SZ youth make history with 3 gold, 1 silver at 47th WorldSkills Competition

The WorldSkills Competition, often called the “Skills Olympics,” provides a platform for young people with vocational talents to showcase their expertise on the global stage. Much like Olympic athletes, these skilled young people represent their countries with pride, demonstrating not only their technical abilities but also the importance of craftsmanship and innovation in today’s world.

(From L to R) WorldSkills Competition medalists Zhuo Jiapeng, Zhang Zihong, Huang Jiajie, and Chen Jun'an pose for a group photo after the competition in Lyon, France on Sept. 15. File photos

At the 47th WorldSkills Competition, which concluded in Lyon, France, on Sept. 15, four competitors from Shenzhen made history when they won three gold medals and one silver medal. These young men, averaging 21 years old, demonstrated extraordinary capabilities during the competition. However, achieving these results was far from effortless.

Pursuing dreams

Reflecting on his triumph in the Industrial Design Technology category at the 47th WorldSkills Competition, Zhuo Jiapeng, in an emotional moment, shared, “When I learned I had won the championship, I suddenly burst into tears — I couldn’t contain my emotion.”

Zhuo Jiapeng is seen during the competition.

Zhuo dedicated five years to preparing for the competition, finally earning the opportunity to compete and claim a prestigious prize.

Driven by a passion for drawing and handiwork, he didn’t hesitate to pursue industrial design at the Shenzhen Institute of Technology when enrolling. A large poster in the school featuring past winners of the WorldSkills Competition inspired him to strive for excellence and envision himself receiving an international award.

In spite of some initial setbacks, Zhuo’s diligence and passion molded him into a more skilled professional. Collaborative projects between his school and various companies led to the recognition and production of several of his designs.

To prepare for the contest, Zhuo underwent extensive training to enhance his skills in product investigation and analysis, design techniques, software mastery for creating images, and 3D printing, among others. Step by step, Zhuo excelled in provincial contests and national competitions, ultimately earning a spot at the 47th WorldSkills Competition.

Two other contestants from the Shenzhen Institute of Technology also performed exceptionally well at the competition. Huang Jiajie won a gold medal in Cloud Computing, while Zhang Zihong secured a silver in Graphic Design.

Huang Jiajie (top ) and Zhang Zihong are seen during the competition.

This year's event featured 1,400 contestants from nearly 70 countries and regions that competed in 59 events. China’s 68 contestants, who participated in every event, secured a total of 36 gold medals, nine silver medals, four bronze medals, and eight excellence awards, placing China first in gold medals, overall medals, and overall team scores.

A shifting role

“I feel truly honored to win the gold medal for my country,” said Chen Jun’an, a teacher from the Shenzhen Institute of Information Technology, who won gold in the newly added Optoelectronic Technology category.

Chen Jun'an is seen during the competition.

The Optoelectronic Technology event consisted of a 20.5-hour challenge comprising four modules that required competitors to assemble lanterns, design light belts, install screens, and control light. “The competition tests comprehensive capabilities, not only software skills but also hardware assembly,” Chen explained.

Unlike the other competitors from Shenzhen, Chen did not receive vocational school training. After graduating from the Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, he joined the Shenzhen Institute of Information Technology.

Chen saw the competition as a precious opportunity since participants typically have a single chance in life to compete. He prepared for the competition for four years and believes that his experience will help him train his students more effectively, particularly in a field as new as optoelectronic technology.

He noted that teaching strategies and methods differ between universities and vocational schools. “I gained more theoretical knowledge at university, while vocational schools emphasize hands-on skills,“ Chen said. Graduates from technical schools can immediately contribute to companies in need of skilled professionals.

Fostering world-class talent

A blueprint for nurturing manufacturing talent, released by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in 2016, highlighted a projected shortage of nearly 30 million skilled workers by 2025 in key sectors like new-generation information technology, aerospace equipment, new materials, and biomedicine.

Shenzhen, a bustling industrial hub, has a rapidly growing demand for skilled workers to meet the needs of industrial transformation. By 2023, the city had a technical talent pool of 4 million, which accounted for one-third of the workforce and two-thirds of the city’s overall talent pool.

Zhuo Jiapeng on the podium. Zhuo was the first gold medalist in the newly established Industrial Design Technology category at the WorldSkills Competition.

With an increasing number of Shenzheners excelling in high-level technical competitions, the city is working to integrate the training methods used for these competitions into regular school programs to cultivate high-tier talent whose sills align with international standards.

Ma Yan, deputy director-general of the city’s human resources bureau, said that by leveraging Shenzhen’s advantages, the city can focus on cultivating technical talent in digital and manufacturing sectors like cloud computing, industrial design, and optoelectronic technology. The city is also promoting the deep involvement of enterprises in fostering technical talent.

Luo Dechao, Party chief of the Shenzhen Institute of Technology, noted the school’s collaboration with Fortune Global 500 companies, including Huawei, Amazon, and Siemens, to establish 10 industrial academies that closely integrate teaching and industrial needs.

The institute was among the first vocational schools in China to establish a major in cloud computing. Amazon Web Services has provided students with lessons and assisted in training teachers.

Huang won a gold medal in the Cloud Computing competition at WorldSkills this year, while Chen Xingyuan, also from the Shenzhen Institute of Technology, won a gold medal in the category during the special edition of the 2022 WorldSkills Competition.

“The WorldSkills Competition represents international standards, while leading companies set industrial standards. If students can qualify for employment at these leading firms, they will meet the needs of the entire industrial ecosystem,” Luo said.