- 2022Implementation
- 2023Implementation
- 2024Implementation
- 2025Implementation
Background
In the context of an interconnected globalised world, strengthening the European vocational training area is a declared goal of the EU. Promoting participation in the EuroSkills and WorldSkills vocational competitions is one of the Federal Government's instruments for implementing this goal. Participation in the competitions serves several purposes: these competitions are an important marketing tool both for Central Europe as an educational and business location and for the individual countries. At the same time, they help the participating nations to compare their own education systems with each other (benchmarking) and to learn about best practices (stimulus). The competitions are a national instrument for promoting talent (excellence in VET), as well as for recruiting new apprentices (shortage of skilled workers and apprentices). The companies that support the individual disciplines are offered a platform for exchange (networking); they learn so much about how training is done in other nations. Cross-border exchange is promoted within the framework of championships of the professions at European and international level.
Objectives
At EuroSkills, Europe's best skilled workers compete in their disciplines in the fields of crafts, industry, services and future skills for the title of European champions. In order to internationalise further the German system of initial and continuing vocational education and training (VET), the participation and organisation of the German national vocational team is supported by the Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWK).
Vocational competitions as a whole and the EuroSkills competitions in particular have become flagship events for VET and excellence in Europe. At the same time, they serve as a seismograph of education and training in the member nations. The participants are ambassadors of VET with a very high public impact, which can be used to address existing prejudices and improve the image of VET. This is seen as an important measure to address the shortage of skilled workers and apprentices, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Description
WorldSkills - the World Skills Championships - and EuroSkills - the European Skills Championships - take place alternately every two years. The WorldSkills Germany network promotes and supports national and international competitions of non-academic professions. Founded in 2006, the WorldSkills Germany association currently unites over 80 members. In addition to companies and associations, these include Chambers of Skilled Crafts and guilds or industry associations, as well as the BMBF and the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). The registration of the German national vocational team for a European and international competition takes place via WorldSkills Germany. These are determined in advance at national selection competitions and training sessions and registered by the respective associations and partners.
Funding opportunities are provided by the BMBF, BIBB and the BMWK, with a 80% of the costs for international participation usually covered by funding measures. Companies can assume costs for the participation of their apprentices as so-called skills sponsors, i.e. industry associations or sponsors. Through the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, WorldSkills Germany and its partners can also receive funding for training (e.g. travel and accommodation costs).
The trade magazine for talent management, vocational competitions and extracurricular learning is published by WorldSkills...
WorldSkills - the World Skills Championships - and EuroSkills - the European Skills Championships - take place alternately every two years. The WorldSkills Germany network promotes and supports national and international competitions of non-academic professions. Founded in 2006, the WorldSkills Germany association currently unites over 80 members. In addition to companies and associations, these include Chambers of Skilled Crafts and guilds or industry associations, as well as the BMBF and the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). The registration of the German national vocational team for a European and international competition takes place via WorldSkills Germany. These are determined in advance at national selection competitions and training sessions and registered by the respective associations and partners.
Funding opportunities are provided by the BMBF, BIBB and the BMWK, with a 80% of the costs for international participation usually covered by funding measures. Companies can assume costs for the participation of their apprentices as so-called skills sponsors, i.e. industry associations or sponsors. Through the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, WorldSkills Germany and its partners can also receive funding for training (e.g. travel and accommodation costs).
The trade magazine for talent management, vocational competitions and extracurricular learning is published by WorldSkills Germany.
WorldSkills Germany recognised national performance centres offer training and courses according to the concepts of the vocational competitions. Across Germany, 28 training and further education institutions already bear the title of performance or federal performance centre, and others are in the examination or certification phase.
In 2022, Germany was the venue for nine world championships for the professions: Federal Chancellor assumed patronage for the German national vocational team. Team Germany, the German national team for the professions, took part in competitions in 31 disciplines in 10 countries with 36 professionals. In total, Team Germany won three gold medals, five silver medals, two bronze medals and nine medals of excellence.
In September 2023, Germany's top skilled workers competed in 27 disciplines at EuroSkills Gdansk 2023 in Poland. Two further competitions followed in October and November 2023 with the European Vocational Championships in Wels and Salzburg.
The national team of 33 young talented skilled workers had a successful year 2023 in the skills competitions EuroSkills, European Vocational Championships and WorldSkills: Team Germany won a total of 24 medals at European vocational competitions, making them European vice-champion overall in 2023.
The Federal Education Minister welcomed and congratulated the German national team for the 2023 European Skills Championships at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in Berlin on 13 February 2024.
The German national vocational team took part in the WorldSkills 2024 in Lyon, France, from 10 to 15 September 2024, with 44 top professionals from industry, skilled trades and the service sector in 39 vocational disciplines. The Federal Chancellor took over the patronage of Team Germany. The team achieved: 1 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze and 22 medals of excellence for outstanding performances.
The 2025 European Professional Championships consisted of EuroSkills Herning 2025 and the European Skills Challenge competitions in Chur (Switzerland) and Salzburg (Austria). Team Germany was represented by 37 participants in a total of 33 disciplines at these three events.
The participation of the German national team at EuroSkills Herning 2025 (9-13 September 2025) was a joint effort between WorldSkills Germany and the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts. The team achieved: 7 gold, 6 silver, 3 bronze and 6 medals of excellence for outstanding performance.
By October 2025, 30 WorldSkills Germany recognised national performance centres offer training and courses according to the concepts of the vocational competitions and others are in the examination or certification phase.
Bodies responsible
- Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ) (since 2025)
- Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) (until 2025)
- Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB)
- Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) (since 2025)
- Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) (until 2025)
- German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH)
- Federal States (Länder)
Target groups
Learners
- Learners in upper secondary, including apprentices
- Young people (15-29 years old)
Entities providing VET
- Companies
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
- VET providers (all kinds)
Other stakeholders
- Social partners (employer organisations and trade unions)
Otros
Thematic categories
European and international dimensions of VET
This thematic category covers both European and international cooperation in initial and continuing VET, aimed at promoting EU VET systems as a European education and training area and making it a reference for learners in neighbouring countries and across the globe.
Expanding opportunities and increasing participation of VET learners, young and adult, and staff in international mobility for learning and work, including apprenticeship and virtual and blended mobility, account for most initiatives in this thematic category.
Apart from established and financially supported EU cooperation, VET opens up to cooperation and promotion of European values and national practices beyond the EU, which is becoming a trend. This thematic category also encompasses internationalisation strategies, transnational cooperation projects and initiatives – including those where joint VET programmes, examinations and qualifications are developed – and participation in international skills competitions that promote the image of VET. Using international qualifications – awarded by legally established international bodies or by a national body acting on behalf of an international body – in the national VET systems and recognising them towards national qualifications is also in focus.
This thematic sub-category refers to cooperation with other EU countries and beyond in preparing national teams for international competitions such as WorldSkills and EuroSkills and participation in those.
European priorities in VET
VET Recommendation
- VET as an attractive choice based on modern and digitalised provision of training and skills
Osnabrück Declaration
- European Education and Training Area and international VET
Subsystem
Further reading
Country
Type of development
Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2026). Vocational competitions EuroSkills and WorldSkills: Germany. In Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2026). Timeline of VET policies in Europe (2025 update) [Online tool].
https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/es/tools/timeline-vet-policies-europe/search/43947