By Dr. Kipkirui Langat
The 47th WorldSkills Competition which took place on 10th to 15th September 2024 in Lyon France, is the world’s largest international skills competition which is meant to showcase 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 Competition highlights the critical role skills play in addressing global challenges, boosting economies and industries, and promoting excellence. It serves as a global platform to showcase the value of championing TVET, the importance of WorldSkills Occupational Standards, and the strength of the skills community in driving change.
The competition featured 1,400 competitors from 65 countries and regions in 59 skills areas and with over 1,300 experts supported by 2,500 volunteers. The competitors went through four days of tough competition in different skills categories, ranging from cooking, health and social care, floristry and cabinet making to 3D digital game art, cybersecurity, web technology and robot systems integration among others. The level of dedication and precision demonstrated throughout the week was a testament to the profound commitment these young professionals have to their trades, as well as their determination to showcase their nation’s worth on the global stage. The competition was attended by over 250,000 spectators, who included policy makers from across the globe, including President Emmanuel Macron who officially opened the event.
The closing ceremony which took place in Groupama Stadium, brought the event to an emotional close with the announcement of medalists in each skill category. Four medals were awarded in each skill: Gold, Silver, Bronze, and the Medallion for Excellence medals. The ceremony underscored the core belief of the WorldSkills movement where excellence is found in diversity of profiles, backgrounds, expertise, and techniques. Each medal, whether gold, silver, or bronze, is not only a symbol of excellence and recognition, but it also represents the essence of the WorldSkills Competition that united all competitors for the experience of a lifetime.
China emerged as the lead nation securing 187 points with 36 gold, 9 silver, 4 bronze and 8 medallions for Excellence medals, cementing its leadership in the global vocational skills arena. South Korea came second with 108 points comprising of 10 gold, 13 silver, 9 bronze and 11 medallions for Excellence medals, while the host France was third scoring 66 points with 6 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze and 24 medallion for Excellence medals. Switzerland and Chinese Taipei tied in the fourth place with 65 points each with Switzerland securing 6 gold, 6 silver, 1 bronze and 21 medallions for Excellence while Chinese Taipei took 2 gold, 3 silver, 10 bronze and 28 medallion for Excellence. The other countries at the top ten of the medal list included Japan, Brazil, Austria, Germany and Singapore.
Africa continent was represented by six countries namely Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Uganda and South Africa. Kenya had 8 experts and 8 competitors in mechatronics, welding, CNC turning and mechanical CAD, water technology, cooking and restaurant service. Although none of the countries from Africa made to the medal list, there are benefits associated with taking part in the competition. The competition offered real career experience as students are challenged to achieve a level of practice that is professional, in-demand, and expected, as well as to master communication and teamwork skills. This learning-by-doing approach helps contestants make a smooth transition from training to work and fosters the formation of professional identity, independence, and initiative. The WorldSkills methodology supplements the learning process with competition as an integral component. This encourages trainees to realize their potential and study hard. Skills competitions therefore become an integral part of the curriculum development, training, assessment and certification as experts integrate International Occupational Standards into the entire process.
At the sideline of the competition, Africa Union and AUDA-NEPAD convened a meeting of all delegates from Africa to discuss the position of the continent on the global agenda of skills development. This was occasioned by low participation of the continent in the competition as only 50 competitors represented the whole continent with a population of over 200 million young people between the age of 18 – 24 years. This under representation is a sign of lack of comprehensive strategies to empower the youth more so through skills and this may be a potential source of conflict and instability in the continent. The meeting resolved to operationalize WorldSkills Africa to support AU Member States to strengthen the alignment between skills development and industry through exchange of best practices, benchmarking and peer learning. The AU’s Agenda 2063 for continental development emphasizes developing greater links with industry and alignment to labor markets, with a view to improve the skills profile, employability, and entrepreneurship for youth and women, and closing the skills gap across the continent. The creation of WorldSkills Africa therefore plays a crucial role in achieving the goals and vision of the agenda.
Also, WorldSkills Conference took place alongside the competition where some of the world’s most influential thinkers in skills arena including educators, industry leaders, and policymakers gathered to contextualise and reinforce the value of TVET through strategic discussions. The theme of the conference was Moving TVET to the top of the global agenda with discussions emphasizing on issues touching on youth empowerment, well-being, global Issues, and technological transition. The conference also included Youth Forum which brought together 17 young leaders, aged between 18 and 30, and 13 representatives from TVET institutions who shared their concerns for the future and explore new ways to elevate skills to the top of the global agenda. The 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 was the adoption of a Pact for the Future by world leaders during the UN Summit of the Future which took place on 20th to 23rd September 2024 in New York. The Pact included a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. It also covered a broad range of themes including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance. The Summit brought together over 1,000 delegates from over 190 countries to 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.
The impact of WorldSkills Lyon 2024 therefor extends far beyond the event itself as it spotlighted the crucial role of vocational education in today’s world and in shaping our shared future. By celebrating excellence, the competition highlighted the incredible ability of youth to drive and change our world needs through their energy and dedication. The legacy of this event lies in every skill it has sparked and every future career it has inspired. As champions returned home with a renewed sense of pride, a wealth of life experiences, and new friends, they are also expected to impact and change the lives of their peers and communities.
The author is the Director General TVETA
E-mail: langat.langat@tveta.go.ke
