Courses
Former ATU apprentice places fourth in the world at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
Co Cavan electrician receives Medal for Excellence after representing Ireland in Electrical Installations
Former Atlantic Technological University (ATU) apprentice James Hunt has achieved fourth place in Electrical Installations at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.
James, from Virginia, Co Cavan, represented Ireland against some of the world’s most highly skilled young professionals. He received 722 points and was awarded a Medal for Excellence in recognition of his world-class performance.
James currently works with JF Electrical in Virginia. His international success follows his victory in the Electrical Installations competition at WorldSkills Ireland 2025.
His WorldSkills journey began in Phase 4 of his electrical apprenticeship at ATU, where he entered a preliminary competition.
James said:
It was an honour to represent Ireland in Electrical Installations on the world stage in Shanghai. Finishing fourth and receiving a Medal for Excellence is a testament to the training and support I received throughout the journey.
I am particularly grateful to Gerard Galligan, Peter Gilligan from ATU and former WorldSkills Lyon competitor Sean McLoughlin for all their help. Competing in the Global Skills Challenge in Wollongong, Australia, in June, where I finished fifth and received the Best of Nation award for Ireland, was another incredible part of the experience.”
There were many long days and weeks of training, but we were always working towards one goal: bringing home an award for Ireland. I am delighted that all the hard work paid off.”
Professor Graham Heaslip, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computing at ATU, said:
“On behalf of everyone in the Faculty of Engineering and Computing, I want to congratulate James on his outstanding achievement. Finishing fourth in the world and earning a Medal for Excellence at WorldSkills Shanghai is a remarkable result, and it shows that Irish apprentices can compete with the very best anywhere. James’s journey is a real source of pride for our School of Engineering Apprenticeships and the staff who supported him along the way. His success is also a credit to JF Electrical and to the employers who invest in apprentices. James is a fantastic role model for young people considering an apprenticeship: it’s a route to a world-class career.”
WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 brought together approximately 1,400 young competitors from around the world across 64 skills. Competitors were required to demonstrate their technical ability, accuracy and problem-solving skills under demanding competition conditions.
James’s achievement places him among the leading young electrical installation professionals internationally.
Photo caption: Former ATU apprentice James Hunt receives Medal for Excellence after representing Ireland in Electrical Installations.
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Ivana Hanjs
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