Ningbo

The first World Skills Youth Camp was successfully held in Ningbo from December 1 to 5, bringing together young participants from across the globe to promote skills development, innovation and cross-cultural exchange.

Co-organised by the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE) and Ningbo Polytechnic University, the camp was held under the theme “Youth Skills, Green Future: Together Shall We Find a Way.” A total of 60 youth representatives from 28 countries, including Germany, Spain, Italy, Russia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Ethiopia, participated in the programme.

The curriculum placed a strong focus on innovation methodology and practical learning. In a key session, instructor Wang Yi introduced a three-stage innovation framework—Imagining & Connecting, Filtering & Expanding, and Verifying & Extending—designed to help participants transform creative ideas into practical solutions.

Sharing her experience, Ida Goldacker from Germany said the session helped her understand innovation as a structured and learnable process rather than a purely intuitive one. “Innovation is not just inspiration—it follows a logical path that can be broken down step by step,” she said.

To strengthen the link between theory and industry practice, participants visited the Zeekr Smart Factory in Meishan, where they observed advanced automation and intelligent manufacturing systems. Jean Charles Dondo from Zimbabwe described the visit as a glimpse into the future of industry, calling the factory “a microcosm of tomorrow’s manufacturing ecosystem.”

Cultural exchange formed a key component of the programme. Participants visited landmarks such as the Ningbo Museum and Tianyi Pavilion, experienced traditional lacquer art, and jointly created a lacquer painting titled “Lotus • Connection,” which was presented to the host university. At the closing ceremony, participants performed the song “You and Me” in both Chinese and English.

Reflecting on the experience, Dilnaz Turdalina from Kazakhstan said the collective performance symbolised unity beyond borders. “Singing together created a sense of warmth and connection that went beyond nationality,” she said.

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Through academic lectures, industry exposure, cultural immersion and hands-on workshops, the camp deepened participants’ understanding of vocational education and industrial development while fostering international cooperation. Organisers said the initiative contributes to nurturing globally minded, multi-skilled youth and supports the broader goals of sustainable development.