Key takeaways
- Finalists from around the world competed in 2026 Certiport Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) World Championships in California.
- Competitors demonstrated in-demand digital, creative and productivity skills using technologies widely used in education and the workplace.
- Employer-recognised certifications help learners prove their skills and prepare for an AI-enabled economy.
How do certifications help learners prepare for careers?
Certiport, a Pearson Professional Assessments business, hosted the MOS and ACP World Championships. The event drew more than 190 finalists from 46 countries to Anaheim, California, to compete in disciplines like Microsoft Word, Excel ® and Powerpoint ®; and Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. To reach the global finals, learners aged 13 to 22 first earned professional certifications and won national competitions in their home countries.
Their achievements are impressive, but the bigger story is what they represent.
Across industries, employers are looking for evidence that candidates can apply knowledge in practical settings. Digital skills, creativity, communication and problem-solving are becoming increasingly important as technology reshapes the workplace. Certifications help learners demonstrate those capabilities with credentials that employers recognise and trust.
Microsoft winners celebrate their success
Pearson's Certiport Microsoft Office Specialist World Champions:
- Liang Xinzhi, Macao, China, Microsoft PowerPoint™ (Office 2019)
- Reem El Shafii, Lebanon, Microsoft Word (Office 2019)
- Zhong Tin Kin, Macao, China, Microsoft Excel™ (Office 2019)
- Nguyen Mai Chi, Vietnam, Microsoft Excel™ (Microsoft 365 Apps)
- Sio Keng Nim, Macao, China, Microsoft Word (Microsoft 365 Apps)
- Santiago Matteus Dardón Pinzón, Guatemala, Microsoft PowerPoint™ (Microsoft 365 Apps)
Why are employer-recognised credentials important in an AI economy?
The rise of AI is accelerating demand for people who can combine technical expertise with adaptability and critical thinking. Certifications help learners build and validate those skills early, creating clearer pathways into higher education and employment.
Arthur Valentine, President of Assessment and Qualifications at Pearson, said:
"These students have not only earned valuable credentials, they have demonstrated the commitment, capability, and confidence needed to succeed in a fast-changing digital world. Their initiative and adaptability show exactly the kind of future-ready talent employers need. Professional certifications provide a trusted measure of skill level and capability, and these young people are already proving they can deliver."
Adobe winners celebrate their success
Pearson's Certiport Adobe Certified Professional World Champions:
- First Place: Lulu Emanuele, USA
- Second Place: Nicolas Baldesin, Brazil
- Third Place: Muhammad Fawwaz Haiqal Bin Mohd Fuaad, Malaysia
How is Pearson helping learners build career-ready skills?
Across our qualifications, assessments, credentials and enterprise solutions, Pearson helps learners develop in-demand, employer-recognised skills so they can hit the ground running when they enter the workforce.
The Certiport World Championships bring this to life. Participants demonstrate not only technical proficiency, but also the creativity, resilience and problem-solving skills that employers increasingly value.
As employers continue to seek candidates with job-ready skills, qualifications and certifications that provide trusted evidence of what people know and can do will become even more important. The young people competing in Anaheim this year are proof of what can happen when learners invest in building those capabilities early.
Congratulations to all participants, finalists and winners. Their success demonstrates the power of skills to unlock opportunity and help learners thrive as they embark on their careers and beyond.
- Here are the full lists of Adobe and Microsoft winners
- Learn more about the work we do to certify millions at Certiport