Powering Change: Innovating Accessible International Work-Integrated Learning (iWIL) with Focus on Intercultural Competencies and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Post-Pandemic Environments

Well-prepared students are powerful change agents, both locally and globally. From September 2021 – March 2025, through lenses of intercultural effectiveness competency development and advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, students who are Indigenous, have disability needs or traditionally face barriers of low-income will undertake 65+ transformational iWIL experiences via established and new international partner social enterprises, private companies, and not-for-profits located in 20+ non-traditional destinations. In keeping with Waterloo’s strategic plan, Powering Change will enable future-ready talent to realize their fullest potential through rich iWIL experiences, and where outcomes of innovative programming will be shared with the larger community.

Latest Publications

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Strengthening Canada’s Global Skills: Our submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance Pre-budget Consultations in Advance of Budget 2024

The program has equipped a new generation of students, from all backgrounds, with global skills necessary to meet Canada’s ever evolving labour market needs. It is now time to make the program a permanent part of Canada’s skills strategy and approach to international education.

Opinion

Louisane LeBlanc: If the Global Skills Opportunity pilot ends, Canadians with disabilities will miss out

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Seventy new GSO projects to support hundreds of students’ global work and study experiences

With funding from Economic and Social Development Canada, the new GSO projects will allow hundreds more Canadian students to gain invaluable global skills through international work and study experiences in countries around the world.