Armenia Wins First Medal of Excellence at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026

SHANGHAI  — Armenia has earned its first-ever Medal of Excellence at the WorldSkills International competition, marking a milestone for the country’s national team.

The 48th WorldSkills International competition concluded in Shanghai, China, where Armenia competed in three skill categories: Cooking, Mobile Applications Development and Fashion Technology.

Armenian competitor Arsen Armenakyan, a graduate of the Yerevan State College of Vocational Education, received a Medal of Excellence in the Cooking category under the guidance of expert coach Arbi Gharakhani. The achievement marks Armenia’s first medal in the history of its participation in WorldSkills competitions, having competed six times.

Armenakyan also received the “Best of Nation” award as the highest-performing member of the Armenian national team.

Armenia’s other competitors also achieved strong results. Aramayis Hayrapetyan, a student at the Yerevan State College of Informatics who competed in Mobile Applications Development, finished just 14 points short of earning a Medal of Excellence. Luiza Zakaryan, a student at the French-Armenian Vocational Training Center who competed in Fashion Technology, fell 37 points short of the distinction.

Armenia’s representatives were selected based on the results of a national competition.

Participation in WorldSkills provides Armenia not only with an opportunity to achieve competitive results but also to strengthen international professional cooperation, exchange experience and explore new approaches in vocational education and training.

Armenia has been a member of WorldSkills International since 2012 through the National Center for Vocational Education and Training Development, which coordinates the country’s membership and related activities.

Armenia was also represented by an official delegation at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. Siranush Meloyan, head of the Vocational Education and Training Policy Development and Strategy Division at Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, attended as an official observer.

WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 also featured a three-day conference devoted to vocational education and training. Discussions focused on skills development, the impact of artificial intelligence on education, adapting vocational training to changing labor-market demands, expanding international cooperation, and other issues related to vocational education and training.