Professional qualification is not enough

First World Youth Skills Day on 15 July

Providing young people with professional qualifications is essential and important, but is not enough in itself. The encouragement of skills and social competences such as creativity, the ability to work in a team and communication are of equal importance.

This is why the non-profit organisation WorldSkills Germany has taken the opportunity of the World Youth Skills Day on 15 July, worldwide announced by the United Nations and celebrated for the first time, to demand a diversified qualification programme for young people.

The aim of this World Youth Skills Day of recognition was to highlight the decisive role of young skilled professionals in tackling global issues and challenges and the corresponding importance of strengthening the professional and social competences of young people.

According to the United Nations, young people represent 25 per cent of the total working age population, but also make up 40 per cent of unemployed people.

According to the global My World 2015 survey, which influences also the sustainable development goals (SDG) for the year 2030, young people up to the age of 30 across all regions and levels of education rate education as their number one priority. Better employment opportunities rank third in their assessment.

"The World Youth Skills Day campaigns on behalf of young people so that they attain the professional and personal competences they need for fulfilling their dreams and for making a contribution to their community, society and the environment", UNESCO-UNEVOC (International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training) writes in the announcement on their website.