Skills CoLab
Connect and learn from project leaders shaping the future of skills
The Skills CoLab is here! For the first time at WorldSkills Conference, 26 pioneering skills development projects from 20 countries will come together in Shanghai. Selected through a rigorous jury process, these projects are ready to connect with Conference participants. You can now plan your meetings and sit down with the teams for focused conversations.
Two days. Three sessions. Six rounds. Up to 936 possible meetings. Browse through all selected projects below and book yours now.
For Conference participants
The Skills CoLab is open to registered Conference participants.
HOW TO BOOK YOUR MEETINGS
Meeting bookings for the Skills CoLab are managed through the official WorldSkills Conference app, launching very soon. Stay tuned for updates.
- Browse all 26 projects, in the app or below, pick the ones you want to meet, and book your 30-minute meeting round.
- Each round holds six participants per project: first come, first served, and popular projects fill up fast.
- You can book up to six meetings across the three sessions. Two rounds are open walk-up with no booking needed, but your guaranteed seat requires a reservation.
- Please note that a booking is a commitment: project representatives have dedicated their time to meet you, and we expect you to be there.
- Booking closes 16 September. Do not wait.
Registration is still open for WorldSkills Conference 2026. Get your tickets now for the opportunity to meet and connect with innovative project leaders.
The selected projects
The selected projects represent a diverse cross-section of the global skills development community – from government agencies and international organisations to social enterprises, research institutions, and WorldSkills Members – spanning five world regions and addressing the most pressing challenges in TVET today.
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Simulation Centre
A tripartite ecosystem driving innovation through immersive training and specialized skills for the future workforce.
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WorldSkills Barbados Future Skills Camp
Where young innovators train for the future: Hands on, Minds on, Future on.
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Beyond the Podium
Measuring what actually makes skilled workers succeed.
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Physical AI and Digitalisation in Smart Manufacturing
Festo and Tsinghua University empower Youth for the AI and Digitalisation Revolution in Manufacturing
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Augmented Reality for Welding Education
Integrating AR simulation into welding training to increase efficiency, safety, and cost savings.
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LLM in Smart Transportation Education
Empowering vocational training with localized large language models and multimodal AI teaching assistants.
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Dress Up & Stay Home
Connecting secondary school students with WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 to inspire regional development.
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Towards a Global TVET Agenda
A multilateral initiative for TVET excellence, evidence and innovation.
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BQ-Portal – Global VET Transparency Database
Digital platform to foster transparency in VET and facilitate the assessment of professional qualifications worldwide
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Accelerating Change in Agricultural TVET (ACTIVATE)
Transforming Technical and Vocational Education Through Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Pedagogy for Equitable Workforce Participation
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AgriDrone
Advancing Smart Farming Skills through Vocational Education and Training
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Bridging Higher Education Industry & Workforce
Creating scalable models and industry driven learning ecosystems for future-ready skills in the era of AI
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FutureSkills Prime
Building India’s Digital Workforce
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Skill on Wheels
Mobile Smart Training Labs for Last-Mile Skilling & Green Livelihoods
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The programme of three classrooms
Integrated educational innovation programme designed to establish three specialized laboratories focused on Electronics, Robotics, and Prototyping
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Green Jobs for Kenyan Youth
Creating real opportunities for young people in Kenya’s growing clean energy markets.
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Coaching Cycle for Employment & Entrepreneurship
Vocational Training and Employment Support Services (VTESS) Project implemented by Swisscontact and HSLU
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AI WIM for TVET
Transforming occupational standards into AI-generated teaching materials for TVET instructors.
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AI for TVET Quality Systems
AI tools for the standard-setting and quality assurance backbone of vocational education systems.
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AkoVoice — Open Voice Assessment
Open voice-based assessment that works on a phone, wherever learners are.
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Revitalization of Ajrak with Natural Dyes
Reviving a 4,000-year craft tradition through sustainable dyeing, artisan skills training, and market innovation in Pakistan.
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E2E – From Education to Employment
SkillCompass: Connecting Serbian youth to career pathways through scientifically validated diagnostics and personalized counselling.
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Degree Apprenticeship Sustainability Projects
Driving innovation and participation through a WorldSkills competition at the University of Exeter.
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Play Your Way Into Career
A game-based approach to career adaptability for young people across TVET pathways.
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Skills Without Borders
A scalable communication credentialing model connecting skills training to global employability.
What is the Skills CoLab?
The Skills CoLab is a new format launching for the first time at the WorldSkills Conference 2026. Projects from around the world are brought together in a dedicated space where Conference participants can book structured one-to-one and small-group consultations with the project teams of their choice.
It is designed for purposeful exchange. Conversations are focused and every meeting is a genuine opportunity to share knowledge, explore partnership, and connect with the people behind the most innovative work in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
The Skills CoLab takes place on 23 and 24 September 2026, embedded in the WorldSkills Conference programme at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai.