Are you an amateur or professional photographer with an
interest in youth skills? Don’t miss your chance to enter the UNESCO-UNEVOC
Skills in Action Photo Competition!
You are eligible to participate as long as:
- you
are at least 18 years old.
- you
are the owner or copyright holder of the photo entry/entries.
What should my photo show?
Photos should highlight innovative aspects of technical
and vocational education and training (TVET).
We want you to capture interesting moments showcasing how
TVET is equipping young people with skills for the future. This year's
competition theme is Youth empowerment through AI and digital
skills and submissions should focus on one or more of the following:
- AI
and digital skills in TVET - Capture how young people are
engaging with AI-powered tools, digital simulations, coding or
virtual/augmented reality in TVET institutions
- Equity
in tech - Showcase moments where girls, youth with disabilities
or marginalized communities are accessing and thriving in digital or
AI-enhanced TVET environments
- Digital
solutions for a green future - Highlight how TVET is equipping
youth with tech-driven green skills for resilient futures
- Digital skills for peace - Highlight youth using AI or digital technologies through TVET to promote peacebuilding, resilience or community well-being
Do’s and Dont’s
Do’s
- Decide
your thematic area(s) of focus. This will ensure that your entry will not
be filtered out for not adhering to the themes.
- Use a
camera that can output high-resolution photos with a minimum of 3000
pixels on the longest side with 300 DPI/PPI setting. Exempted from this
are photos taken using mobile phones in the highest resolution (the
acceptance of the entry is based on the quality).
- Ensure
that you have the approval/consent of the people in the picture,
especially if the focus is on a single person. You are encouraged to use
this consent
form. UNESCO will not be deemed responsible for the failure of the
photographer to acquire the consent of his/her model.
- You
can make simple edits to the photo but these need to be specified in the
form.
Dont's
- Don't
submit photos generated by AI.
- Don't
submit an entry of a photo collage (multiple photos on one frame)
- Don't
put watermarks, logos, signatures or any overlays on your picture
- Don't
send pictures that are not related to any of the thematic areas.
When is the submission deadline?
The submission deadline is 15 September 2025. All photos
must be accompanied by the completed submission
form and sent to: unevoc.skills(at)unesco.org.
Incomplete submissions and submissions received after the
deadline cannot be admitted to the competition.
Please read through the submission process before sending in
your photos!
What can I win?
The winners of the Skills in Action Photo Competition will
receive the following prizes:
1st prize - 750 USD
2nd prize - 500 USD
3rd prize - 350 USD
Winning photographers and finalists will receive a
certificate, and their entries will be featured on the UNESCO-UNEVOC website
and across various social media platforms. All submissions received will become
the property of UNESCO-UNEVOC and will be eligible for use in future
UNESCO-UNEVOC media campaigns, publications and promotional material.
Submission process
Photo entries:
- All
entries should be submitted with a title, a brief paragraph (not more than
75 words) explaining the context of the photo, along with where and when
it was taken.
- All
photos submitted should be in jpeg format. It will be an advantage to
submit Raw/Tiff files. The longer side should be at least 3,000 pixels.
The entrants are allowed to digitally manipulate entries slightly and
state the nature of manipulation. Please do not include any marks, logos,
watermarks, or borders in your photos.
- Your
photos should be related to the themes mentioned above.
How to submit
After taking your photo/s:
1. Add a title and write a short description for every
photo.
2. Rename the photo/s in this format:
Lastname-Firstname_title.jpeg (example:
Oyelowo-Eyitayo_Female-aircraft-engineers.jpeg/.tiff)
3. Make sure you agree with the Terms and Conditions. (Also
found in the submission form)
4. Download and complete the submission
form and rename the form in this format:
Lastname-Firstname_SAPC20_SF.docx
5. Send the completed form (with thumbnails of the pictures)
along with the original photo files to unevoc.skills(at)unesco.org with
the following email subject heading Last name_SAPhotoCompetition2025. Note that
the attachment size may have a limit. In case of multiple entries that cannot
be sent via email, you can use any cloud storage servers you prefer and provide
us with the direct link (no sign-up required) to download. WeTransfer
is an example of an online
file sharing service.
Selection process
1. Upon submission, UNESCO-UNEVOC will filter entries in
compliance with the basic terms and conditions. You will not receive an
acknowledgement of submission, but all entries will be processed.
2. The selection process will be based on the following
criteria:
- Adherence
to the theme
- Uniqueness
of the concept/shot
- Creativity
- Innovative
means of delivering the message
3. Photographers will be informed via email that their
entries have been shortlisted.
4. We will announce the winners on our website and social
media platforms or through a major event we are hosting.
The Photo Library will be regarded as an Open Access
Repository, which may be accessed by anyone under Creative Commons 4.0 IGO
License.
