The Embassy of the Republic of Zambia to France is pleased to announce that Zambia will compete in the upcoming 47th WorldSkills Competition, a global platform for excellence and development of skills for young professionals, scheduled to take place from September 10 to 15, 2024, at Eurexpo in Lyon, France.
The WorldSkills Competition is the largest Skills Competition in the world, organized biennially under the auspices of the WorldSkills International movement. Since its inception in 1954, the WorldSkills movement has united countries around the development of skills for young professionals, forming a foundation for economic growth and innovation. With a network comprising 89 members and connecting two thirds of the world’s population, the WorldSkills aims to inspire and support 100 million young people with skills by 2030. Through the various events organized, WorldSkills International tackles current economic issues and proposes concrete solutions by engaging young people, to demonstrate that vocational training paths are routes of excellence, professional success and personal fulfillment.
The embassy is honoured to host Minister of Science and Technology, Honourable Felix Mutati who, accompanied by his Permanent Secretary Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu, will lead a 27-member delegation to the Competition. Apart from Hon Mutati and Dr. Habeenzu, the delegation comprises 6 officials, 10 experts and 11 competitors. The Zambian competitors are set to demonstrate their excellence and know-how in 10 skills including information network cabling, bricklaying, carpentry, mechanical engineering CAD and concrete construction. Others will be competing in digital construction, aircraft maintenance, welding, hairdressing and restaurant service.
The WorldSkills Competition will draw 1,400 competitors from 70 countries, competing in 62 skills. Furthermore, 1,300 experts and 250,000 visitors are expected to attend the event, highlighting the significance of vocational skills on the global scale.
The event will unfold in two parts: the WorldSkills Conference from September 11 to 12, followed by the WorldSkills Competition from September 11 to 14. As part of the program, Hon. Mutati and International Dignitaries are expected to join the Competition Tour on 11 September for private tours guided by WorldSkills International. The Minister and other International dignitaries are expected to also engage with young people worldwide, discussing the future of trades and vocational education during the International Youth Forum. Additionally, the Minister will hold bilateral meetings with national teams to share best practices and address strategic issues in vocational training and education. This initiative aligns with Zambia’s commitment to fostering skills development and economic growth through vocational training.
Lyon is hosting the Competition for the second time since its inception, having hosted the first WorldSkills Competition in 1995.
Meanwhile, Zambia will host the next WorldSkills Africa Competition in Livingstone in 2025. This initiative, officially adopted in February 2024 at the 37th Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, is dedicated to advancing vocational education and training across the continent. President Hakainde Hichilema emphasized that WorldSkills Africa will serve as a strategic platform to nurture and showcase young people’s skills and talent towards the realisation of agenda 2063, fostering partnerships and knowledge exchange that transcend borders.
