Shanghai sets stage for 48th WorldSkills Competition

The preparation week of the 48th WorldSkills Competition concluded in Shanghai on Thursday, setting the stage for September's gathering of talented young people.

The event, scheduled for Sept 22 to 27, will feature 1,400 competitors from 70 countries and regions, 64 skill competitions, WorldSkills Expo, and WorldSkills Conference 2026, according to the competition's official website.

A highlight of the preparation week was the launch of the "one school one member" program, matching 62 educational institutions from across the Yangtze River Delta with international teams.

This arrangement will facilitate cultural exchanges and skills demonstrations between visiting competitors and Shanghai students. Each international delegation will be welcomed into their corresponding school, while representatives from the paired schools will then see the competition.

"Inviting world champions into our classrooms allows students to engage with top-tier talent," said Zhao Hongsheng, vice-principal of Shanghai Information Management School.

"It will show our students how professional dedication and a global perspective can shape their future careers."

The week also featured a tour and city promotion event at the WorldSkills Museum, which showcased Shanghai's urban charm through six interactive exhibition booths and introduced 12 themed tourism routes designed for the competition period.

Pan Yu, deputy director of the museum, noted that the museum will deepen its integration with the event.

"As the competition nears, we will incorporate specific event elements into our exhibitions, allowing international visitors to appreciate the cultural value inherent in traditional Chinese craftsmanship," Pan said.

David Hoey, CEO of WorldSkills International, thanked Shanghai, noting that the city's "WorldSkills journey began in 2017, and China's commitment has remained unwavering despite global changes".

China possesses the world's largest vocational education and training system, and hosting the WorldSkills Competition will further advance China's skills development, Hoey said.

Mark Callaghan, director of event operations of WorldSkills International, expressed confidence in Shanghai's preparations.

"The preparations for WorldSkills Shanghai are going incredibly well," he said.

"The momentum has grown tremendously over the last 12 months. We have every confidence that Shanghai will deliver a tremendous experience," Callaghan said, noting that China's hosting of the event underscores its dedication to addressing global labor market challenges and attracting youth to skilled professions.

The competition's legacy will extend beyond Shanghai, with plans to create traveling exhibitions featuring elements from the WorldSkills Museum at future international competitions, according to Callaghan.