EuroSkills Herning 2025 through the eyes of a WorldSkills Champions Trust Representative
This year’s EuroSkills Herning 2025 welcomed nearly 103,000 visitors. Among them was Leyla Valiyeva, WorldSkills Champions Trust Representative for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), who brought her knowledge and expertise to support the event.
Leyla Valiyeva is a talented chef from Azerbaijan and the WorldSkills Champions Trust Representative for MENA. She was the first to represent her country in the skill of Cooking at a WorldSkills Competition, and since then she has been mentoring future Competitors and actively promoting her trade.
EuroSkills Herning 2025 was Leyla’s very first EuroSkills event; this time not as a Competitor, but once again in an important role. During her time in Herning, Leyla not only covered the Competition for WorldSkills Europe and WorldSkills but also guided distinguished guests through the event and took an active part in the Closing Ceremony.
WorldSkills Champions Trust
The WorldSkills Champions Trust (WSCT) is a volunteer group of past Competitors who are the voice of young people in the WorldSkills movement. They work to raise levels of engagement among WorldSkills Champions and promote active involvement in WorldSkills projects, initiatives, and activities.
WSCT Representatives receive training in areas such as media, content creation, and communications. They put these skills into practice at EuroSkills and WorldSkills events by taking part in meetings, press conferences, and side events. They also play an active role in promoting the WorldSkills mission to a broader audience, sharing the values behind the competitions and highlighting the crucial importance of technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
Champion-guided tour
Visitors to EuroSkills Herning 2025 included students, teachers, family members and supporters of the Competitors, as well as professionals involved in government and TVET management.
One of Leyla’s key roles during the event was to take part in high-level meetings and guide distinguished guests through the competition areas. She shared the mission and values of WorldSkills, helping policymakers and visitors alike experience the energy and dedication of the young professionals competing.
Over the course of the event, Leyla guided four official tours. She welcomed delegations from the Centres of Vocational Excellence, accompanied the EU Directors General for Vocational Education and Training, and later led a tour for EU Ministers. These visits brought together ministers responsible for vocational education and training, senior decision-makers, international business leaders and education officials from across Europe.
As she guided VIP guests through the exhibition halls, Leyla provided insights into the various competitions and Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE), giving them a first-hand view of Europe’s top young talent in action. Her participation not only highlighted the importance of WorldSkills competitions but also helped to inspire decision-makers about the value of vocational education and the next generation of skilled professionals.
From one Champion to the next
During the EuroSkills Herning 2025 Closing Ceremony, Leyla was invited by the event presenters to share a few words. This gave her the opportunity to personally welcome the new winners and reflect on her journey as a WorldSkills Champion.
In her speech, Leyla shared the impact WorldSkills has had on her: "WorldSkills has changed my life. The Leyla who competed three years ago wasn’t the same Leyla standing here tonight. She’s more confident, she’s sure of her skills, and she knows she can. Being here is like reliving all the emotions together with the Competitors, so I want to say to them that everybody did a great job. We’ve been watching very closely and we’re very proud of each and every one of you."
Asked how winning a medal had influenced her career, Leyla explained: "Definitely, it was a big milestone on my résumé. When I came back from the Competition, I started being invited to many speaking opportunities. I participated in panels and visited TVET schools to show other students that this organisation [WorldSkills] exists and that they can be a part of it. This experience aided me in landing my current job as a private chef at the Swiss Embassy in Azerbaijan."
Her message was a perfect reminder of the dedication, passion, and resilience required to excel in a skill, and it highlighted the importance of supporting and encouraging the next generation of Champions. The moment truly captured the spirit of WorldSkills, connecting past, present, and future talent in a celebration of skill, learning, and achievement.
Follow Champions Steps
"One of my greatest takeaways was the opportunity to expand my global network, especially by connecting with delegates, members of the Secretariat, and fellow Champions," Leyla reflected after the event. "I also felt privileged to guide European policymakers through the venue and to engage in meaningful exchanges about the future of TVET. These experiences reminded me how powerful skills competitions are in shaping opportunities, building bridges, and inspiring the next generation of skilled young people."
You can find the content Leyla has created so far on the WorldSkills and WorldSkills Europe social media channels. And there’s a lot of it! The material is incredibly diverse: from day-of-competition reports, to interviews with Competitors, and conversations with the organisers.
If you want to see the world of WorldSkills through the eyes of former Competitors, follow the activities of the WorldSkills Champions Trust on the WorldSkills channels. Each Representative brings a unique and fascinating perspective, and we can’t wait to see what they will share next.