Call for Submission: UNESCO-UNEVOC Photography Contest 2025

Admin,

Application Deadline: September 15, 2025

The UNESCO-UNEVOC Skills in Action Photography Contest 2025 is officially open for submissions! This exciting opportunity invites both amateur and professional photographers from around the world to share compelling visual stories centered on youth empowerment through technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

This year’s theme emphasizes the transformative power of digital skills, artificial intelligence (AI), and emerging technologies in vocational training. Whether you’re capturing students coding, working with robotics, engaging in virtual reality labs, or highlighting underrepresented groups in digital learning environments, your lens can inspire a global audience.

If you’re 18 years or older and have an original, high-quality photograph that resonates with the theme, this contest is for you. UNESCO-UNEVOC is particularly interested in authentic, impactful images that reflect innovation, inclusion, sustainability, and peace-building within real-world TVET settings.

What to Submit

Participants are required to submit high-resolution images, with a minimum of 3000 pixels on the longest side. While professional camera gear is encouraged, smartphones are acceptable—as long as the photo quality meets the competition’s standards. Light post-processing and editing are allowed but must be clearly indicated upon submission.

Important requirements:

  • All photos must be submitted in JPEG format.
  • Optional TIFF or RAW versions can be submitted for optimal quality.
  • Entries must not include watermarks, computer-generated graphics, or collages.
  • Photos must reflect real-life moments relevant to TVET and this year’s digital theme.
  • Consent must be obtained from all recognizable individuals in the photo.

Each entry should include:

  • A descriptive title
  • A short story (max 75 words) explaining the photo’s context
  • Date and location of when and where the photo was taken

Who Can Apply

This global contest is open to participants from all countries, as long as they are 18 years of age or older and are the legal rights holders of their images. This inclusivity makes it a wonderful platform for youth advocates, trainers, educators, and visual storytellers to bring their TVET narratives to life.

What You Stand to Gain

Winners will receive the following cash prizes:

  • First Place: $750
  • Second Place: $500
  • Third Place: $350

In addition to the monetary rewards, winners will receive official certificates and be featured across UNESCO-UNEVOC’s global platforms, including their website and social media channels. This is a major opportunity to gain international visibility as a visual storyteller.

Furthermore, selected images may be included in UNESCO-UNEVOC publications, digital campaigns, and exhibitions—providing long-term exposure for photographers whose work sheds light on how vocational training is shaping a digitally skilled generation.

Why This Matters

As the world navigates a fast-evolving digital landscape, vocational education plays a crucial role in equipping young people with the practical skills they need for success. This contest not only celebrates creativity but also elevates the global dialogue around inclusive and future-ready education.

From training centers to rural workshops and innovation hubs, your photographs can highlight how communities are using digital tools to build better futures.

Submission Deadline

All entries must be submitted via email to unevoc.skills@unesco.org on or before 15 September 2025. Ensure your image files and entry details are complete before sending.

For more information and to apply, CLICK HERE

Competition