Celebrating success with Skills Builder Global Lead Partners

January 27, 2026

At Skills Builder Global, we believe in a future where everyone has the opportunity to build the essential skills they need to thrive. It’s a mission we are actively pursuing through a powerful network of international partners. Recently, we celebrated a significant milestone: the official launch of our global division, a new chapter dedicated to transforming how the world builds essential skills.

Why essential skills matter now more than ever

Growing up today presents unprecedented challenges. From rapid technological shifts to climate change and global conflict, young people need more than just academic knowledge to succeed. To truly thrive, they need to build essential skills that go far beyond the classroom.

The evidence is clear: individuals with these skills are more confident, less likely to face unemployment, and tend to have higher lifelong earnings. Yet, while 75% of governments worldwide acknowledge the importance of these skills, there remains a significant gap between policy and what actually happens in the classroom.

The Universal Framework in action

Our partnership addresses this challenge by providing educators with the Skills Builder Universal Framework. The Universal Framework breaks down complex skills into measurable, teachable steps, providing a shared language and clear progression for learners of all ages- from three-year-olds to adults.

During our launch, we heard firsthand from Lead Partners who are adapting this model to their unique local contexts:

Hong Kong: Marco Shek of Ednovators shared how they translated the Universal Framework into Chinese and are using it to make skills "visible" through redesigned assessment tools and report cards.
Lebanon: Layal Mansour of Al- Mabarrat Association highlighted how 13 schools have adopted the Universal Framework through the Global Accelerator Programme, creating a coherent learning journey for learners that bridges the gap between curriculum concepts and everyday practice.
Czech Republic: Egle Hardova of Schola Empirica discussed their success in engaging policy-makers and piloting the Universal Framework in vocational schools to better prepare students for a technologically influenced world.
Nigeria: Yemisi Akrinrinade of Concinnity noted the Universal Framework's impact in a region where employers are increasingly signaling a skills gap, helping to define and teach these "abstract" concepts with rigor.

Join the movement

We are not just working broadly; we are working deeply. Our programs are designed to support schools, NGOs, and entire education systems:

The Global Accelerator Program: Supporting schools and colleges to develop a strategic approach to skill-building, with opportunities for international recognition through Skills Builder Awards.
The Global Impact Fellowship: Helping NGOs and impact organizations embed the Universal Framework into their existing programs, from entrepreneurship workshops to sports and arts.
System Strengthening: Working with policymakers to integrate essential skills into national curricula and assessment models.

The future is bright for Skills Builder Global, and it is a future we are building together. By sharing learning across borders and innovating locally, we can ensure that every learner leaves school equipped with the skills they need to navigate the world with confidence.