GAN Global is a multi-sector alliance that focuses on convening and connecting businesses, governments, and international organisations to promote work-based learning (WBL).

OUR VISION is a future in which all individuals and businesses have the skills and competencies needed to thrive and contribute to society.

OUR MISSION is to drive action on WBL to achieve an inclusive and skilled workforce. We do this by advocating for WBL, including apprenticeships, and sharing industry best practices from our member companies. We implement projects on a global and local level through a multi-stakeholder approach involving both the private sector and policymakers.

GAN Global is a multi-sector alliance convening and connecting businesses, governments, and international organisations to promote work-based learning (WBL).

Why WBL?

As the world of work changes, many employers struggle to find employees with the skills they need, even though the workforce may have other skills and qualifications. This is referred to as skills mismatch, when education and training are not providing the skills needed in the labour market.

How WBL helps employers

WBL means that employees can be trained in the skills needed by the business, while simultaneously developing practical experience. This helps to reinforce talent pipelines for individual businesses and industries, with knock-on effects to the economy.

How WBL helps employees

Employees benefit because they gain the skills that they need to progress in the labour market, even if they do not have traditional qualifications.

News

Latest insights from GAN Global HQ, networks, members and partners and networks

Building a Dual Education Model in Ecuador

GAN Global and Corporación Formados have signed a Country Partner agreement to work closely together to raise awareness on work-based learning (WBL) and apprenticeships in Ecuador. Established in 2018, Corporación Formados was born out of a cooperation project between the Federation of Chambers of Industry and Commerce of Germany and chambers and associations of Ecuador. Since its inception, Formados has been working on developing dual education programmes within vocational education and training. GAN Global, a multi-sector alliance convening and connecting businesses, governments, and international organisations to promote WBL, has been active in the Latin American region since 2016, with partners…

New Executive Director at GAN Global

Geneva, 1 September 2023 – GAN Global is thrilled to announce the appointment of Kathryn Rowan as its new Executive Director. Ms. Rowan, a seasoned leader with an exceptional background in human resources and corporate social responsibility, brings a wealth of experience from her previous role as Vice President of Human Resources, Zone Latin America, and Global Youth Lead at Nestlé. As GAN continues to champion the importance of apprenticeships and work-based learning worldwide, the organization is confident that Kathryn Rowan’s vision, expertise, and dedication will steer GAN into an even brighter future. I am thrilled to join the Global…

Apprenticeships: The Key Innovation for Building Efficient Talent Supply Chains

This online event spotlighted the potential for work-based learning (WBL) programs, including apprenticeships, to help companies cultivate skills and build an effective talent supply chain. In today’s rapidly evolving economies and workforces, the demand for skilled and productive talent is constantly increasing. To address such needs, WBL programs, including apprenticeships, have emerged as key innovations in cultivating skills development to building strong talent supply chains. TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship and GAN Global organized this second webinar on 29 June 2023, as part of a joint virtual series that aims to explore in deeper detail specific themes regarding WBL and apprenticeships as…

The RoI on Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning in India

TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship and GAN Global hosted a webinar, on 22 February 2023, to kick off a series of joint virtual events that will explore in deeper detail specific themes around the potential of WBL and apprenticeships for Indian youth to enter the job market and improve their employability in a variety of sectors. The webinar was also an opportunity to announce a partnership between GAN Global and TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship to scale degree apprenticeship adoption in the country. “Our mission is to achieve employment for all worldwide, and we believe that Indian youth is a significant quadrant in the…

The Great Resignation and Work-Based Learning

“I see it as a responsibility to help companies recruit people based on true potential, motivation and cultural fit – then to continuously train them for the skills needed. We have seen apprenticeship becoming a clear game changer, not only for primary education but also to support professional transitions. Adecco has built first pilots here, both in terms of assessment and upskilling.” In the context of the Future of Work, WBL including apprenticeships and internships can be a way to empower workers of all ages to acquire skills needed throughout the entire cycles of their careers. Set against the backdrop…

Strategies to empower women and girls in the world of work through vocational education training (VET)

The African Union and AUDA NEPAD, through Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA) and GAN Global hosted a webinar on driving gender-transformative approaches for Africa. The webinar showcased how the AU Commission, AUDA-NEPAD and GAN Global members, with the support of funders and partners, are continually pursuing to increase and sustain African women working in STEM and other underrepresented fields on the continent. Challenges in the African context include infrastructure and access to both hardware and software. However, we must ensure an inclusive Future of Work and not leave an entire continent behind. The purpose of our work and of this webinar…

GAN Argentina, GAN Australia and GAN Guatemala Join GAN Global Board

GAN Global is honoured to welcome three network country representatives onto the Management Board. As the two-year term of GAN Colombia, GAN Malawi and GAN Turkey comes to an end, members thank these three countries for their service. We welcome the following three individuals, as representatives of the host organizations of three GAN Networks, for their future commitments to promote work-based learning, including apprenticeships and adaptive measures to innovate and respond to the many recent changes in workforce development and learning: “At GAN Argentina, our goal is to encourage local companies to commit to training and incorporating young people into…

