Global Skills Opportunity

and Industry Partners

Partners have a key role to play in amplifying the work of Global Skills Opportunity.

Partner with us!

  • Endorse, champion and share GSO programming within your network.
  • Provide services to students and projects at post-secondary institutions across Canada.
  • Share employment or internship opportunities that can strengthen or demonstrate the value of global skills.
  • Contribute additional funding to further Global Skills Opportunity’s impact.

Interested in becoming a partner? We’d love to hear from you.

SERVICE PROVIDER

Help make global experiences accessible with discounted rates on products and services.

INSTITUTIONAL PARTNER

Are you a post-secondary institution, private company, Government agency or not-for-profit organization looking to work with Canadian post-secondary institutions in the scope of their GSO projects?

Our Partners

Partners have a key role to play in amplifying the value and impact of Global Skills Opportunity. Our partners believe that when Canadian students work and study abroad they bring back skills and knowledge that benefit everyone. They support Canadian post-secondary institutions in developing news tools and strategies to strengthen their capacity and provide students will tangible value-added products and/or services to promote positive and transformative experiences.

Partner organizations — private sector, educational institutions and not-for-profits — have a key role to
play in amplifying Global Skills Opportunity’s work.


Learn how partnering with Global Skills Opportunity can also have direct benefits to your company or organization.

Types of Partnerships

SPONSORSHIP

Make a financial contribution to directly support student grants or national-level activity.

ENDORSEMENT

Champion the benefits of international learning.

WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING

Leverage your international presence to provide global opportunities to students.

SERVICE PROVIDER

Help make global experiences accessible with discounted rates on products and services.

“Any country that wants to succeed in our shifting global economy needs a globally aware workforce. International study that includes experiential learning is one of the best ways to build that awareness. To meet this growing labour force need, Canada needs many more of its bright young students to go abroad.”

Paul Davidson

President, Universities Canada and Perrin Beatty, CEO, Canadian Chamber of Commerce

“Business leaders, universities and governments are all seeking the knowledge and savvy that comes with international experience, an elusive set of characteristics sometimes described as cultural fluency. Businesses want their workforce to be able to communicate, connect, negotiate and understand others in the global marketplace.”

Bessma Momani & Jillian Stirk

Professor, political science, and Balsillie School of International Affairs, & former Canadian ambassador, public service executive, University of Waterloo

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.