Global Skills Opportunity (GSO) is a Government of Canada pilot program (2022–2025) that funded CapU to create initiatives to widen access to outbound mobility opportunities.
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CapU’s GSO initiatives focused on re-imagining faculty-led field schools and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) programs towards widening access to outbound mobility programming.
During the program, CapU delivered:
- four cross-disciplinary faculty-led field schools in Vietnam, Ghana, and Thailand
- five dynamic COIL projects in Mexico, Spain, Scotland, and the Netherlands
Grounded in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including health and well-being, sustainable communities, climate action and equality, these initiatives facilitated transformative experiences for Indigenous students, students with disabilities, low-income students and others who may not have had access to outbound study abroad programs.
Building on the success of GSO, CapU continues to re-imagine and implement field schools and COIL programming.
The goal is to expand on the principles of wide access, innovation, community and partnership, and cross-disciplinary engagement and open new pathways for students, faculty and all learners to tap into the power of transformative learning.
"This field school was not only incredibly beneficial to my degree as a tourism student, learning about the impacts of tourism and the benefits of community-based initiatives, but it also taught me the beauty of collectivist cultures and togetherness that I think we often forget about in our busy everyday lives back at home."
— Anika Steiner, Bachelor of Tourism Management student, Vietnam Field School 2023 participant
Field Schools and GSO
On February 13-24, 2025, 22 CapU students from 10 different programs embarked on a 13-day off-the-beaten-path global journey, led by two CapU instructors, Chris Carnovale (TOUR 370 – Regional Topics in Tourism) and Tammy Towill (BADM 320 – Special Topics in Business Administration).
Eleven students were from the underrepresented GSO category and received a GSO scholarship that fully covered their participation.
Aiming to facilitate transformative learning, this field school immersed students deep into the rich and vibrant culture of Thailand across three diverse destinations in Central and Southern Thailand: from the urban centre of bustling Bangkok to the Historic City (designated by UNESCO) of Ayutthaya, to the National Park Island beaches of Koh Surin.
Focusing on the informal economy, students had the opportunity to learn from the entrepreneurs, organizations, and workers engaged in the transportation, (street) food and beverage and tourism sectors of Thailand’s informal economy.
They also met and engaged with the tuk-tuk drivers of BKK, homestay owners from Ayutthaya and the Moken people of the Andaman Sea.
From December 17, 2024, until January 7, 2025, 24 CapU students embarked on a 22-day off-the-beaten-path global journey, led by two CapU Jazz Studies instructors, Kofi Gbolonyo and Jared Burrows, who co-taught JAZZ 422 Cross-Cultural Pedagogy and Orff Afrique.
Thirteen students were from the underrepresented GSO category and received a GSO scholarship that fully covered their participation.
The participants explored Ghana's rich and vibrant culture and places of cultural, historic and ecological importance, with an emphasis on the Indigenous music and dance traditions of the Ewe people of West Africa.
From their base in the welcoming Dzodze, Kofi's hometown in the southeastern corner of the Volta Region of Ghana, the students explored Accra, Ho, Cape Coast and Elmina Castles, Tafi Monkey Sanctuary, Kakum National Park, Kente weaving villages, Wli Water Falls and more.
On August 16-31, 2024, 22 CapU students embarked on a 16-day off-the-beaten-path global journey led by two CapU instructors: Chris Carnovale (TOUR 331 Regional Topics in Tourism) and Debra Rurak (FILM 349 Cinema Arts Field School).
Fifteen students were from the underrepresented GSO category and received a GSO scholarship that fully covered their participation.
Aiming to facilitate transformative learning, this cross-disciplinary field school immersed students deep into Vietnam's vibrant culture.
This uniquely designed experience took students behind the scenes of Vietnam's tourism industry in its dynamic urban centres and hill-tribe villages across five destinations in Northern Vietnam: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Pu Luong Nature Reserve, Ninh Binh and Sapa.
The Vietnam Field School initiative was selected as a Highly Commended Finalist in the Progressive Education Delivery category at the PIEoneer Awards 2025.
From April 21, to May 7, 2023, 22 CapU students embarked on a 16-day off-the-beaten-path global journey, led by two CapU instructors, Chris Carnovale (tourism) and Greig Gjerdalen (tourism, outdoor recreation).
Nine students were from the underrepresented GSO category and received a GSO scholarship that fully covered their participation.
Be part of the next CapU field school! Connect with us and learn about upcoming destinations.
CapU COIL Virtual Exchange and GSO
CapU’s Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Virtual Exchange (CapU COIL-VE) integrates a virtual international experience directly into existing courses, fostering idea sharing, intercultural learning and global competencies for students and faculty worldwide.
COIL is flexible! It lets you replace part of your course with a virtual global project. This can be a short module (e.g. 4 weeks) or span the full course.
Students collaborate online with peers at an international partner institution on assignments tied to the course learning outcomes.
CapU’s Global Engagement team is here to support you at every stage—from partner matching to course design and delivery.
CapU COIL-VE projects:
- Azita Shafai with Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM), Mexico: IBUS 321 International Business (Fall 2025)
- Roy Jantzen and Robert Gordon University (RGU), Scotland: TOUR 104 Marine Tourism and Interpretation (Spring 2025)
- Azita Shafai with Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM), Mexico: IBUS 321 International Business (Spring 2025)
- Jane Ince and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS), The Netherlands: CMNS 395 Public and Media Relations (Fall 2024)
- Roy Jantzen and Robert Gordon University (RGU), Scotland: TOUR 104 Marine Tourism and Interpretation (Spring 2024)
- Azita Shafai with Tecnológico de Monterrey (Tec Monterey), Mexico: IBUS 341 Introduction to Supply Chain Management and Sustainability (Fall 2023)
- Lou Villalba with Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC), Spain: BADM 101 - Introduction to Business (Fall 2023)
- Michael Thoma (School of Motion Picture Arts) and VIA University College (VIA) , Denmark: CapU’s pilot virtual exchange: Global Coproduction Film Project 2021: Arms Across the Atlantic (2021-2022)
- This initiative was selected as a Highly Commended Finalist in the Progressive Education Delivery category at the PIEoneer Awards 2022.
Ready to collaborate with an institution outside Canada or wish to learn more about creating a COIL experience? Interested in taking a COIL course while studying at CapU? Or, would you prefer to connect with a CapU faculty member to explore a COIL project idea?
Email coil@capilanou.ca and let's get started!