EuroSkills Herning 2025 to increase focus on diversity in vocational education thanks to new funding from Villum Foundation

The Villum Foundation has granted 17 million DKK (2.28 million Euros) to EuroSkills Herning 2025 to support a collaboration with Danish diversity and inclusion organisation, Divérs.

The partnership will enhance the focus on diversity within vocational education through a series of activities for participants, professionals, and companies from across Europe.

As a result, EuroSkills Herning 2025 will become more than just an educational event – it will serve as a platform for lasting change within the WorldSkills movement in Europe.

EuroSkills Herning 2025, scheduled for 9-13 September 2025, is the ninth edition of the biennial EuroSkills Competition – and the first EuroSkills to be hosted by Denmark. The event will welcome around 600 skilled young professionals under the age of 25 from 33 countries to participate in 38 different skill competitions, which cover six industry sectors: Construction and Building Technology, Creative Arts and Fashion, Information and Communication Technology, Manufacturing and Engineering Technology, Service Industry, and Transportation and Logistics. 

Up to 100,000 visitors from across Denmark and abroad are expected to attend EuroSkills Herning 2025. Such a major international event requires solid financial backing, and Villum Foundation’s grant of 17 million DKK will go toward EuroSkills Herning 2025, which will focus on the green transition in 2025, in collaboration with Divérs, an organisation working for equal opportunities for all, with a special focus on increasing diversity within technically skilled professions. According to program director Agi Csonka, both themes are important to bring forward in a European context:

“EuroSkills Herning 2025 helps strengthen interest in vocational education, and the green focus aligns well with the Villum Foundation’s priorities. We are excited to contribute to young skilled workers becoming leaders in the green transition, and by focusing on diversity, we also support even more people choosing vocational education. This benefits us both in Denmark and in Europe.”

For EuroSkills 2025, this grant is excellent news, says chairman Poul Nyrup Rasmussen:

“The generous grant from the Villum Foundation makes me particularly proud, as it allows us to host a world-class event and, in collaboration with Divérs, focus on diversity within vocational education and industries before and during the event.”

European networks

Divérs works to create equal opportunities for all and has been running its core project, Boss Ladies, since 2018, aiming to encourage more women to pursue technical vocational education, where women remain underrepresented. In collaboration with EuroSkills 2025, Divérs will build upon the methods from the Boss Ladies project. The grant will enable the establishment of a European network with ten female athletes from technical vocational fields, who will serve as role models for young women in their home countries. Together with selected Boss Ladies, Divérs will spotlight diversity through numerous events at both MCH Messecenter Herning and Skills Village (Lalandia), where the vocational athletes will stay during the event. Divérs will also use the event to establish international collaboration around the diversity agenda, continuing after the guests have returned home.

“The grant from the Villum Foundation gives Divérs the opportunity to promote diversity on European soil. We know how important communities are when you are a minority at your educational institution or workplace, and we are excited to create a community for women from across Europe. At the same time, we want to emphasise that no one should be limited in their ability to win medals at EuroSkills just because they are women. We are very proud of this grant, as it contributes to advancing our project of putting diversity on the European agenda,” says Nina Groes, Director and Founder of Divérs.

For Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, the Chairman of EuroSkills 2025, Divérs' activities add an extra dimension to the event:

“Diversity in the labour market is a cause close to my heart, and now we have a unique opportunity to introduce the Boss Ladies role model program to more European countries. In this way, the Danish hosting of Denmark’s largest educational summit ever will gain a new dimension and leave an international mark on increasing diversity in vocational education.”

The Villum Foundation also has high expectations for what Divérs can achieve on a European level:

“Villum Foundation already supports the Boss Ladies project in Denmark, where their activities have resulted in some vocational schools almost doubling their intake of women in technical programs. It will be exciting to spread these experiences to a European context, as there is a significant need for more skilled craftsmen throughout Europe,” explains Agi Csonka.

Anyone can Try-a-Skill

Almost half of the 17 million DKK grant will be allocated to Divérs’ activities during the event, while the remaining funds will go toward the organisation of EuroSkills Herning 2025. The plan includes establishing a EuroSkills village—Skills Village—modelled on the Olympics, where athletes and delegates can stay during the Competition. Around the Competition workshop areas, there will be areas where the public can get closer to the skills and even try them out themselves.

EuroSkills Herning 2025 will take place from 9-13 September 2025 at MCH Messecenter Herning. The event is organised in partnership by Denmark’s Ministry of Children and Education, Herning Municipality, the Central Jutland Region, the Danish Employers' Association, the Trade Union Movement's Main Organisation, WorldSkills Denmark, and WorldSkills Europe.

For more information, visit: euroskills2025.com.