General
The pilot phase of the GSO program ends in March 2025. There are 150 mobility projects and 172 Innovation Fund projects completed or ongoing. The next phase of the program is yet to be confirmed.
In spring 2021, Colleges and Institutes Canada and Universities Canada put out a request for proposals for post-secondary institutions across the country to submit innovative project proposals. Respective selection committees reviewed the proposals and chose successful applications. Fifty-six universities and 54 colleges have received funding to run projects until March 2025.
Global Skills Opportunity is funded by the Government of Canada through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
The program seeks to diversify study/work-abroad destination countries. ‘Non-traditional countries’ refers to all countries other than the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Australia, where many Canadian students already opt to work and study.
In 2019, the Government of Canada launched its five-year International Education Strategy, Building on Success, which highlights the importance of international experiences that offer students exposure to new cultures and ideas in destinations for work or study abroad that are key global markets. The Global Skills Opportunity program is designed to drive innovative solutions that will bring more international learning experiences to campuses across the country.
Students
Each participating institution has its own eligibility requirements based on their individual project(s). That being said, Global Skills Opportunity projects are open to all Canadian post-secondary students but prioritizes underrepresented students (Indigenous students, low-income students and those with disabilities).
- Student participants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, registered at a provincially recognized Canadian post-secondary institution.
- Students must be in good standing as defined and determined by the post-secondary institution to which they are registered.
- Students must be 18 years of age or older.
International students are ineligible for funding.
Individual student funding is determined by each Canadian post-secondary institution, based on financial needs and destination costs. Consult your school’s website for the most relevant information.
Funding is meant to make outbound mobility more accessible and can cover direct expenses related to a Global Skills Opportunity experience, like international travel and accommodations related to the specific experience and is not a replacement for typical costs associated with student financial assistance (e.g., tuition, books and supplies, shelter, food, local transportation, etc.). It is at the discretion of each post-secondary institution to determine how funds are disbursed. Consult your school’s website for the most relevant information.
Visit your post-secondary institution’s website for more information about the Global Skills Opportunity project available on campus. To see a list of all participating post-secondary institutions, see Funded Opportunities.
The Global Skills Opportunity program funds projects run by post-secondary institutions; students’ participation in the program must be through their institution.
Students’ safety — as well as that of any accompanying faculty or support person — is paramount. Participating post-secondary institutions must have in place rigorous security protocols that address region-specific health and safety considerations, and include evacuation procedures (including emergency medical evacuation).
These plans respect local customs and laws, and are based on international best practices. Whenever possible, they are developed in accordance with consular procedures followed by the Canadian Embassy in the destination country.
All GSO participants have access to the GSO Alumni Hub upon their return to Canada. The app allows Alumni to connect with one another, and give them access to valuable help as they enter the job market: tools for building a resume and cover letters that shine, tips for preparing for interviews to highlight the global skills they’ve gained, and information on events around the country.
To register, please contact gso-ecm@cican.org or gso-ecm@univcan.ca.
We are also always looking for testimonials from GSO Alumni to add to our website and social media channels. Add yours to the GSO Alumni Hub, or post to social media using the hashtag #GlobalSkillsCA.
Post-Secondary Institutions
Please consult our database of projects to verify if your institution has any GSO projects.
The current phase of the GSO program is ending in March 2025. If you would like to receive updates on the next phase of GSO or other GSO events, subscribe to our Global Horizons newsletter.
For more information about the benefits of participation for your institution, please visit Global Skills Opportunity and post-secondary institutions. If you’d like to know more about your institution’s approved project(s), please visit their website.
For general information about the Global Skills Opportunity program, see our Learn More page.
Industry Partners
To compete in the global marketplace, Canada needs a globally aware workforce. You can help. By partnering with GSO, you’re making international learning experiences more accessible for Canadian students, allowing them to develop in-demand global skills, and fortifying Canada’s international networks.
We’re seeking industry leaders across sectors to support Global Skills Opportunity through sponsorship, endorsement, work-integrated learning opportunities, and by providing services at special rates for participating students.
If you’re interested in partnering with Global Skills Opportunity, please email gso-ecm@collegesinstitutes.ca or studentmobility@univcan.ca for more information.