Portuguese 
The World Skills Competition begins in Shanghai on September 22 and Brazil arrives with the largest delegation ever assembled, featuring 71 competitors across 64 skill categories, including a welder from São Paulo’s countryside who first touched a torch in a classroom.
Departure begins this Thursday, September 17, according to the Industry News Agency. The competitions will run from September 22 to 27 in Shanghai, China.
In total, according to the agency, there are 71 competitors, with 62 trained by SENAI and 9 by Senac. No previous Brazilian delegation has brought so many competitors to the competition.
Additionally, Brazil is competing in all 64 official skill categories this year, alongside the host country. These include carpentry, robotics, cybersecurity, renewable energy, pastry, and welding.
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The young man from Jaú experienced welding in the classroom, not in a family workshop
Felipe de Souza Rocha lives in Jaú, São Paulo, and will compete in Welding. According to the Industry News Agency, he had his first exposure to welding in a SENAI course.
However, this is not a small detail. Most welder stories in Brazil begin in a father or uncle’s workshop, with the trade passed down within the family.
His story began in a technical school, which is precisely what this competition aims to evaluate: professional training that converts into workshop skills within a few years.
“We are in rigorous training and I’m aiming for gold,” Felipe told the Industry System agency. The rest of his statement is what lingers.
“When I return, I want to stay here as an expert to help other young people realize their dreams, just as I am realizing mine.”
It has been 223 days of training leading up to the official opening of the competition
This estimate comes from the Brazilian organization itself. From the first technical congress of the delegation until the opening on September 22, 223 days of preparation have passed.
At that first meeting in February, there were 73 competitors and 66 experts from SENAI and Senac gathered to finalize schedules, equipment, and training methods.
In this context, an expert is a professional who supervises and evaluates. Each skill category has its expert, who translates the international regulations for the competitor.
Between one congress and another, the delegation underwent alignment stages in several states, with simulated tests mimicking the format they will encounter in China.
A new skill category introduces a Rio de Janeiro practitioner into the competition
Rafael Alves Scotti, a former student from Senac in Rio de Janeiro, will represent Brazil in Dental Prosthetics, a category debuting in this international competition.
“I am very anxious and honored to represent Brazil in this new category for the competition,” he told the Industry News Agency.
On the other hand, competing in a new category presents a practical challenge: there is no previous competition history to study, nor any former medalists to emulate.
Scotti mentioned that he plans to teach after the competition. This reflects the same intention as the welder from Jaú, sharing knowledge gained for the benefit of others, a common sentiment expressed by nearly all delegation interviews.
Graphic Design Competitor from Barueri Studies English Concurrently
Brenda Gomes, who lives in Carapicuíba and graduated from SENAI (National Service for Industrial Training) in Barueri, is competing in Graphic Design. She balances her time between technical training and English classes.
“Expectations are very high because we have the best teachers and equipment, so I want to achieve a good result,” she stated to the Industry System agency.
During the competition, English is not just an accessory. In the arena, communication with judges and organizers happens in the common language, and misunderstandings in instructions can cost points.
Brazil Has Already Won 130 Medals in 20 Editions of the Tournament
Brazil’s history in the World Skills competition totals 130 medals and 187 certificates of recognition, according to a report released by the industry agency.
A certificate of recognition is awarded to those who score above a certain threshold without reaching the podium. It serves as a benchmark to compare performance across editions.
In terms of medals, the country typically ranks among the top outside of Asia, and that’s how the competition has become a showcase for technical training here.
How a Trade Competition Became a Topic of Industrial Policy
Each occupation contested corresponds to a real job available in factories, construction sites, laboratories, or restaurant kitchens.
When the list of occupations changes, it indicates what the industry is hiring. The inclusion of mobile robotics, cybersecurity, and renewable energy is not just a decorative aspect.
In this way, the delegation’s performance becomes an argument for financing technical schools, laboratories, and training scholarships the following year.
What Happens Between September 22 and 27
According to international standards, competitors undergo practical tests over several days, with timed evaluations based on objective criteria defined in the international standards for each occupation.
In welding, this means reproducing specific joints and positions, followed by inspection. A beautifully crafted piece on the outside but flawed internally will not pass.
Subsequently, the delegation sets off in a staggered manner starting this Thursday. The first days in China will focus on acclimatization with equipment that is never identical to what they trained on.
What Sets This Group Apart from Previous Ones
It’s not just the size; it’s the coverage: competing in 64 occupations means having active training in all of them, including those that the country barely recognizes as careers.
From this perspective, the delegation is a reflection of what the technical schools have managed to build in a decade, showcasing names, cities, and trades instead of rhetoric.
One can understand why the welder from Jaú speaks of returning as an expert. He already knows that his training will become a method for the competitor in 2028.
From Jaú to Shanghai, with the Same Mask in the Backpack
The complete delegation was announced on September 16 by the Industry News Agency, detailing the participants by occupation.
Among all the numbers, what remains is Felipe’s statement about helping other young people. Coming from someone who learned the trade in a classroom, it carries a different weight.
And what do you think: which technical occupation does Brazil still regard as a second-class career?
