Despite an impressive track record and our best advocacy efforts, the federal government has not renewed funding for Global Skills Opportunity. As a result, the program officially ceased operations March 31, 2025.
This news is incredibly disheartening for all of us who have been part of GSO, but it is by no means a reflection of the program’s quality or impact. Over the years, GSO has transformed the lives of 15,000 Canadian students, fostering global experiences that have shaped their careers, perspectives and contributions to Canada’s future workforce and economy.
Whether you are a staff member at a post-secondary institution, a GSO alumnus who embarked on an international learning experience, or an employer who values the global skills this program nurtured — thank you for your support and for being a part of this program.
To our valued GSO Advisory Group members and GSO Ambassadors who contributed advice, input, influence and enthusiastic support for this program, we extend our heartfelt gratitude. Your dedication and commitment have been instrumental in making GSO a success.
And of course, we owe it all to Economic and Social Development Canada who provided GSO with crucial funding and invaluable stewardship.
The loss of this program, especially amid a decline in incoming international students, poses a challenge to Canada’s ability to build meaningful connections with allies, potential trading partners and emerging markets. GSO was more than just an asset to our education landscape — it was an investment in Canada’s future competitiveness and productivity.
We should all take immense pride in what we have accomplished together. This final edition of Global Horizons celebrates the program’s successes and provides key information about the transition period as we prepare for its conclusion.
We remain hopeful that future generations of Canadian students will continue to have access to life-changing global learning opportunities.
— The Global Skills Opportunity Team
