WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 adds six new Dream Ambassadors

WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 named six more Dream Ambassadors on the Youth Skills Day observance, expanding a campaign meant to promote vocational excellence and attract more young people to skilled careers. The group brings medal-winning experience in aerospace assembly, software development, floristry, pastry, hotel reception and restaurant service.

Why it matters: - WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 is using its Dream Ambassador program to spotlight skilled trades as China pushes digital transformation, advanced manufacturing and upgraded services. - The ambassadors are meant to show young people that vocational skills can lead to high-profile careers and national recognition. - The campaign aligns with the event’s theme, "Master Skills Change Your Future."

What happened: - The WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 executive office announced six new Dream Ambassadors on July 15, the World Youth Skills Day observance. - The new ambassadors are Wang Shuqun, Liu Xinru, Cao Jiahao, Zhu Lixuan, Yang Lingzhi and Wu Jiani. - All six are national master craftsmen or WorldSkills participants. - WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 introduced its first 10 Dream Ambassadors at a one-year countdown event last September.

The details: - Wang Shuqun is a senior aerospace technician and leads the crew for crewed spacecraft docking mechanism assembly at Plant 149 of the 8th Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. - Wang Shuqun spent more than 16 years helping solve technical challenges in spacecraft docking. - Wang Shuqun contributed to China’s first "kiss in space," the 2011 rendezvous and docking between Shenzhou-8 and Tiangong-1. - Wang Shuqun received the China Skills Award and second prize in the National Science and Technology Progress Award. - Liu Xinru teaches at Suzhou Wuzhong Technician College and won China’s first gold in Pâtisserie and Confectionery at the 47th WorldSkills Competition. - Liu Xinru shared her success story with the State Council Information Office under the theme "Success through skills" and appeared on the 2026 CCTV Spring Festival Gala. - Cao Jiahao teaches at Suzhou Technician College and won gold in Software Applications Development at the 47th WorldSkills Competition. - Cao Jiahao earned China’s first gold medal in that competition category. - Zhu Lixuan teaches at Shanghai Information Management School and won a Medallion for Excellence in Hotel Reception at the 47th WorldSkills Competition. - Zhu Lixuan posted the highest score in East Asia and earned China’s first medal in that competition category. - Zhu Lixuan also traveled to border regions in Yunnan province to conduct vocational skills training. - Yang Lingzhi teaches at Shanghai Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry and grew up in the mountain areas of Guizhou province. - Yang Lingzhi turned a passion for plants into a floristry career and won a Medallion for Excellence in Floristry at the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition. - Wu Jiani is a purser at China Eastern Airlines and leads a vocational skills master studio. - Wu Jiani won a Medallion for Excellence in Restaurant Service at the 45th WorldSkills Competition. - Wu Jiani set the best result by a Chinese competitor in that discipline.

Between the lines: - The ambassador lineup mixes educators, industry professionals and former competitors, which gives WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 role models across multiple career paths. - The selection emphasizes both competition results and public outreach, suggesting the campaign is aimed at inspiration as much as prestige. - China is framing skilled work as central to economic upgrading, not as an alternative route.

What's next: - WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 will continue using Dream Ambassadors to promote vocational education and skilled careers ahead of the event. - The ambassadors are expected to keep engaging young people and widening awareness of high-level technical and service trades. - Wang Shuqun said WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 is inviting the world to Shanghai and called on young people to "ignite the spark of skills" and turn big dreams into reality. - Wu Jiani urged young people to see vocational skills as a path to excellence and to write their own success stories on the WorldSkills stage.

The bottom line: - WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 is turning medalists and master craftsmen into public advocates for skilled work, with China’s talent pipeline and global competitiveness squarely in view.