of many contributors to the movement were honoured with awards and recognitions. Among them, two outgoing Board Members received standing ovations. Michael K K Fung finished his term as Board Member – Competitions, and San-Quei Lin ended his term as Board Member – Strategic Development. Earlier in the week, Members had chosen Patrik Svensson of Sweden to be the new Board member – Competitions, and Donald Tong of Hong Kong to be the new Board Member – Strategic Development. Alexander Erdmann of Germany was re-elected as Treasurer.
With newly elected Board Members, new Global Partners, and a new Vision 2035, WorldSkills delegates left for home with optimism for the coming decade. They will meet again at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 next September and, after that, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for WorldSkills General Assembly 2027.
Members and Partners will now be looking for ways to apply the insights and learnings of the last week into their day-to-day roles. As Francis Hourant, President of WorldSkills, said “we must be bold in our ambitions.”
He urged, “We must create a world where skills are recognized as the key to solving the great challenges of our time. We cannot have peace without education. Skills give people dignity, purpose, and the power to create change. WorldSkills was founded on this very idea 75 years ago, and today it is more vital than ever. Each of us carries a responsibility — let us not waste it.”