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Camlough's Caolan McCartan has secured a Medallion of Excellence in the Industry 4.0 category at the WorldSkills Shanghai competition, competing for Team UK. He was one of five Southern Regional College (SRC) students who all received medals at the event.
Caolan (25) competed alongside fellow SRC student Patrick Sheerin (25) from Portadown. Industry 4.0 refers to the fourth industrial revolution and uses smart technology and data to automate and improve manufacturing processes. Both men hold foundation degrees in Mechatronics from the College, and Patrick went on to obtain an Engineering BEng (Hons) degree there too.
The pair won gold at the national WorldSkills UK competition in 2024 and bronze at the EuroSkills competition in Herning, Denmark, last year. That success did not guarantee them a place in the team for Shanghai. They returned to training with fellow Squad UK members and were announced as Team UK's representatives in May. Patrick said it was 'utter relief' when they found out they had been selected once more.
Elsewhere in the results, SRC student Ruth Douglas (22) from Banbridge won gold in Chemical Laboratory Technician, while Oisin McKerr (22) from Lurgan took bronze in Car Painting. Johnny Gough (22) from Waringstown also received a Medallion of Excellence in Electrical Installation.
The 48th edition of WorldSkills, widely known as the 'Skills Olympics', took place in Shanghai over four days from 22 to 26 September. The results were announced at the closing ceremony, which was livestreamed on Sunday 27 September 2026. WorldSkills is the world's largest vocational education and skills competition and challenges participants to demonstrate technical ability, precision and professionalism.
The competitors' journey began with selection for Squad UK, where they undertook further specialist training and development. Earlier this year they were selected to represent Team UK in their respective skill categories. Most categories require competitors to be aged 22 or under, although certain categories, including Industry 4.0, allow entrants up to the age of 25.
Mrs Lee Campbell, Principal and Chief Executive of Southern Regional College, said: "This is a phenomenal result for Team UK and our SRC competitors. They have given it their all and left everything out there in the competition arena. Their success is a tremendous reflection of their talent, determination and commitment to excellence. We could not be prouder of what they have achieved on the world stage."
She added: "At Southern Regional College, we are committed to developing the skills, talent and confidence of our students and ensuring they have the opportunities to achieve their full potential. WorldSkills provides an exceptional platform to showcase the value and importance of technical and vocational skills and the achievements of Ruth, Oisin, Johnny, Patrick and Caolan demonstrate just what can be achieved through dedication, expert training and a commitment to excellence."
The 49th WorldSkills competition is set to take place from 15 to 20 November 2028 in Aichi, Japan.
