IAPMO and its charitable foundation, the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), are celebrating 10 years as a WorldSkills Global Industry Partner. IAPMO and IWSH celebrated the milestone this week at the annual General Assembly of WorldSkills International Members in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Since joining the partnership in 2015, IAPMO has worked with WorldSkills to strengthen the role of industry, education, and government in developing a skilled workforce for the future. Together, these organizations champion the plumbing and mechanical trades as essential to public health, safety and sustainability — reinforcing IAPMO’s mission to shape the built environment through collaboration and informed expertise.

“Marking a decade as a WorldSkills Global Industry Partner is a significant milestone that underscores IAPMO’s deep commitment to advancing the plumbing and mechanical industries worldwide,” IAPMO CEO Dave Viola said. “Together with WorldSkills and through initiatives like IWSH Plumbing Champions, we are not only training and supporting the next generation of skilled professionals, but we’re also demonstrating the essential role these trades play in protecting public health, advancing sustainability, and building stronger, more resilient communities.”

This milestone also coincides with the 75th anniversary of WorldSkills, founded in Madrid, Spain, in 1950. Emerging from postwar reconstruction, WorldSkills helped rebuild economies by engaging young people in vocational skills competitions that set new global standards of excellence. Today, WorldSkills connects two-thirds of the world’s population across 89 countries and regions, aiming to help 100 million young people advance through skills training by 2030.

Through IWSH, IAPMO has expanded its role beyond competition sponsorship to mobilize plumbing professionals and apprentices in demonstration projects that deliver clean water, safe sanitation and career development opportunities for young tradespeople. These collaborations showcase how skilled trades improve lives while strengthening community resilience.

“IAPMO, with the IWSH Foundation, allows us to do projects in a do-good way around the world where we can capitalize on the skill set of people who are at the top of their game, specialists and experts,” WorldSkills CEO David Hoey said. “You have enriched and made our organization better and stronger by being part of it.”

The 48th WorldSkills Competition will take place Sept. 22-27, 2026, in Shanghai, China.