World Youth Skills Day is celebrated on July 15th every year around the globe. It has been celebrated since 2014 after the United Nations General Assembly announced to celebrate the World Youth Skills Day.
The sole purpose of this day is to provide essential skills to youngsters around the globe so that they can get employment. The day helps in disseminating awareness about the importance of skills in getting good work opportunities.
World Youth Skills Day 2022 takes place at a time when all nations are still working on socio-economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it can serve as a platform for the economic benefits that nations can accomplish by training the young.
According to the United Nations, the objective of World Youth Skills Day is to “celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship.” Events in honor of the day tend to involve opportunities to provide young people with spaces for dialogue with educational institutions, employers, policymakers, and development partners. The upskilling of the youth has become increasingly important in light of the world slowly shifting to sustainable development.
This day is a unique opportunity for policy partners, employers, development partners, and vocational and training educational programs to dialogue with young people about the skills needed as the world transitions into a sustainable development model. Every year, the World Youth Skills Day encourages youth to acquire certain skills that will help them achieve personal success and fulfillment. The day also raises awareness about the lack of skills that prevent young people from working.
There is a growing concern that youth throughout the world are not able to find employment. There is also concern that youth are not able to receive the proper education or training for their future careers. The number of youths not in employment, education, or training is known as NEET. In recent years, nearly 267 million were classified as NEET. This number is also expected to increase to 273 million in the near future.
To help combat these numbers, the UN and other organizations are placing emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). This type of education prepares people to work as a technician. It also allows employees to take up a skilled craft or trade. TVET takes place at a higher education level and can interact with an apprenticeship program.
Workers around the world have realized some of the many short and long-term benefits that TVET has to offer. Some of these benefits include:
- Better chance of employment
- Higher earnings levels
- Increased job satisfaction
- Improved flexibility and mobility
- Lifelong learning
One more proven benefit of TVET is the positive impact it has on a person’s motivation, attitude, and self-esteem. There are also many social benefits of TVET.
Over its years of functioning, the United Nations has been an active part of the global polity. It has modified its functioning with changes in international relations: in the face of decolonization of the Global South, the end of the Cold War, the rise of the U.S. as a hegemon, climate change, refugee crises, etc. Today, the U.N. works to attain its 17 sustainable development goals.
WORLD YOUTH SKILLS DAY: THEME
The theme for this year is “Transforming youth skills for the future”.
WORLD YOUTH SKILLS DAY: HISTORY
The United Nations General Assembly declared July 15 as World Youth Skills Day in December 2014. The objective was to improve socio-economic conditions for today’s youth and addressing the challenge of unemployment. Since the inception of World Youth Skills Day, it has facilitated interaction among young people, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, businesses, governments, and development partners.
WORLD YOUTH SKILLS DAY: SIGNIFICANCE
This day is significant as it provides a better opportunity for employment, higher income levels, and lifelong learning to the new generation. The World Youth Skills Day encourages the elimination of gender inequality and ensures disadvantaged people have access to resources.
The ideal way to observe World Youth Skills Day will be to reflect, brainstorm, and debate how we can meet the skilling needs of countries like India, which has a rapidly growing working population.
HOW TO OBSERVE? #WorldYouthSkillsDay
Each year on this day, several youth events are held at UN headquarters in New York City and elsewhere. Events include photo, essay, and skills competitions, presentations by educators and employers, and panel discussions.
To participate:
- Think about the importance of vocational training for youth.
- Discuss with your children the skills they need to develop for their future careers.
- Learn about the many challenges youth face today in the areas of education and employment.
- Share this day on social media with #WorldYouthSkillsDay or #WYSD
WORLD YOUTH SKILLS DAY TIMELINE
January 1920
League of Nations
The League of Nations is founded.
October, 1945
United Nations
The U.N. is founded as a successor to the League of Nations.
July 15, 2014
World Youth Skills Day
The World Youth Skills Day is announced.
January 2016
S.D.Gs.
The U.N. announces the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
WORLD YOUTH SKILLS DAY: FAQS
- What are some crucial skills needed for the 21st century?
- Problem-solving, social skills, communication skills, information literacy skills, media literacy skills, and critical thinking.
- Which agency of the United Nations along with UNESCO promotes the World Youth Skills Day?
- World Youth Skills Day is promoted by the United Nations General Assembly along with UNESCO.
- What was the theme of World Youth skill Day 2022?
- The theme of World Youth Skills Day on July 15, 2022, is ‘Transforming youth skills for the future’
HOW TO OBSERVE WORLD YOUTH SKILLS DAY?
- Attend The U.N.’s World Youth Skills Day event. The U.N. organizes a panel discussion on World Youth Skills Day. Attend the livestream.
- Talk about it on social media, World Youth Skills Day is very important in the journey of upskilling the world’s young people. Talk about the day on social media to spread awareness.
- Offer guidance to a young person, if you’re an adult with a vocation, offer to guide young people looking to learn skills you know. It may help build their future.
WHY WORLD YOUTH SKILLS DAY IS IMPORTANT?
- It highlights an important issue: The day highlights a very important issue. The need to equip young people with skills is imperative.
- It’s an opportunity to provide support: The day is a perfect opportunity to offer support to the young people around you. There are many ways you can help.
- It’s an important reminder: An event like this reminds children that access to learning important skills is their right. That’s the best way to bring awareness.
According to the United Nations, the objective of World Youth Skills Day is to “celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship.”
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