WorldSkills Conference 2024 and WorldSkills Lyon 2024 are two powerful global platforms showcasing the power of skills. The Competition celebrates skills excellence through its 62 skill competitions, while the Conference gathers educators, industry leaders, and policymakers to contextualize and reinforce the value of TVET through strategic discussions.
Laurence Gates, a member of the WorldSkills Board and the Conference Coalition, reinforced this connection in a recent interview. She said, “WorldSkills Conferences and WorldSkills Competitions are – and must be – intrinsically linked. We understand that the Competition can often be the primary focus for our Members, but we feel the Conference should be seen as an essential platform to discuss what skills excellence means when applied to the real world.”
A key bridge between the Competition and Conference is the participation of WorldSkills Members, Global Partners, and WorldSkills Champions Trust representatives across both events.
WorldSkills Members, representing almost 90 countries and regions, have an opportunity to offer their unique perspectives to the Conference, enriching discussions with ideas developed from years of Competition experience. These insights ensure that emerging TVET strategies are reflective of on-the-ground realities.
Laurence is keen to encourage Members to play an active role in both, saying, “We want Members to take away valuable insights and learning opportunities to help their young Competitors adapt to the changing skills landscape – and thrive on it! We also want them to stay competitive in their own markets. Recognizing how different each Member’s needs are, we have deliberately planned sessions and topics that everyone can benefit from, covering a broad range of themes and profiles with a good representation of perspectives and geographies.”
WorldSkills Global Partners play a vital role across both events. Samsung, Autodesk, Stanley Black & Decker, and Festo are all deeply involved in the delivery of the skill competitions, providing tools and equipment for the workshops and adding their insights to Test Projects. Insights that they will also bring to Conference panels and discussions.
Elfi Klumpp, who is Head of Partnership Development Global Education at Festo Didactic, says, “WorldSkills Conference 2024 is a much-needed platform for industry leaders to collaborate with educators, governments, and young people in addressing the evolving skill requirements across various sectors. By sharing our expertise and learning from others, we can collectively develop innovative solutions to bridge skills gaps and empower the workforce of tomorrow.”
As former Competitors, WorldSkills Champions Trust representatives bring firsthand experience of competing to the Conference discussions. Shae White, WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for the Americas and a WorldSkills Champion in Cooking, is a panelist in the Conference session “From Competition to transformation: How WorldSkills can advance TVET in low- and middle-income countries”.
Shae believes that there should be more platforms where young people can have a voice, saying, “Young people are more likely to listen to other young people because our perspectives are the same. Our experiences are similar. So having this space is really important, not just to ensure that you have a voice, but to share our experiences and see how we can make it easier for future generations.”
For those Conference delegates who have not yet soaked up the excitement and adrenalin of a WorldSkills Competition, they will be invited on a behind-the-scenes tour. The tour is intended to give context to the Conference discussions, allowing policymakers, educators, and industry leaders to witness skills excellence in action. This direct exposure to the Competition enhances the quality and relevance of Conference outcomes.
With just days to go until WorldSkills Conference 2024 and WorldSkills Lyon 2024 begin, the connection between the two is clear. Both will benefit from a diverse representation of voices and ideas, both will be powerful platforms for skills excellence, and both will allow the skills community to profile TVET on the world stage.