Former WorldSkills Winners Traveled to Shanghai to Support Juniors
Past champions traveled to China to mentor 34 Singaporean students during the 2026 WorldSkills global competition.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Adult Education
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Former Singaporean WorldSkills winners have traveled to the National Exhibition and Convention Centre in Shanghai to mentor the current team. Thirty-four students from ITE and polytechnics are competing across 31 different skill categories throughout the four-day event.
Why it matters
Mentorship from past champions aims to provide essential mental support and technical guidance to young contestants. Experienced participants are helping juniors navigate the high-pressure environment by sharing insights on station setup and competition endurance.
Thirty-four students are competing across 31 skill categories at the event. A minimum score of 800 out of 1,000 points is required for participants to earn a medallion of excellence.
The players
Arthur Liew
He is a former WorldSkills mechatronics competitor who received a medallion of excellence at the 2019 Kazan event.
Shuner Villanueva Leong
She secured the title of world champion in beauty therapy during the 2011 competition cycle.
Regina Chia
She is a gold medalist in health and social care who represented her country at the 2019 WorldSkills event in Kazan.
Aidan Wong
He is a student competitor who plans to begin his National Service obligations following the conclusion of the 2026 games.
The details
Over 30 supporters from Singapore are walking the competition floor to offer advice on the mental demands of the global stage. These veterans of past tournaments are actively helping the current cohort refine their workspace preparation techniques.
Timeline
Shuner Villanueva Leong earned the beauty therapy world championship title in 2011.
Arthur Liew and Regina Chia participated in the WorldSkills Kazan event in 2019.
Arthur Liew arrived in Shanghai for the current competition on September 23, 2026.
The 2026 WorldSkills global competition is occurring throughout September 2026.
Culture Shift
This effort mirrors the alumni engagement model seen during the 2019 WorldSkills Kazan competition. It reflects a growing emphasis on intergenerational knowledge transfer within vocational education sectors globally.
Students and aspiring professionals can observe these mentorship dynamics to understand the importance of peer-to-peer preparation in technical training. The reliance on veteran advice highlights how professional networking and emotional resilience are critical for success in high-stakes fields.
The takeaway
Success in vocational competitions often requires both technical mastery and the psychological preparation shared by veteran mentors. Mentorship from former champions serves as a vital resource for contestants aiming to handle the pressures of global events.
Further reading
Learn more about international vocational training and development in the Adult Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Straits Times.
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