The Global Skills Opportunity (GSO) program was well represented at the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) 2024 national conference in Ottawa in early November.
In addition to the two dedicated sessions hosted by the GSO team, more than a dozen conference sessions showcased GSO-funded projects. Our four program partners – iCent, Duolingo, guard.me, and Aléas – were also actively involved, hosting sessions of their own and exhibiting at their booths.
Most notably, we were honoured to have 10 of our incredible GSO Ambassadors present. Their role in representing and promoting the program was nothing short of exceptional. Over the four days, these Ambassadors played a central role in conference activities. They ran the GSO booth with energy and professionalism, networked with international education professionals from across Canada and beyond, and shared their inspiring stories.
A highlight of their participation was the alumni panel on the first full day of the conference. Four Ambassadors – Alexina Fontaine, Miriam James, Jesse Major, and Leon “Boogie” Mann – took the stage before a receptive audience. They answered questions about their time abroad, the skills and insights gained, the barriers they faced, and what motivated them to become GSO Ambassadors.
Beyond the panel, the Ambassadors drummed up support – and signatures – for our petition, while demonstrating firsthand how international learning experiences transform lives, shape educational journeys, and boost careers.
Their professionalism, poise, and enthusiasm left us – and the many conference attendees they engaged with – inspired. We extend our heartfelt thanks to them for bringing their A-game and making such a positive impression.
Ahead of the conference, GSO hosted a pre-conference knowledge-sharing session, which brought together around 60 participants from GSO-implementing institutions. In small group discussions, participants explored key topics such as the institutional impact of the program, strategies for integrating global skills and citizenship into curricula, approaches to engaging underrepresented students, and ways to help students articulate their global skills.
As the pilot phase of the GSO program nears its conclusion, these discussions also turned toward the future. Participants exchanged ideas for sustaining and expanding the program’s impact, including leveraging partnerships with local businesses, NGOs, and global education networks to ensure international learning opportunities remain accessible and transformative.
We hope that the program will be renewed and that we will be able to participate in next year’s conference in Quebec City.
