The world of work has become a global marketplace. Jobseekers now need Skills for Success like adaptability, cross-cultural communication, collaboration, and problem solving to thrive in the workforce. That means learning experiences outside the classroom, and/or outside the country, are now more important to career success than ever.
In 2019, when Canada launched its new International Education Strategy, only 3% of college students participated in an international experience during their studies. Thankfully, Global Skills Opportunity (GSO) has made international learning experiences more accessible to Canadian post-secondary students. And it has been a success!
Global Skills Opportunity provides Canadian post-secondary students with one-of-a-kind global experiences. With this funding, colleges, institutes, and universities organize study and work abroad opportunities for Canadian students that will ensure they come home culturally literate, resilient, adaptable, and ready to succeed. For example:
- Indigenous students from Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Justice Studies program had the opportunity to expand their education to Mexico. The students experienced Mexican and Mayan culture and studied the Mexican judicial process to compare the Canadian and Mexican justice systems.
- Fourth-year education students from Medicine Hat College are getting the chance to go to Costa Rica to experience the Indigenous BriBri community’s culture and learn culturally responsive strategies that can be used in their future classrooms.
- Culinary Arts Management students from New Brunswick Community College spent two-weeks on a hospitality study module in Muonio, Finland. They got the chance to connect with students from several European countries while they tested their customer service skills in an international environment, participated in foraging exercises, hosted dinners, and learned to make traditional Nordic meals.
- Social work students from Cégep Marie-Victorin spent their 12-week end-of-studies internship in 3 different environments in Dakar, Senegal. Moreover, during their internship, they lived with a host family, allowing them to meet new people and immerse themselves in the customs, values, and generosity of the Senegalese people.
- Eight students from Cambrian College recently travelled to Dubai for two weeks to represent the college as global ambassadors. During their trip, they worked on developing global skills and explored the University of Wollongong in Dubai.
54 colleges and institutes and 56 universities are implementing a total of 124 GSO-funded projects in collaboration with international partners in over 100 countries.
- Through the funded projects, more than 11,000 Canadian students – especially those for whom such experiences have traditionally been less accessible – will acquire the global skills employers want and the Canadian economy needs.
This program helps to make Canada futureproof, yet funding for Global Skills Opportunity is not guaranteed beyond March 2025. If we want diverse, resilient, and nimble employees that will help our economy grow sustainably into the future, we need more accessible opportunities for international learning.
- That is why CICan and UnivCan are already in discussion with the Government of Canada to renew the GSO program!
Global Skills Opportunity capitalizes on the strengths of Canada’s two largest networks of educators to make learning accessible to every member of their communities, to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to find employment, and to contribute to positive change for people, communities, and the planet.
- A call for proposals is coming soon! Stay tuned for another chance to participate in new innovation projects though funding from Global skills Opportunity.