Youth Talent Shines: Malaysia Records Best-Ever Performance At Worldskills Shanghai 2026
SHANGHAI, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s campaign at the WorldSkills Competition (WSC) Shanghai 2026 has delivered a landmark triumph for the nation’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, recording its best-ever overall achievement since first participating in the global event in 1995.
The national contingent won a bronze medal in Software Testing and 13 Medals for Excellence, achieving an outstanding two-thirds success rate as 14 out of the 22 young participants returned with global honours.
This remarkable haul marked a major leap forward compared to the 2024 edition in Lyon, France, where Malaysia brought home a bronze medal and four Medals for Excellence.
The Shanghai campaign also established Malaysian youth in the Top 10 globally across 11 skill disciplines, placing fourth worldwide in Rail Vehicle Technology, fifth in Electronics and Bakery, sixth in Digital Construction and 3D Digital Game Art, seventh in Fashion Technology, eighth in Electrical Installations and tenth in Welding, Cooking and Hairdressing.
This stellar performance on the world stage builds on a steady trajectory of regional excellence, following Malaysia's overall championship victory at the WorldSkills ASEAN Manila 2025 with 13 gold medals, and a third-place finish at the WorldSkills Asia Taipei 2025 with five gold medals.
The historic outcome reflects a well-structured, multi-year preparation strategy that combined intensive bootcamp training at local skill centers with exposure to international friendly competitions in countries such as China, Australia, Russia and France.
It also highlights the strong synergy among key government ministries, including the Ministry of Human Resources, the Ministry of Works (KKR) and the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, working under the National TVET Council to nurture world-class skilled talent.
The event also opened major strategic doors for Malaysia's future TVET development, securing key international industry partnerships in Shanghai, including an annual training sponsorship for 50 Malaysian TVET instructors from Chinese 3D printing giant Shining 3D Co Ltd, alongside training opportunities for GIATMARA students with Shanghai technology company Beice Technologies Ltd.
Furthermore, Malaysia demonstrated its digital innovation leadership at the event when an artificial intelligence teaching tool developed by the Centre for Instructor and Advanced Skill Training (CIAST) was selected among the top 29 projects globally for showcase on the WorldSkills Skill Collab platform and to be presented at the WorldSkills Conference held in conjunction with WSC Shanghai 2026.
Looking ahead to the next WSC in Aichi, Japan in 2028, Malaysia aims to broaden its footprint by competing in at least 32 skill categories, representing 50 per cent of the 64 skill areas contested, as it continues the pursuit of its first-ever gold medal.
WSC Shanghai 2026 saw the Malaysian contingent represented by 22 participants competing in 21 skill areas covering various technical sectors under the supervision of the Department of Skills Development and KKR.
The championship, which took place from Sept 22 to 27, brought together 1,400 young skilled professionals from 65 countries and regions, representing 64 skill areas.
-- BERNAMA