Greener Skills for a Sustainable Workforce

Green education and training programmes play a crucial role in enabling businesses and employees to leverage emerging opportunities. Evidence from several countries shows that in sectors and occupations where green growth policies are encouraged, new skills, or new combinations of familiar skills, are driving the need for greener upskilling and reskilling strategies. The role of work-based learning (WBL) in these approaches is an opportunity for GAN Global and its members and partners to shape initiatives to close the skills gaps needed towards a sustainable future. The latest publication by GAN Global Board Member, the Adecco Group was introduced – Training for Green Jobs, highlighting different training solutions…

Promoting Girls and Women in STEM: Building the Talent Pipeline through Work-Based Learning

On the 11th Anniversary of International Girls in ICT Day, a day to empower and encourage more girls entering this sector, GAN Global leveraged its network of members and partners from various fields, backgrounds, and countries, to develop solutions and ideas to lower barriers for girls and women in STEM roles. “You cannot be, what you do not see.” Pallavi Verma, Senior Managing Director, Accenture – referring to Accenture’s research on women taking up STEM positions and the need for active role models To break down glass ceilings and walls for girls and women at work, they need to be…

L’Oréal Joins GAN Global Management Board

We are pleased to announce L’Oréal, the world’s leader in the beauty market, as our newest member.

New Guide Emphasizes Skills Development as Key Business Strategy to a Sustainable World of Work

In times of extreme uncertainty and rapid digitalization, closing the gap between the supply and demand of skills and ensuring people have the right skills to be employable and perform their work well, is more challenging than ever. To help business leaders better understand how a strong skills development strategy creates business value while simultaneously generating positive value for people and society, today, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN Global) launched a guide for Chief Human Resource Officers (CHROs) on skills strategies for a sustainable world of work.

Social

Nine podcast episodes on lifelong learning, apprenticeship insights from Switzerland and Australia, and the ROI of WBL

New Executive Director at GAN Global

Geneva, 1 September 2023 – GAN Global is thrilled to announce the appointment of Kathryn Rowan as its new Executive Director. Ms. Rowan, a seasoned leader with an exceptional background in human resources and corporate social responsibility, brings a wealth of experience from her previous role as Vice President of Human Resources, Zone Latin America, and Global Youth Lead at Nestlé. As GAN continues to champion the importance of apprenticeships and work-based learning worldwide, the organization is confident that Kathryn Rowan’s vision, expertise, and dedication will steer GAN into an even brighter future. I am thrilled to join the Global…

Apprenticeships: The Key Innovation for Building Efficient Talent Supply Chains

This online event spotlighted the potential for work-based learning (WBL) programs, including apprenticeships, to help companies cultivate skills and build an effective talent supply chain. In today’s rapidly evolving economies and workforces, the demand for skilled and productive talent is constantly increasing. To address such needs, WBL programs, including apprenticeships, have emerged as key innovations in cultivating skills development to building strong talent supply chains. TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship and GAN Global organized this second webinar on 29 June 2023, as part of a joint virtual series that aims to explore in deeper detail specific themes regarding WBL and apprenticeships as…

The RoI on Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning in India

TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship and GAN Global hosted a webinar, on 22 February 2023, to kick off a series of joint virtual events that will explore in deeper detail specific themes around the potential of WBL and apprenticeships for Indian youth to enter the job market and improve their employability in a variety of sectors. The webinar was also an opportunity to announce a partnership between GAN Global and TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship to scale degree apprenticeship adoption in the country. “Our mission is to achieve employment for all worldwide, and we believe that Indian youth is a significant quadrant in the…

Building a Dual Education Model in Ecuador

GAN Global and Corporación Formados have signed a Country Partner agreement to work closely together to raise awareness on work-based learning (WBL) and apprenticeships in Ecuador. Established in 2018, Corporación Formados was born out of a cooperation project between the Federation of Chambers of Industry and Commerce of Germany and chambers and associations of Ecuador. Since its inception, Formados has been working on developing dual education programmes within vocational education and training. GAN Global, a multi-sector alliance convening and connecting businesses, governments, and international organisations to promote WBL, has been active in the Latin American region since 2016, with partners…

Our new podcast episode is out now!

Give it a listen to learn how youth are faring in the pandemic and what we can do to get them out of #COVID19 limbo-land.

Newsletter

Each newsletter features joint activities and perspectives with member companies, partners and networks representing various sectors spanning the globe.

The GAN Story

The Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN) was established in response to the high levels of youth unemployment that resulted from the 2009 economic crash…

The GAN Organisation

The Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN) is a Swiss non-profit association based in Geneva. Like all Swiss associations, it comprises two principal governing bodies…

The GAN Leadership

The Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN) was established in response to the high levels of youth unemployment that resulted from the 2009 economic crash…

GAN Members

Our corporate members are multinational companies who share a commitment to work-based learning (WBL) as a means of equipping their own employees…