The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and World War II (1939-1945) destroyed most of Europe’s industrial and agricultural base. As a result, the post-war years were characterised by social, political, and economic upheaval. In addition to the staggering loss of life, the economic toll was devastating. World War II alone cost USD 1 trillion by some estimates. Many lost their homes and had no jobs. The impact of rationing and food shortages on the health and well-being of the population, especially children, was severe. The continent needed to be rebuilt and skilled labour would play an important role.

Image: Guernica bombed, 26 April 1937 (reproduction) – Haynes Archive / Popperfoto / Getty Images

The 1950 competition brought together young skilled workers from Spain and Portugal in a pioneering act of international cooperation. Albert Vidal saw competitions as a powerful platform to elevate the status of technical and vocational education at a time when university degrees were considered the only route to excellence. From this modest beginning, a global movement would grow.

Image: A group of people are looking at a young person who is working with a machine. Francisco Albert Vidal is in the centre. Source: Albert Vidal’s family

Meet Albert Vidal

Among the 66 young competitors was Klaus Etzel, a 22-year-old glasswork apprentice from Wuppertal, Germany. His hometown had been heavily damaged by bombing during the war, and he was among 17 Germans selected to make the overland journey to Madrid in November 1953. Some were nervous about traveling through territory Germany had been at war with only years earlier. Upon arrival, they were graciously welcomed. Etzel won the runner-up prize in glasswork and made an official gift – a coloured glass window featuring his hometown’s coat of arms – which he presented to his Spanish hosts.

Image: An apprentice working with plaster of paris. Source: Klaus Etzel, Germany

Meet pioneers Frederick and Douglas Hill

Following the success of Madrid 1953—where former enemies competed side by side—representatives from participating nations began discussions to transform this informal gathering into a lasting institution. Over two years, delegates negotiated the framework for what would become the IVTO.

On 1 October 1956, the IVTO was officially created. The founding members—Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and West Germany—agreed to a set of published rules to regulate, coordinate, and organise future skills competitions.

The Secretariat would be based in Spain’s capital, Madrid, reflecting the country’s pioneering role in launching the movement. The IVTO’s stated goals were ambitious yet deeply humanistic: to stimulate and improve vocational training, facilitate the exchange of ideas between nations, and encourage young people to experience each other’s cultures.

These ambitions remain at the heart of WorldSkills today.

Micheál Ó Flanagáin (1910-1977), an Irish civil servant (pictured), led Ireland’s efforts to establish the IVTO and develop its constitution and rules. As the Irish Official Delegate until 1973, he was a key figure in the growth of the movement.

Meet a founding Member

The 1958 Brussels competition was a watershed moment. After eight years of Spanish hospitality, the movement proved it could thrive beyond its birthplace. Belgium, which had helped establish the IVTO two years earlier, welcomed competitors to the Institute of Arts and Trades.

The competition emblem—an asymmetrical five-pointed star representing the five continents—signaled ambitions far beyond Europe. Though the membership remained European, the symbolism pointed toward a global future.

Spain’s Lluís Fradera won a first-place trophy in Cabinetmaking. In later interviews, he recalled his childhood as the son of a doctor who became the first in his large family to choose a vocational path—a decision that shaped his entire life.

With technical and vocational education as the backbone of its rapidly industrializing economy, West Germany had taken a leading position among the world’s major economic powers—a position it has since maintained.

The competition was held at the Rheinstahl Wanheim and Huttenwerke Rheinhausen workshops. Foreign visitors toured Krupp Works, an important manufacturer of industrial machinery employing thousands of skilled workers. The visit demonstrated the connection between vocational excellence and economic prosperity.

A memorable moment was an afternoon reception at the Villa Hügel, once owned by the industrialist Krupp family and by then an arts exhibition centre. Guests were presented with shot glasses to toast new friendships—touristic excursions provided light relief while organizers waited for test results, which could take days to arrive.

Among the observers was a delegation from Japan, which was rebuilding its own economy after the devastation of World War II. Japan would join the IVTO that year—the first step toward the movement’s transformation into a truly global organization.

Willy Brandt, the mayor of West Berlin (and future Chancellor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate), visited the workshop floor and greeted a British welder—a powerful symbol of post-war reconciliation.

Ireland welcomed competitors to the College of Technology, Bolton Street, which had undergone significant renovation and investment ahead of the event. The workshop floor plan shows the careful organization required to accommodate the growing number of skills and participants.

The competition emblem was inspired by the “Tara” Brooch, a masterpiece of medieval Irish metalwork dating from the late 7th or early 8th century. Finely made of cast and gilt silver, the original ornament would have held together a cloak—its intricate craftsmanship made it a fitting symbol for an event celebrating skilled work.

Long-lasting impact: The Dublin competition’s influence extended far beyond the event itself. Some competitors went on to run large companies, others became entrepreneurs, teachers, and trainers at technical institutes, passing on their knowledge to future generations.

Ireland’s Patrick “Paddy” Carpenter won Silver in Sheet Metal Work and competed at two more events before embarking on a long career in teaching—a common trajectory for WorldSkills alumni who become the mentors of tomorrow.

The President of Ireland, Éamon de Valera, presented medals at the Awards Ceremony—a sign of the competition’s growing prestige. Japan took home 10 Gold medals, announcing their arrival as an important force in the movement.

As the new millennium approached, WorldSkills leadership recognized that the informal “club” model could not sustain continued growth. In 1999, they launched Vision 2020—an ambitious action plan to expand membership, formalize industry partnerships, and transform governance. The rebrand was the first visible step in this transformation.

The Executive Board launched a rebranding competition to create a visual identity befitting a 21st-century organization.

The St Gallen competition marked a new era of industry engagement. Recognizing that vocational excellence depended on alignment with employer needs, WorldSkills formalized relationships with major companies.

The medal from 2003 shows the organizational transition clearly: engraved symbolic figures of seven skilled workers on the front, while the reverse carries both the new WorldSkills brand and the old “International Vocational Training Organization” name.

Helsinki brought many changes which shaped the direction of WorldSkills for years to come. The Board recruited a full-time CEO and professional secretariat structured as a virtual office — enabling staff to be recruited globally, making the organization effectively open 24 hours a day.

Rules were reformed, new skills introduced including Beauty Therapy and Web Design, and older ones merged to make them relevant to the 21st century. The reforms built on industry partnerships formalized in the early 2000s, which brought corporate sponsors and expertise to the movement.

For the first time, the Global Skills Village was featured — a space for members to showcase their training systems and share best practices. China and India sent representatives — both would go on to become significant forces in the global skills movement.

Meet Jenny Shackleton

The Vision 2020 Action Plan had set an ambitious target of 50 members. By 2010, that goal was exceeded, with WorldSkills coming to represent nations employing the majority of the world’s skilled workers.

The most significant new member was China. Xiaochu Dai, Official Delegate, and Tjerk Dusseldorp, President of WorldSkills International, shook hands to celebrate China joining on 7 October 2010.

China’s membership recognized that technical and vocational skills could alleviate poverty and increase employment opportunities for Chinese citizens. Within a decade, China would become the dominant force in WorldSkills competitions—but that transformation would begin modestly.