WorldSkills Members and the Conference Coalition outline ambitions for WorldSkills Conference 2026

The WorldSkills Conference is an essential programme to elevate Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to the top of the global agenda.

On 12 May, members of the WorldSkills Conference Coalition - a network of key organizations, institutions, and stakeholders from around the world which help to shape the agenda and content of the WorldSkills Conference - along with WorldSkills China and WorldSkills International met to reflect on the legacy of the WorldSkills Conference 2024 and define a strategy for the upcoming edition in 2026.

The meeting was hosted at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris and brought together representatives from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Bank, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany, the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN), and UNESCO. Additional members of the Coalition, including UNESCO-UNEVOC and the African Union, joined the discussions online.

In his welcome to participants, Borhene Chakroun, Director of the Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems Division at UNESCO, described the WorldSkills Conference as a platform for multilateral collaboration. He emphasized the potential to leverage skills competitions as “laboratories for skills acquisition” that can inform and shape policy development.

“TVET is not only a tool for responding to labour market changes, but also for shaping them. It is a tool for social cohesion, peace, and sustainability. Our role is to highlight the disconnect between the skills needed and those that young people acquire. We need to bring both international and local authorities into this conversation. We need a Conference that puts TVET where it belongs: at the top of the global agenda,” he stated.

The full day of discussion outlined the next steps in defining the direction of WorldSkills Conference 2026. Key points raised by Coalition members included the need for greater inclusion of the private sector and industry – especially in developing countries – the importance of aligning the Conference more closely with the WorldSkills Competition, the value of sharing best practices, and the need to centre themes around the concerns of young people.

Global discussions on the strategic development of WorldSkills and Vision 2035 are currently underway and similar reflections were collected from representatives of WorldSkills Member countries and regions.

The WorldSkills Conference has emerged as a vital asset for Members, enabling them to engage key stakeholders, draw insights to strengthen national policies, and create opportunities for bilateral and multilateral collaboration with international partners.

“The WorldSkills Conference in Lyon was a real turning point for WorldSkills Australia,” said Trevor Schwenke, CEO of WorldSkills Australia, who brought a federal minister, a state minister, and other political stakeholders to WorldSkills Conference 2024. “WorldSkills Australia now has more influence and traction in our national system. We need to keep building the Conference. It is the hook that will allow me to bring more and more important stakeholders to Shanghai,” he added.

Members also discussed how the WorldSkills Competition should inspire and differentiate the Conference in terms of format, content, and added value.

“WorldSkills has a distinctive value in bridging policy and practice,” said Benedikte Sterner of WorldSkills Norway. “The Conference should emphasize the importance of practical, real-time insights, alongside contributions from international organizations and the benefits of international cooperation.”

WorldSkills Conference 2026 will take place alongside the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China, from 22 to 27 September 2026. As WorldSkills flagship thought leadership event, the Conference will convene policymakers, educators, industry leaders, and youth voices from around the world to explore the most pressing issues in skills development and share best practices to advance TVET at local, national, regional, and international levels.