Opportunity for students to showcase skills in Shanghai

4 November 2024 Stephen Seakgwe 2 min read

Department calls on South African students to apply for the 2025 WorldSkills Competition

The Department of Higher Education and Training has invited young South Africans to submit applications for the 48th WorldSkills International Competition to take place in Shanghai, China in 2026.

The 48th WorldSkills International Competition will feature over 1,500 competitors from 65 different countries across the world, competing in 61 skills over a period of days.

To be eligible to apply, you must be a student in an apprenticeship or learning programme; you must be a student undertaking studies towards a qualification at a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college or a Technical High School, or a student undertaking studies towards a Diploma at a University of Technology for one of the 28 skills listed – see the poster below.

Once applications are closed and all internal processes are completed, competitions will take place at the provincial level and the winners at a provincial level in each of the competition areas will get an opportunity to compete at the national competition to take place at a date still to be announced by WorldSkills South Africa.

Gert Sibande Student Heads to France

Earlier this year, Ronald Mashego, a skilled bricklaying student from the Skills Academy and Artisan Development Centre in the Gert Sibande TVET College, went to the 47th in Lyon France where he joined other young skilled South Africans in the international contest.

The department highlighted that WorldSkills Competitions offer participants, not only South Africa, huge benefits and opportunities.

“It is about more than just winning and taking the prize home. WorldSkills competitions in general, including the WorldSkills International Competition, create opportunities for learners to become the very best version of themselves possible.

“They offer life changing pathway and opportunities that involve additional study and work experience. The WorldSkills South Africa (WSZA) program plays a critical role in building bridges between all stakeholders within the apprenticeship and artisan development arena,” the department said.

WSZA’s aim is to further develop the skills of the many young people who participate in WorldSkills South Africa events and to build their networking and communication skills through taking direction from industry peers and benchmarking their skills against those they compete within the industry, the department added.

Applications can be submitted through a link www.worldskillsza.dhet.gov.za/Applications