Funded Opportunities

How GSO is supporting Canada’s next generation of global leaders

Make a world of difference with Global Skills Opportunity

Global Skills Opportunity reduces barriers to participation in life-changing and career-boosting international experiences. The program aims to empower all Canadian students—especially underrepresented students—to get the unique benefits that international learning experiences provide, including gaining skills such as problem solving, adaptability, resilience and intercultural competency. These skills enhance a post-secondary education and prepare students for 21^st-century careers.

Our Funded Opportunities

INNOVATION FUNDS

While COVID-19 closed borders, grounded planes and disrupted international study and work plans, it also reinforced the importance of global connections. With funding through the GSO Innovation Fund, Canada’s post-secondary institutions have been offering students virtual mobility experiences, while also bolstering and improving their outbound mobility programming to better serve underrepresented students.

STUDENT MOBILITY PROJECTS

Administered through Canadian colleges and universities, student mobility projects empower Canadian students — especially Indigenous students, low-income students and those with disabilities — to take advantage of international learning experiences and to develop skills such as problem solving, adaptability, resilience and intercultural competency.

Global Skills Opportunity (GSO) was Canada’s national outbound student mobility pilot program and was an integral component of the Government of Canada’s International Education Strategy. It officially ceased operations March 31, 2025. This five-year pilot program helped 15,000 Canadian post-secondary students gain invaluable international study and work experiences, strengthening their global skills and competencies. GSO was funded by Employment and Social Development Canada, and jointly administered by Universities Canada and Colleges and Institutes Canada.

Program details

GSO was designed to break down barriers for Canadian post-secondary students – especially low-income students, students with disabilities and Indigenous students – so they could participate in study and work abroad experiences. Focused on facilitating experiences in non-traditional destinations (countries other than Australia, France, the United Kingdom and the United States) GSO was also an important step towards achieving Canada’s trade diversification goals and strengthening international networks.