Wetskills-Japan 2025
Wetskills-Japan 2025
September 28 - October 10
Wetskills back to the World Expo: Join us in Osaka!
“Let’s start solving global challenges together” Theme of The Netherlands Pavilion
Osaka, Japan, faces growing water challenges due to urbanization, climate change, and the increasing risk of extreme weather events. As the host city for World Expo 2025, it must address these issues while showcasing innovative solutions. The Expo serves as a unique platform to highlight sustainable water management practices, with a focus on flood prevention, water conservation, and infrastructure resilience. New solutions, such as advanced technologies and green infrastructure, will be key to ensuring long-term water security. Equally important is engaging youth in these initiatives, fostering awareness and encouraging the next generation to contribute to sustainable water practices. By integrating these solutions and engaging young people, Osaka can set a global example for climate resilience and water stewardship.
Join us for an unforgettable two-week program that brings together vibrant, multidisciplinary teams of four to five participants. Your mission? To develop groundbreaking solutions for real-world challenges presented by our esteemed case owners from across the water sector—industry leaders, government agencies, NGOs, and knowledge institutes. And present it in The Netherlands Pavilion of the 2025 World Expo in Osaka
The Wetskills Foundation extends a warm invitation to Bachelor, Master, PhD students, recent graduates, and young professionals who are enthusiastic about water, climate, and sustainability to apply for the Wetskills Challenge taking place in Japan, from 28 September to 10 October 2025. In a world where water issues are more crucial than ever due to persistent droughts, floods, and water quality issues, your innovative solutions to pressing water challenges are urgently required. Seize this unique opportunity and apply now (use the link on the right).
Picture credits: AND BV & Plomp
Impression of Wetskills at the 2020 World Expo in Dubai (January 2022)
Wetskills Programme in United Arab Emirates
Finals and Awarding Ceremony in The Netherlands Pavilion of the World Expo
Information
Programme Wetskills-Japan 2025 (draft)
Registration (first) deadline: 31 maart. First come, first served.
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Registration
Registration: first deadline for registrations: 31 March 2025. First come first served. After the deadline, the registration is open, till the programme is full.
Who can apply?
Any Young Professionals (up to 5 years of working experience) and Bachelor (last year), Master and PhD students with a passion for water and intercultural teamwork with a passion for water & sustainability and intercultural teamwork.
How can I apply?
Prepare a motivation letter and resume, click the button on the (top) right, fill out the online application form and submit it.
Selection criteria
The Wetskills Team will make a final selection among applications received, based on quality of motivation & resume. We also consider a good diversity of the whole group (incl. backgrounds, local/international, gender balance, etc.).
Costs
– The participation fee for the Wetskills program is: € 925.- (excl. VAT, applicable only in Europe) for international and local participants needing accommodation in Japan during the programme.
– This fee covers: accommodation (in a hostel, with shared rooms), team-building activities, welcome and farewell dinner/lunch, field trips, workshops, working facilities, and the finals and awarding ceremony in the Netherlands Pavilion of the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.
– Participants are also responsible for their travel expenses (such as plane tickets and local transportation), meals on working days, and other personal costs.
Note: Wetskills Foundation and partners strive to lower costs for local participants, contact us for options. In previous Wetskills editions, participants have successfully secured financial support for their Wetskills participation from their universities or employers, utilising resources like mobility funds, travel allowances, training budgets, etc.
More information
For additional information regarding participation and other details, please contact Michiel de Koning, michiel.de.koning@wetskills.com and/or Johan Oost, johan.oost@wetskills.com.
Joining this Wetskills Event – What do you get?
A unique learning experience where you will tackle real-life water challenges with your own team!
♦ You will increase your skills in: international cooperation; problem solving, cross-cultural and interdisciplinary teamwork, networking and presenting (pitch & poster);
♦ You will get the opportunity to connect with other international water students/young professionals;
♦ You will visit the Wetskills finals and awarding at 2025 World Expo;
♦ You will visit Osaka and surroundings: water-related, natural and cultural sites, and meetings with water experts;
♦ You will learn, network and experience more about international and regional water challenges, the main stakeholders and organisations, contemporary issues and current business opportunities;
♦ You will receive a certificate of participation upon completion of the programme.
Event Cases
Wetskills Foundation and partners invite businesses, governments, knowledge institutes and NGOs to formulate one of the Challenges – for this Event or another Event – and support the Wetskills programme. For more information contact Johan Oost, johan.oost@wetskills.com.
Case 1:
Case owner:
More information will be provided in a later stage.
Case 2:
Case owner:
More information will be provided in a later stage.
Case 3:
Case owner:
More information will be provided in a later stage.
Case 4:
Case owner:
More information will be provided in a later stage.
Event Partners
Previous Wetskills events in East Asia (South Korea, China, Taiwan and Japan)