When students work and study abroad they bring back skills and knowledge that benefit everyone.

Global Skills Opportunity is the Government of Canada’s national outbound student mobility pilot program. It aims to empower post-secondary institutions to increase the participation of Canadians in international learning opportunities — especially students with disabilities, Indigenous students and those from low socio-economic backgrounds who have traditionally faced barriers to participation.

Global Skills Opportunity is an integral component of the Government of Canada’s International Education Strategy. It is administered jointly by Universities Canada and Colleges and Institutes Canada. Projects are designed, implemented, and managed by participating universities, colleges and institutes across the country. This decentralized approach allows post-secondary institutions to create projects that best serve the needs of their students and their communities.

Application deadline

Three to six months prior to travel.

Eligibility criteria

Global Skills Opportunity International Mobility Award is given to students who have demonstrated the potential benefit of the travel experience. The award is open to the following Saskatchewan Polytechnic students:

• Indigenous students
• Low-income students (for the purpose of this application your annual income must be less than $32,102; and less than $45,399 in case you have one or more children)
• Students who do not identify as Indigenous or low-income students may apply for partial coverage of their international mobility-related expenses
• International Mobility Confirmation form signed by the academic program head

The Saskatchewan Polytechnic International Mobility Award provides financial assistance to students participating in an international study and/or work experience as part of their studies. The award is intended to encourage and facilitate international experiences for Saskatchewan Polytechnic students to gain international exposure, enrich their learning, broaden their cultural understanding, and see the global reach of their field of study. The award is designed to defray the travel-related costs of an international experience.

Application deadlines

• January 30, March 15, July 15 and October 15.

Eligibility criteria

• The award is open to all Saskatchewan Polytechnic students in good standing, enrolled in a Saskatchewan Polytechnic or collaborative partner’s certificate, diploma, degree or post-graduate certificate program.
• The student must be a Canadian citizen or holding permanent resident status.
• The student must to have completed at least one semester of their program and have a minimum grade point average of 65% in the previous term of study and be in good academic standing at time of application.

Students can receive only one Saskatchewan Polytechnic International Mobility Award per academic year of their program.

Selection criteria

The International Mobility Award is given to students who are in good academic standing and have demonstrated the potential benefit of the travel experience.

The selection committee will consider the following criteria in selecting the recipient:

• Essay of 300-500 words describing the purpose of travel and how it will benefit both the student’s academic program and professional development.
• Program endorsement via completed International Mobility Participant Confirmation form (included in the application form).
• Engaging in credit-bearing courses in another country, participating in a student exchange, or participating in an international student competition.
• Student must agree to provide a report upon return which may be used for Sask Polytech promotional purposes, internally or to the public.

Note: Students must meet pre-departure training and clearance (e.g., passport) before final approval.