Recommendations to promote global skills development among Canadian post-secondary students: Transition Global Skills Opportunity from a pilot to a permanent program and increase the current funding envelope to $200 million over five years with $40 million ongoing annually.
By ensuring sustainability and growth, the program will continue to effectively equip Canadian students with 21st century skills, deepen global ties, and enhance Canada’s competitiveness. This investment would significantly expand program impact, enable a broader reach and access, and strengthen benefits for Canadian students, businesses, and communities.
Benefits of Global Skills Development
Canada must invest in the development of high-end talent that can successfully navigate everchanging events and new markets.
This skill set enables individuals to effectively adapt in diverse cultural settings, communicate across borders, solve complex problems, and collaborate in a globalized world. Global skills include cultural competence, intercultural communication, problem solving, adaptability, collaboration, and critical thinking, many of which align with Canada’s Skills for Success Framework.
Moving Beyond Pilot Phase
Global Skills Opportunity is a success and is well on its way to surpassing its targets.
To date, more than 6,000 students – 75% of whom identify as underrepresented – have completed a GSO funded international study or work experience in one of more than 100 countries. Of that group, 64% identify as a low-income student, 18% as a student with a disability and 13% as an Indigenous student. GSO has been a strong catalyst to bringing the benefits of internationalization to Indigenous students across Canada.
