Namibia will showcase its technical and vocational education and training capabilities across 16 skill areas at the 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China, where 17 young competitors will represent the country from 22 to 27 September 2026.
The competition, held every two years under the auspices of WorldSkills International, is expected to bring together about 1,400 competitors from more than 70 countries and regions to compete in 64 vocational and technical disciplines judged against international industry standards.
The Namibia Training Authority (NTA) and WorldSkills Namibia announced the country’s participation on World Youth Skills Day, saying the event provides an opportunity to benchmark Namibia’s skills development system while exposing young professionals to global best practice.
The 17-member Team Namibia will compete across 16 skill categories, including one team trade, with competitors having undergone months of technical preparation, structured training and readiness assessments ahead of the international event.
Beyond the competition, Namibia will participate in the WorldSkills Conference, where Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp will join ministers from WorldSkills member countries to discuss workforce development, future labour market trends, technical and vocational education and training transformation, and the role of skills in driving inclusive economic growth and industrialisation.
Namibia will also form part of a coordinated African presence at the WorldSkills Exhibition alongside nine other African countries, where it will showcase the country’s achievements in technical and vocational education and training while promoting regional cooperation in skills development.
WorldSkills Namibia Technical Delegate Sens Shoolongo said the competition provides an opportunity for Namibia to measure its technical capabilities against global standards.
“As a global benchmark for technical excellence, WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 represents an opportunity for Namibia to showcase the capabilities of our skilled professionals. Team Namibia has undergone comprehensive technical preparation, including structured training, skills development and readiness assessments to ensure our competitors are equipped for the global stage,” he said.
NTA Chief Executive Officer and Official Delegate of WorldSkills Namibia Erick Fundula Nenghwanya said the country’s participation reflects efforts to equip young people with skills required by industry.
“Skills are the foundation of our future workforce, our economy and our shared prosperity. Our country’s participation in WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 supports efforts to empower our young people with future-ready competencies that respond to industry needs and global standards,” Nenghwanya said.
Namibia has been a member of WorldSkills International since 2011 and joined WorldSkills Africa in 2024.
The NTA serves as the national coordinating body for WorldSkills activities and established the WorldSkills Namibia Secretariat in 2016 to coordinate national skills competitions and the country’s participation in international WorldSkills events.
