EuroSkills Competitions
EuroSkills is the biggest vocational education and skills excellence event in Europe.
Held every two years and organised by WorldSkills Europe together with 33 Member Countries, EuroSkills brings together hundreds of young people under the age of 25 from across the continent to compete for the chance to become the Best in Europe in their chosen skill or profession.
Skills and professions featured
At EuroSkills. there are competitions and demonstrations in 40-45 skills, which are grouped into six industry sectors:
- Construction and Building Technology.
- Creative Arts and Fashion.
- Information and Communication Technology.
- Manufacturing and Engineering Technology.
- Service Industry.
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Transportation and Logistics.
The Competition
EuroSkills Competitors represent the best of their peers and are selected to compete at EuroSkills after taking part in national competitions held in their respective countries.
At EuroSkills, they must demonstrate technical abilities both individually and collectively to execute specific tasks for the skills they are studying and will perform in the future.
Competitors are challenged to complete a test project or series of projects within strict timeframes and conditions over the course of three days. The projects demand complex technical knowledge and capabilities that the young people are learning and mastering through their studies and workplace training.
Ceremonies, Medals, and Awards
EuroSkills takes place over five days, beginning with an Opening Ceremony, followed by three days of skills competitions.
The Competition concludes with a spectacular Closing Ceremony where awards including Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Best of Nation medals, and the prestigious Jos de Goey Best in Europe Award are presented.
WorldSkills Europe Experts
Around 500 WorldSkills Europe Experts from industry and the education sector accompany the Competitors at EuroSkills.
WorldSkills Europe Experts are a critical part of the EuroSkills eco-system. Each of the skill competitions at EuroSkills requires a dedicated team of specialist Experts, Workshop Managers and other volunteers in order to be staged.
WorldSkills Europe Experts represent their Member country, sharing their experience in a skill, profession, or technology.
Impact of EuroSkills Competitions
EuroSkills Competitions are an integral and embedded part of the TVET and skills eco-system. They bring together industry leading companies, the best education and training institutions, and the most talented young people – in a way that no other initiative comes close to matching.
Through this collaborative approach, businesses, educators and decision-makers are able to create a pathway to professional excellence, which benefits everyone.
Benefits for Competitors
EuroSkills Competitions transform the lives and skills of young people. In addition to having the opportunity to compete against the best young skilled professionals from across Europe, Competitors gain access to highly specialised additonal training with WorldSkills Europe Experts for up to two years ahead of the Competition that they would never normally receive.
Competitors also benefit from being able to use the latest equipment, tools, and technology provided by Sponsors and Partners of WorldSkills Europe.
EuroSkills Champions use their competition experience as a springboard to even greater professional success in the future.
Europass
For their participation in EuroSkills, in collaboration with Cedefop, all EuroSkills Champions can obtain a Europass Mobility certificate to support their future careers.
Europass is an initiative which aims to help young people make their skills and qualifications recognised within Europe.
Benefits for students and other young people
It is not only Competitors who benefit from EuroSkills. When WorldSkills Europe Experts deliver Competitor training at TVET institutions or employer facilities, other students get to witness, learn and be inspired.
Visitors to EuroSkills are able to witness the young professionals showcasing their skills as well as having the opportunity to try hands-on job-related skills at the many ‘Try-a-Skill’ demonstrations.
The tens of thousands of school-aged young people who visit EuroSkills are encouraged to turn their passions into a profession.
Benefits for Experts and TVET training institutions
WorldSkills Europe Experts deliver Competitor training at TVET institutions and employer facilities all over Europe, where other students get to witness, learn and be inspired.
Education and training institutions get to work with industry partners to help shape the WorldSkills Occupational Standards, which can be used to benchmark the quality of TVET systems in their own countries and organisations.
These partnerships provide the opportunity and impetus for Members to adapt and implement changes to teaching and training methods, working together with governments on a national level to drive up standards of education that will contribute to industry and economic growth.
Benefits for employers
Through their involvement in EuroSkills, employers and businesses gain access to the most promising talent, who they can work with to ensure that their skills are world-class and industry-ready from day one of employment.
Employers also collaborate with TVET institutions to provide the industry insight and expertise that is essential for preparing the young talent of today for the jobs of tomorrow.
WorldSkills Impact Report
In 2022, 53 WorldSkills Members shared data and stories about the impact skilled young people are having in their countries and regions.
We learned how the WorldSkills movement is helping young people reach further, by improving their access to skills and showing them what’s possible.
The WorldSkills movement is also helping educators, industries, and governments raise the bar higher, by setting global standards that inspire everyone to excel at skills and be the best they can be.
Access the WorldSkills Impact Report at: worldskills.org/media/news/skills-change-worlds.
Watch highlights from EuroSkills Gdańsk 2023
Upcoming EuroSkills Competitions
All EuroSkills Competitions
| No. | Year | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | 2029 | Geneva, Switzerland |
| 10 | 2027 | Düsseldorf, Germany |
| 9 | 2025 | Herning, Denmark |
| 8 | 2023 | Gdańsk, Poland |
| 7 | 2021 | Graz, Austria |
| 6 | 2018 | Budapest, Hungary |
| 5 | 2016 | Gothenburg, Sweden |
| 4 | 2014 | Lille, France |
| 3 | 2012 | Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium |
| 2 | 2010 | Lisbon, Portugal |
| 1 | 2008 |
Rotterdam, The Netherlands |
Results from past EuroSkills Competitions
Results from EuroSkills Gothenburg 2016 and onwards are available at the link below.
Europass
For their participation in Europe’s biggest skills excellence event, and in collaboration with Cedefop, all EuroSkills Champions can obtain a Europass Mobility certificate to support their future careers.
Europass is an initiative which aims to help young people make their skills and qualifications recognised within Europe.
National skills competitions in Member countries
In each WorldSkills Europe Member country, regional and national skills competitions are organised to promote the power of skills and to find the champions who will compete for their nation on the international stage. For more information about national skills competitions please visit our Members page and events page.