EARLALL joins UNESCO-UNEVOC World Youth Skills Day 2026 discussions on building skills for a shared future
15/07/2026
How can skills policies empower young people to navigate technological change, the green transition and societal challenges? This question was at the centre of the UNESCO-UNEVOC World Youth Skills Day 2026 event, where EARLALL joined international stakeholders to discuss the future of skills and the role of education and training systems in creating inclusive opportunities for young people.
Held under the theme “Skills for a Shared Future”, the 2026 edition of World Youth Skills Day brought together policymakers, education and training practitioners, youth representatives and international organisations to explore how skills development can support resilient, inclusive and sustainable societies.
The event focused on three key dimensions shaping the future of skills:
- Technological resilience: preparing learners to adapt to rapid technological developments, including artificial intelligence, while ensuring technology supports human creativity, learning and innovation;
- The green transition: developing the skills required to address climate change and support sustainable economies;
- Human-centred approaches for peace: strengthening transversal skills such as empathy, communication, leadership, creativity and social cohesion.
Opening the event, Friedrich Huebler, Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC, highlighted the importance of optimism and collective action in shaping the future of skills. Young representatives shared their perspectives through a video message, identifying the skills they consider essential for the future, including AI literacy, leadership, creativity, lifelong learning, communication, empathy, self-awareness and green skills.
Skills development as a pathway to opportunity
During the event, Borhene Chakroun, Director of the Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems at UNESCO, stressed that the world is undergoing profound transformations driven by technological developments and climate change, creating both challenges and new opportunities.
He highlighted the need to create opportunities for young people to develop and use their talents, noting that while talent is everywhere, opportunities are not. Ensuring access to quality learning opportunities remains a major challenge, with many young people still excluded from education and training pathways.
In this context, vocational education and training (VET) plays a key role in connecting learning with opportunities, supporting young people in acquiring relevant skills while responding to changing societal and economic needs. The right to education, as highlighted during the discussions, is also a right to lifelong learning—and investing in education means investing in people.
A shared responsibility for future-ready skills
The event also highlighted that skills development is both an individual investment and a collective responsibility. Oliver Diehl, Deputy Head of Division for Continuing Vocational Training and the European Vocational Education and Training Area at the German Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ), underlined that preparing skills systems for the future requires cooperation and recognition of the interconnected nature of today’s world.
Insights from a global youth survey presented by Grace Samba, UI/UX Designer and digital innovation professional from Kenya, and Nurit Davidowicz from WorldSkills Champion Trust, showed that young people see a combination of technical and human skills as essential for the future. The survey, conducted across more than 100 countries, highlighted barriers faced by young people in accessing skills development, including the cost of courses.
The discussions reinforced that while AI and digital technologies will increasingly become part of education and work environments, they should be understood as tools that support learning and innovation. At the same time, human skills—including empathy, creativity, communication and collaboration—remain central to preparing future-ready learners and workers.
The role of regions in shaping the future of skills
For EARLALL, these discussions strongly connect with the role of regions in building effective and inclusive skills ecosystems.
Regional and local authorities are uniquely positioned to connect education and training systems with labour markets, innovation ecosystems, communities and young people. Through place-based approaches, regional cooperation and multi-level governance, regions can help ensure that skills policies respond to local realities while contributing to broader European and global objectives.
EARLALL’s work focuses on strengthening cooperation between regions, promoting lifelong learning, supporting vocational education and training, and fostering skills policies that enable people and communities to thrive in times of transition.
The main conclusion from the event was clear: no institution can address the future of skills alone. Building a shared future requires partnerships across governments, education providers, employers, civil society and young people themselves.
Through initiatives such as the UNESCO Global Skills Academy and continued international cooperation, stakeholders are working towards a future where everyone has the opportunity to learn, contribute and thrive.
EARLALL remains committed to bringing the regional perspective into these discussions and supporting collaboration to develop inclusive, resilient and future-oriented skills ecosystems across Europe.