WorldSkills – The WorldSkills competitions

Education and training change the world

WorldSkills competitions are professional championships for apprentices and students in vocational skills training. The responsible organization is WorldSkills International (WSI). Together with its members, partners and sponsors, WSI pursues the goal of inspiring young people for vocational training and strengthening the economy through education.

The concept

The talented young people taking part in WorldSkills professional championships are already winners! The first milestone along the way to becoming the world’s most skilled professional is a national competition. As proud representatives of their country, they then compete in regional competitions such as EuroSkills, WorldSkills Africa, WorldSkills ASEAN or the WorldSkills competitions. These international competitions are held alternately every two years. They are an unforgettable and inspiring experience for the young participants and an important starting point on their career paths.

The WorldSkills competitions draw on technological trends such as digitalization and green skills and reflect current developments in job profiles on the labour market. Before new professions are accepted as official competition disciplines, they are first presented as demonstration professions. In this way, the topics of Water Management, Industry 4.0 and Renewable Energies found their way into the competitions in 2019 and 2022.

Find out more about WorldSkills

More than 1,500 highly motivated young professionals compete for a medal in around 60 different skills.

Festo is a Global Industry Partner (GIP)

Festo was the first "Global Industry Partner" of the WorldSkills organization in 1991, and has played an active role in joint events and the future-oriented design of the competition disciplines ever since.

As a Global Industry Partner, we are a central link in the cooperation between industry, education, politics and NGOs.

We pursue these goals together:

  • Improve the training and recognition of skilled workers worldwide
  • Getting young people excited about technology through specific qualifications and training
  • Addressing skills shortages
  • Strengthening the economy and prosperity in society

Learn more about the Global Industry Partners

Festo Didactic as official supplier

All young participants in the World Skills competitions work with high-quality equipment officially approved by WorldSkills.

In the four skills

  • Mechatronics
  • Water Technology
  • Industry 4.0 and
  • Renewable Energies

Festo is the main sponsor. For more than three decades, WorldSkills has relied on state-of-the-art training systems and components from Festo Didactic.

Our training systems enable comprehensive qualification through the combination of theoretical knowledge and practical application. The learning portal "Festo Learning Experience (LX)" and the tasks on the physical training systems optimally prepare young participants for the total of six disciplines in the professional competitions.

Promoting young talented people in these skills

Skill #04 Mechatronics

Modular Production System (MPS)

Since 1991, MPS has demonstrated in national and international competitions that its concept, the stations and control systems and the corresponding functions provide exactly those features that characterize automated production throughout the world: the integration of mechanical and electrical engineering, and information technology for mechatronics.

Discover our training solutions for mechatronics and factory automation

Get to know skill #04 Mechatronics

Skill #48 Industry 4.0

CP Lab Industry 4.0

In 2022, the then new skill #48 Industry 4.0 celebrated its premiere. As a Global Industry Partner (GIP), Festo actively supported the introduction. With the individual and system workstation, Festo Didactic offers you a comprehensive learning system with which you can prepare participants for the competitive discipline of Industry 4.0 in a specific way with the best prospects for success.

Discover the CP Lab Industry 4.0 training system

Get to know skill #48 Industry 4.0

Skill #55 Water Technology

Training system Environmental Discovery System EDS

In 2022, Water Technology was held as an official skill for the second time. The EDS training system is a modular training solution that presents the core processes of a water and wastewater treatment plant in the form of a water cycle from the source to the wastewater treatment plant and back.

Discover the Environmental Discovery System EDS

Get to know the skill #55 Water Technology

Brochure on the importance of skill #55 for the environment and industry (PDF)

Skill #62 Renewable Energies

The wind turbine training system

Renewable energies started as a new skill at the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition. Festo Didactic provided the wind turbine nacelle training system as official competition equipment. This is a true-to-scale, complete model of the nacelle of a commercially used wind turbine. It represents a cost-intensive and real system, but at the same time it does not require a lot of space or large investments. The training includes real-life troubleshooting as well as operating and maintenance situations.

Discover the nacelle training system for wind power generation

Get to know skill #62 Renewable Energies

Skill #01 Industrial Mechanics

Mechanical Drives training system

Industrial mechanics install, maintain and repair a wide range of mechanical equipment. The Mechanical Drives training system familiarizes students with the devices, tools and processes used by mechanical technicians in industry to keep production facilities running. The Electric Drives and Pneumatic Drives training systems teach the skills required for the installation and maintenance of systems. Pneumatic and hydraulic components from Festo, such as cylinders and valves, are also used. The FluidSIM simulation software from Festo Didactic is an important digital component of the competition.

Discover the Mechanical Drives training system

Get to know skill #01 Industrial Mechanics

Skill #19 System Electrics

FluidSIM simulation software

Industrial electricians plan, mount, install, program as well as maintain and repair electrical and electrical engineering parts, components and systems used in systems and industrial technology. These may include alarm systems, electric doors, gates and lifts, and industrial machinery and systems. The leading FluidSIM simulation software supports the creation and simulation of circuit diagrams in pneumatics, hydraulics and electrical engineering not only during the vocational competition, but also during and after training.

Discover the FluidSim simulation software

Get to know skill #19 System Electrics

Learning like the world champions at Festo LX

Festo LX is our online portal for teachers and students to get started and create an individual learning experience. With a choice of numerous online courses, exercises, e-books and other learning materials for various technical topics, participants and trainers have everything they need to optimally prepare for the competitions.

With the real competition tasks on mechatronics or Industry 4.0 in Festo LX, you can train like the medal winners.

The exercises of these competitions are waiting for you:

  • WorldSkills Kazan 2019
  • EuroSkills Graz 2021
  • WorldSkills Germany 2021
  • WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition
  • EuroSkills Gdansk 2023
  • WorldSkills Germany 2023

Explore Festo LX