Established in 2014 and located in Geneva Switzerland, the  Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN Global) is an international, business-driven nonprofit alliance that promotes quality apprenticeships and work-based learning as strategies for workforce development, skills acquisition, and economic opportunity. The organization brings together employers, international organizations, policymakers, and national networks to strengthen connections between education, training, and employment.

The Network was created to respond to concerns about youth unemployment, workforce skills shortages, and the need for stronger connections between education and employment. Its origins can be traced to international discussions during the 2012 Group of Twenty and Business Twenty meetings and subsequent work exploring the establishment of an international employer-led apprenticeship network.

Initially focused on expanding apprenticeship opportunities for young people, GAN Global has broadened its mission to include work-based learning and lifelong skills development for individuals at different career stages.

An important milestone came in 2023 when the International Labour Organization adopted Recommendation No. 208, establishing an international framework for quality apprenticeships.

Key activities:

• Promoting Quality Apprenticeships
  • Advocates for apprenticeship models aligned with the International Labour Organization's Quality Apprenticeships Recommendation, 2023 (No. 208).
  • This international standard emphasizes formal, paid training arrangements that combine structured workplace learning and off-the-job education, protect apprentice rights, and lead to recognized qualifications.
  • GAN Global works with employers, industry associations, and policymakers to translate these principles into practical apprenticeship programs.
• Supporting International and National Networks
  • Operates through national networks that adapt international apprenticeship practices to local labor markets, employer needs, and policy environments.
  • As of 2026, its nine country networks include Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Colombia, Guatemala, Namibia, New Zealand, Türkiye, and the United States.
  • The U.S. network, GAN USA, was launched in 2024, hosted by Adaptive Construction Solutions. Its priorities include employer engagement, apprenticeship quality standards, workforce accessibility, and expansion of apprenticeships across occupations and industries.
• Expanding Employer Engagement
  • Works with multinational employers and business organizations to demonstrate the business value of apprenticeships, including their contributions to employee recruitment, retention, productivity, and talent development.
  • In 2024, the organization launched Corporate Champions for Apprenticeships, an initiative encouraging companies to adopt guiding principles for quality apprenticeships and strengthen their commitment to work-based learning.
  • Develops implementation guidance and return-on-investment resources to help employers establish, improve, and evaluate apprenticeship programs.
• Conducting Research and Sharing Practices
  • Through its Knowledge Hub, GAN Global publishes research, employer case studies, implementation guides, and other resources on apprenticeship development.
  • Examples:
    • Expanding Apprenticeships in the US (2025), examining employer demand, barriers to expansion, and opportunities to strengthen apprenticeship pathways in U.S. industries.
    • Quality Apprenticeships in Action: A Guide for Employers (2026), providing practical guidance, case studies, and approaches for measuring the return on investment in apprenticeship programs.
    • Research and projects addressing apprenticeship development, digital skills, workforce participation, and employer partnerships in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
    • These resources support the exchange of international practices while recognizing differences in national apprenticeship systems and labor market conditions.
• Addressing AI and the Future of Apprenticeships
  • Expanded its attention to how AI is changing jobs, workforce skills, and apprenticeship programs.
  • Encourages employers to prepare apprentices and mentors for responsible AI use, redesign learning experiences around changing workplace technologies, and create opportunities for continued skill development.
  • In March 2026, GAN Global partnered with SAP to convene employers, policymakers, students, and apprenticeship practitioners in Germany for Skills in Action: AI and the Future of Apprenticeships. The gathering highlighted employer practices for integrating artificial intelligence into workplace training and early-career development.
  • In 2026, the organization published Principles for Responsible AI and Apprenticeships, outlining five priorities:
    • Put people at the center of AI adoption.
    • Make AI fluency foundational in apprenticeship training.
    • Design workflows that integrate AI with human capabilities.
    • Strengthen human skills, including critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and ethical judgment.
    • Support continuous learning and career advancement beyond apprenticeship completion.

GAN Global operates through a membership-based structure involving multinational employers, founding international organizations, strategic partners, and national networks:

• International Labour Organization
• International Organisation of Employers
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
• Employer membership and collaborative activities have involved companies such as Accenture, the Adecco Group, Bühler, L'Oréal, Microsoft, Nestlé, SAP, and UBS
• Funding and implementation partners vary by project. Examples include the Global Alliance for YOUth, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Labor.
• The U.S. Department of Labor supported a multiyear international project from 2016 to 2021 to expand apprenticeship and work-based learning opportunities in Argentina, Costa Rica, Kenya, and the United States.

Resources

GAN Global. (n.d.). About GAN Global. https://www.gan-global.org/about/

GAN Global. (n.d.). GAN networks. https://www.gan-global.org/networks/

GAN Global. (2025). Expanding apprenticeships in the US. https://www.gan-global.org/publication/expanding-apprenticeships-in-the-us/

GAN Global. (2026). Principles for responsible AI and apprenticeships. https://www.gan-global.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GAN-Principles-for-Responsible-AI.pdf

GAN Global. (2026). Quality apprenticeships implementation and return on investment guide. https://www.gan-global.org/publication/return-on-investment-report/

GAN Global. (2026, March 12). Skills in action: AI and the future of apprenticeships. https://www.gan-global.org/skills-in-action-ai-and-the-future-of-apprenticeships/

GAN Global. (2026). 2025–26 annual report. https://www.gan-global.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GAN-Global-AnnualReport-2025-26.pdf