Lao PDR takes inspiration from global best practice at the WorldSkills Competition and Conference 2026

The competitions are over, the medals have been awarded, the conference has concluded and, after an exhilarating few days of thinking and talking about all things Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)-related, the Lao PDR delegation has returned to Vientiane to reflect on what it saw and learned at the WorldSkills Competition and Conference 2026, which ran from 22 to 27 September in Shanghai, China. While Lao PDR is not a member of the WorldSkills organisation and did not have competitors taking part, the competition offered insights into where industry is heading with, for example, emerging digital and sustainability-related skills and industries showcased alongside more traditional skills and occupations.

Running in tandem with the competition, the WorldSkills Conference 2026, held at Shanghai’s National Exhibition and Convention Centre, brought together over 50 ministerial-level officials and around 2,000 representatives from governments, international organisations, vocational education and training institutions and enterprises to explore collaboratively how skills development can respond to changing economies and create more opportunities for young people across the world. With the support of the Skills for tourism, agriculture and forestry (STAF) programme, three representatives from the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports' Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training attended the event, giving Lao PDR an opportunity to network, connect and explore collaboration opportunities with other vocational skills development experts, educators and policy-makers, as well as industry specialists, from across the globe.

The role of the private sector in TVET – a major focus of discussions at the conference – resonated strongly with the Lao delegates as the Ministry considers how to scale up an Education-Enterprise Engagement approach that it has developed and piloted with the support of the STAF programme. 

Representatives from companies and industry sectors shared their experiences of developing skilled talent and how of strengthening collaboration between education and industry. Mr Wen TAO, Chief Executive Officer of Neutech Group, said that companies should not be seen only as employers waiting at the end of the education and training process. Instead, they should be involved from the outset in shaping what people learn and how they are trained. “Skills innovation cannot be achieved by any single stakeholder. It requires coordinated efforts from all sides, ” he said.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) was another hot topic of discussion. Panel discussions examined the potential of AI to strengthen TVET and offered concrete insights into how AI is transforming workforce development within innovation ecosystems. Dr Oliver NIESE, Senior Vice President for AI, Digitalisation and Education at Festo Group, suggested that investment and resources should be channelled into TVET so that teachers, trainers and curricula can keep up with the pace of change. He said, “Are training systems and teachers prepared? The short answer is no. If you use AI, you need to understand how it works, and you need to understand its limitations.” 

As it strives to operationalise its National TVET Development Fund with the support of the STAF programme, the Lao delegation was inspired by a roundtable discussion on unlocking investment through innovative financing strategies for TVET, which drew on best practice case studies from Ireland, India and Nepal to explore different financing mechanisms that mobilise resources, engage the private sector and make training more responsive to industry demands.

Conference delegates also had the opportunity to discover more about China’s impressive TVET system through participation in a range of field trips, including a visit to SAIC Motors Passenger Vehicle Company where they followed a vehicle’s journey from design to assembly; the China Eastern Airlines Technology Research and Development Centre, which allowed them to step into flight simulators, cabin service training environments and aircraft maintenance workshops; the Shanghai Shentong Metro Group Longyang Training Base, where instructors demonstrated train simulation technology; and Shanghai Nanhu Vocational and Technical College, which gave delegates a closer look at how a new generation of instructors is preparing students in fields such as digital skills, 5G, AI, smart healthcare, cruise service and automotive technology.

At its close, the WorldSkills Conference 2026 Shanghai Declaration, entitled “Skills for an empowered future : Building an inclusive development landscape”, was presented, outlining a collective commitment to champion skills as the building blocks of sustainable human development. In his closing speech, Mr David HOEY, Chief Executive Officer of WorldSkills International, encouraged “every government, every institution, every educator and every partner to act on what they have seen and heard this week. The Shanghai Declaration carries the spirit of this Conference into commitments we all can take home with us — investing in people, raising the value and visibility of skills, and making sure every young person has the chance to build their future through them.”

The six-year (2023–2028) STAF programme is co-financed by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Switzerland and the European Union, and implemented by the Ministry of Education and Sports together with LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.