PURPOSE: The World Youth Skills Day, observed annually on 15 July, focuses on the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. WYSD intends to raise awareness of the importance of investing in youth skills as a means of promoting employment and sustainable development. The United Nations and its agencies, such as UNESCO-UNEVOC, are well placed to help address these challenges by reducing access barriers to the world of work, by ensuring that skills gained are recognized and certified, and offering skills development opportunities for out-of-school youth and those not in employment, education or training (NEET).
FORUM:""Skilling teachers, trainers and youth for a transformative future.'' World Youth Skills Day 2023. Let us unite in recognizing the potential of young people as catalysts for change and commit to providing them with the skills and opportunities they need to build a prosperous and sustainable world for all. Together, we can shape a brighter future where no young person is left behind. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #15July, #WYSD, #WorldYouthSkillsDay.
EVENTS: To observe the World Youth Skills Day 2023. On July 14th, 2023, a hybrid event, co-organized by UNESCO-UNEVOC and WorldSkills International, will showcase the positive impact of youth skills development on societies and economies, and empower young people to meet the challenges of an evolving global landscape through TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) from 10:00-12:30 CEST.
Panel discussion 1: Skilling teachers, trainers and youth to meet the changing demands of society and the economy. Objective: Explore promising practices in boosting the capacity of TVET teachers and trainers to respond to the emerging needs of societies and economies, and examine successful programmes that facilitate a smooth transition of young people from school to work.
Panel discussion 2: Delivering youth skills for employability, entrepreneurship and resilience. Objective: Showcase the ongoing work and evolution of the Global Skills Academy (GSA) mission since its launch on World Youth Skills Day 2020. The panel will primarily focus on demand-driven best practices in support of youth skills development to thrive in fast-evolving labour markets. The United Nations in Bonn and New York as well as dozens of UNESCO-UNEVOC Centres around the world have marked the day with their own special celebrations.
On July 17th 2023, a hIgh level event entitled ’’ Skilling teachers, trainers and youth for a transformative future.’’ organized by the Permanent Mission of Portugal and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations New York, in collaboration with UNESCO-UNEVOC, the International Labour Organization, the Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, with Member States, young experts, social partners, teachers and educators, and other stakeholders, will be held from 1:15pm - 2.30pm (EDT) at Ecosoc Chamber, United Nations Headquarters. This event brought together youth, governments, United Nations agencies, the private sector, and civil society representatives, to analyze the impact of current crises on youth globally and debate the options for young people to quickly adapt to the demands of an ever-changing world.
STATEMENTS: Statement by the U.N. Secretary-General on World Youth Skills Day 2023; July 15th.
PODCASTS: Let’s together youth, governments, UN agencies, private sectors and civil society representatives to analyse the impact of current crises on youth across the world, and explore how young people can quickly adapt to the demands of an ever-changing world. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: We believe #SkillsChangeLives. Through the power of skills individuals, communities, and countries are propelled towards a more prosperous future. Join us to highlight the importance of youth skills for the future.
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
ACTIONS
ORGANIZERS
In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day, to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. Since then, World Youth Skills Day events have provided a unique opportunity for dialogue between young people, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, firms, employers’ and workers’ organizations, policy makers and development partners. Participants have highlighted the ever-increasing significance of skills as the world is embarking on a transition towards a sustainable model of development.
Celebrate the power of technical and vocational education and training to transform lives & call for improved access to skills development for young people everywhere.
Engage young people in SGs; During this Decade of Action for the 2030 Agenda, the full engagement of young people in global processes is vital to generate positive change and innovation.
PHOTO COMPETITION
Are you an amateur or professional photographer with an interest in youth skills? Don’t miss your chance to enter the UNESCO-UNEVOC Skills in Action Photo Competition! Your photos should capture green and digital skills in technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
Entrepreneurial learning for TVET institutions helps TVET institutions to focus on what really drives entrepreneurial learning by providing the tools to assess the needs of the target group and the framework to explore the added value of an entrepreneurial learning ecosystem. Learn more about it.
The World Youth Skills Day is co-organized in parterships with the UNESCO-UNEVOC; The Permanent Mission of Portugal; The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, together with UNESCO, The International Labour Organization (ILO); The Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth; The World Bank Group; The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
With the collaboration of the World Economic Forum (WEF), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and the Worldskills, the Institute for the Future (IFTF), With the participation of universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions, Teachers/Educators, the Civil society organizations, the Public/Private sectors and non-Governmental Organizations.