In April 2025, the national finals of WorldSkills Croatia—the largest skills competition of its kind in the country—took place in Zagreb, Croatia. Among the 44 competition categories was Entrepreneurship, where Czech students Matouš Vávra and Šimon Sagan represented the Czech Republic as the only international team.
Strong Participation, Strong Inspiration
The Croatian finals showcased a high level of professionalism and excellent organization. Eight teams competed in the Entrepreneurship category—seven from Croatia and one from the Czech Republic. Interestingly, the Czech Republic was the only foreign participant in Entrepreneurship, while other categories included teams from countries such as Austria, Slovenia, Denmark, Estonia, and Germany.
The entire venue was buzzing with visitors and students observing presentations across disciplines. Croatia is one step ahead in integrating WorldSkills into its educational system—not just in terms of competition, but also in public perception and its connection to vocational education.
Challenge Revealed on Site: Slow Fashion
All teams received their challenge on site: to develop a business concept around slow fashion products. This was followed by intensive work on product design, marketing strategy, sales model, and final presentation. While most Croatian teams presented in their native language, the Czech team delivered their full presentation in English.
Three Months of Preparation That Paid Off
Matouš and Šimon spent over three months preparing for the competition. Their training included not only building business plans but also improving their language skills and working with topics such as sustainability, human resources, finance, and presentation and pitching techniques.
The team made a highly professional impression—something recognized and praised by the Croatian organizers—not just for their fluent English, but also for their deep understanding of the topic. It confirmed that the Czech approach to preparing entrepreneurial students is on the right track and that with such dedication, our students have international potential.
An Investment in the Future
The participation of the Czech team was financed by their home secondary school, while travel and accommodation costs for the expert mentor were covered by the Czech Chamber of Commerce. The experience is considered highly valuable—not only for the students but also for the further preparation toward EuroSkills Herning 2025, where Matouš and Šimon will represent the Czech Republic in the Entrepreneurship category.
WorldSkills Croatia was more than just a competition—it was an international experience and proof that Czech students can hold their own even in strong international competition.
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