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: “Youth Skills for Peace and Development.“ World Youth Skills Day 2024. Reflecting on progress made and setting directions for future initiatives, the international community’s commitment to empowering youth with comprehensive skills for peace and sustainable development is crucial, particularly as young people are at the forefront of global efforts in shaping a peaceful, prosperous, sustainable and inclusive future. This ongoing commitment ensures that the educational strides we make are not only maintained but also adapted to meet the evolving challenges and opportunities of our global society. This observance will underscore the crucial role young people play in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. The world faces a multitude of challenges today, many of which affect the youth. Violent conflicts disrupting education and stability, a polarized online environment fostering negativity, and persistent economic inequality limits opportunities. These issues threaten not only individual futures but also the overall stability of societies. It is crucial to equip youth with the necessary skills for fostering a culture of peace, nurturing responsible global citizens, and promoting sustainable development to build a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future for all. On this World Youth Skills Day, let us unite in recognizing the potential of young people as agents of peace and commit to providing them with the skills and opportunities to address challenges and contribute to a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #15July, #WYSD, #WorldYouthSkillsDay.
EVENTS: At UNHQ; On July 15th; from 10:00apm - 11.30am EDT, to observe the World Youth Skills Day 2024, a hIgh level event entitled ’’Youth Skills for Peace and Development.’’ 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. This event will bring also together students, 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. The virtual panel discussion objectives are to: • Review effective practices and interventions to advance skills development that enables youth to contribute actively to peace and sustainable development. • Highlight youth’s contribution to the acceleration of the achievement of the SDGs especially those related to skills and decent work for peace and resilience, • Highlight the positive experiences and skills of young people that have contributed to a workplace free from violence and harassment. • Explore ways to foster social and emotional learning into education and training systems to equip youth with skills for empathy, resilience, and conflict resolution. • Explore ways to foster global citizenship education and integrate it in curricula at all levels of education, including TVET, to enhance understanding of global issues and empower youth to act as agents of change. More details on the event and Get involved!
From UNESCO; On July 15th, from 10:00 - 12:30 EST, a virtual event entitled ‘‘Building an equitable and inclusive future of work that fosters peace, global citizenship, and sustainable development.’’ will be held. Register to participate!
From UNESCO; On July 15th, from 10:00 - 12:30 EST, a virtual event entitled “AI Skills for the Future of Work." will be held. The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies across various industries is transforming the landscape of work. To prepare youth for the jobs of the future, it is crucial to equip them with the necessary AI skills. The Global Skills Academy will host a dedicated session on "AI Skills for the Future of Work" to address this pressing need. Register to participate!
Virtually; On July 15th, Join us at the HESI Global Forum On "The Future of Higher Education for Sustainable Development." to engage in discussions on education, innovation, and sustainability with a focus on AI. Register to participate!
STATEMENTS: Read the statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on World Youth Skills Day 2024; 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. We have the power to rewrite the narrative and shape a future full of possibilities for all young people. Join the call to action and Get the communication materials!
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.