Luxembourgers are taking on the challenge of WorldSkills 2026

The WorldSkills international vocational skills competition has officially opened in Shanghai. Over the next few days, 1,400 young professionals from around the world will compete in 64 disciplines. The winners of the competition, which will run until 26 September, will be recognised as the best in their fields at an international level.

Luxembourg is represented at the competition by six participants competing in five categories: aircraft maintenance, digital construction, landscape design, catering, and the installation of plumbing and heating systems.

The scale of the event presents additional challenges for the competitors. It is estimated that up to 800,000 people will attend the competition. William Cao, a competitor in the ‘Digital Construction’ category, notes that it is impossible to prepare in advance for such a high level of noise and such a large number of spectators, so he plans to use earplugs to help him stay focused. Meanwhile, the landscape design contestants, Bjarne Weber and Florian Theisen, have been set a specific challenge: they are to create an Asian-style garden. According to Bjarne Weber, this puts the Luxembourg team at a disadvantage compared to the Asian specialists, for whom this style is part of their everyday practice.

Luxembourg’s technical delegate, Claudine Thoma, emphasises that WorldSkills fulfils an important social function by demonstrating the value of technical education. The competition was originally established after the Second World War to address a shortage of skilled workers – a problem that remains relevant today. According to Claudine Thoma, vocational training should be viewed not as a fallback option, but as a fundamental element of the education system, essential for the development of industry and the economy.