World Youth Skills Day, observed on July 15th, recognizes the importance of empowering young people with skills for employment, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. The theme for World Youth Skills Day 2024 is Youth Skills for Peace and Development. It highlights the crucial role that young people play in peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts.
As 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.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ in his message on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day 2024 said: “The future of humanity and our planet depends on young people. But it also depends on ensuring they have the skills to tackle today’s challenges and shape a more peaceful tomorrow.
We know there is a clear link between countries that enjoy high levels of peace, spending on education and school completion rates. Yet, today, almost a quarter of the world’s youth are not in education, employment, or training — with that figure more than twice as high for young women. Meanwhile, the financing gap for education in low- and middle-income countries stands at a massive $100 billion a year.
This year’s World Skills Day shines a spotlight on skills for peace and sustainable development. Around the world, young people are already working to build safer and stronger communities. They can make an even bigger difference for our shared future with training for the burgeoning green and digital economies, education to help break the cycle of hate speech and misinformation, tools to enhance mediation and dialogue, and so much more. Today, and every day, let’s work to transform education. And let’s ensure that youth have what they need to build skills for shaping a more peaceful, sustainable future for all.”
This year the World Skills Day marks a significant milestone to reflect on the transformative progress made in youth skills development over the past decade, but also the gaps that remain and the challenges that still need to be addressed, in the context of a constantly evolving world of work. The international community has amplified its efforts to bridge the gap between education and employment, adapting to rapid technological advancements and shifting economic priorities.
To celebrate this milestone, the Permanent Missions of Portugal and Sri Lanka to the United Nations, UNESCO, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the United Nations Youth Office are convening a virtual panel discussion 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.
The event will be streamed on UN Web TV on 15 July 2024, 10.00 – 11.30 am (EST).
This year, it also marks the fourth anniversary of the UNESCO Global Skills Academy (GSA), which provides high-quality training to youth worldwide. The GSA emphasizes Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a means to promote resilience and recovery in the post-pandemic era. In celebration of these two events, GSA hosts a session on “AI Skills for the Future of Work,” addressing the need to equip youth with essential AI skills for a sustainable future. This initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 8 with the following objectives:
- Highlight the growing demand for AI skills across industries and job roles.
- Explore the essential AI skills required for future employability.
- Provide practical guidance on developing and enhancing AI skills.
- Promote inclusive and equitable access to AI skills training.
Session organized by UNESCO Global Skills Academy for World Youth Skills Days 2024 on 15 July 2024, 14:30-15:30 CEST
HENNET’s X Space event on Youth and Mental Health in honor of World Youth Skills Day 2024 is also listed for the Day. More info on the following link:
https://x.com/HennetKenya/status/1812025251540115520
Some events planned in India:
On July 15, 2024 at 9.15AM tune in to an inspiring conversation with NCPEDP Executive Director, Arman Ali, on @airnewsalerts FM. His talk is around youth empwerment, especially for those with disabilities, helping them acquire the skills they need to stand tall and thrive.
https://x.com/ncpedp_india/status/1812389899888455955
Azim Premji University alumni webinar: Changing landscape of Skilling in India, 5:30 pm, July 15, 2024. This webinar discusses some of the important questions and concerns around skilling and the alumni will be sharing their personal insights and talk about current policy approaches, importance of life skills and about job placements.
https://x.com/azimpremjiuniv/status/1811056693108769222
IMPORTANCE OF APTITUDE TEST FOR RIGHT CAREER” by Mr. Vineet Raj Kapoor. Date: July 15, 2024 Time: 1:30 PM https://www.vidyadaan.net/index.php
A few quotes on the importance of the World Youth Skills Day 2024
“It is evident that we are living in a rapidly changing world where conflict is becoming increasingly prevalent, which impacts children greatly. We need to build their understanding and practice of peace. Here, education plays a pivotal role in not only empowering our youth, but also skilling and nurturing them to be global citizens and advocates for peace. At Teach For India, we strongly believe that our nation is built in classrooms, and to be able to do that, educators, students, and parents have to share this common belief in order to build leaders for tomorrow. On World Youth Skills Day, we aspire to create a future that is inclusive and diverse, providing young people with the necessary tools to build a peaceful India.”- Shaheen Mistri, Founder & CEO, Teach For India
“The World Economic Forum predicts a 22% shift in the job landscape by 2028, driven by emerging AI roles. The India Skills Report 2024 forecasts that AI will create 1.6 million new jobs in healthcare by 2030, while finance may see 1 million jobs displaced but also 1.5 million new AI-skilled positions. Manufacturing is expected to generate 5 million new AI-related jobs by 2030, contrasting with retail, which may lose 850,000 jobs by 2025 but gain 4 million new AI-centric roles. Hence, with the rising global demand for AI skills, India must undertake strategic initiatives to address these evolving needs.”- Sachin Alug, CEO, NLB Services
” According to a recent survey of over 300 manufacturers, 76% of organizations reported that a shortage of skilled labor hurt their profitability in 2023, with 35% defining the impact as ‘severe.’ Despite the commendable efforts of the Government’s Skill India Mission, challenges persist. We must equip our youth with industry-relevant skills to bridge this gap. By doing so, we can transform this challenge into an opportunity, creating a skilled workforce that meets the demands of the corporate sector. The potential for growth is immense. Skilled youth not only enhance their prospects but also drive economic progress and stability.” –Dhwani Mehta, Founder & Director, OpportuneHR
“More than 50% of the workforce is expected to be Gen Z in the next 5 years. So upskilling and giving them the right opportunities to grow is imperative. Investing in Gen Z’s upskilling isn’t about securing a talent pipeline for our company, it’s about building an unstoppable workforce for our nation. A generation equipped to tackle the challenges of the future, armed with the knowledge to solve complex problems, and the agility to adapt to unforeseen circumstances. That’s the power we unleash when we empower Gen Z. We’re talking about a future driven by automation, artificial intelligence, and a globalized marketplace. Gen Z needs the skills to not just navigate this landscape, but to lead the charge.” – Ankit Aggarwal, Founder and CEO of Unstop
“By equipping the next generation with a holistic skill set that encompasses all manner of skills from AI to professional development to leading inclusively, we can foster a better workplace and culture. Through upskilling initiatives and promoting digital leadership, we’re preparing youth for the jobs of the future while also creating a workplace that values work-life balance, diversity, and inclusion. We have accelerated the modernisation of the learning experience across BT Group, partnering with Degreed to deliver Digital Campus, a new intuitive, personalised learning experience enabling an anytime, anywhere opportunity for colleagues. This helps build a culture where learning becomes a habit for everyone with videos, courses, articles and podcasts. It also connects colleagues enabling social learning and sharing of resources and expertise across the business.” – Seshadri Venkatachalapathi, Digital Campus Lead, BT Group
