The cultural exchange programme was launched during Competition Preparation Week, connecting 62 local schools from across the Yangtze River Delta with WorldSkills Members.

The announcement of the pairings between WorldSkills Member countries and regions and participating schools marked the launch of One School One Member for WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. The event took place in Shanghai, China, on 4 February 2026 during Competition Preparation Week.

One School One Member is a cultural exchange programme which provides local students with an opportunity to learn more about WorldSkills and careers in skills. On the morning of the Opening Ceremony in September, each international delegation will be welcomed into their corresponding school, fostering skills demonstrations, cultural exchange, and dialogue among young people. Representatives from the paired schools will then visit the Competition, creating a dynamic, two-way interaction between schools and teams.

The launch event this week included the lighting of a traditional Chinese mortise-and-tenon block symbolizing the five continents. Francis Hourant, President of WorldSkills, Yang Jiaying, Executive Deputy Director-General of the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Executive Bureau, Jia Jie, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, Zhao Zhen, Deputy Director-General of the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Executive Bureau and Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, and WorldSkills Champions Trust representative Rachel Crawford all took part.

In her address, Ms Yang Jiaying noted how the next phase of the programme will include regular interaction between participating teams and their partner schools with the initiative serving as a bridge between schools, enterprises, and other stakeholders, to promote the value of skills and skilled professionals.

“WorldSkills Occupational Standards, industry norms, the spirit of craftsmanship, and inspiring skills stories will be organically integrated into both classroom teaching and extracurricular activities, sowing the seeds of skills-based success in young people’s hearts and igniting their passion for pursuing dreams through craftsmanship,” said Ms Yang Jiaying.

A pilot of One School One Member was organized on 30 January. WorldSkills Champions Trust representative Jingyi Lu, Rachel Crawford, and Abraham Mundengo visited the Shanghai Information Management School. The event, on the theme “Skills mutual learning and cultural integration”, was an opportunity for friendship and mutual understanding among global skills youth through hands-on practice, dialogue, and collaboration.

Following the visit, WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for Africa, Abraham Mundengo, shared his experience, “Learning to make dumplings was absolutely fascinating. What surprised me most was being able to infuse my own emotions into the process. Dumplings symbolize family reunion and the warmth of kinship. Every part of this activity completely captivated me!”

Rachel Crawford was deeply impressed by the friendliness and enthusiasm of the teachers and students, saying, “We had a fantastic time, and it gave us a profound understanding of Shanghai’s vocational education system. This was truly a rewarding experience.”

The 48th WorldSkills Competition will be held in Shanghai, China, from 22 to 27 September 2026 in the world’s largest event centre, National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) Shanghai. The event will feature 1,400 Competitors from 70 countries and regions, 64 skill competitions, WorldSkills Expo, and WorldSkills Conference 2026.