Global Up for Individuals_white logo

Build intercultural skills, earn the Global Competence Certificate

Join an award-winning 6-week intercultural competence program to build real-world skills for working across cultures.

Contact us for more information 
This is a program of AFS International and is not administered by AFS-USA. AFS-USA is a separate legal entity from AFS Intercultural Programs/AFS International and is not a legal affiliate thereof.

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We live and work in increasingly diverse environments, yet most people have never been taught how to navigate cultural differences effectively.

Misunderstandings, assumptions, and unexamined perspectives can limit collaboration, create tension, and hold people back.

Global Up for Individuals is designed to change that.

You’ll build the awareness, mindset, and practical skills to:

  • Understand your own cultural lens
  • Recognize and navigate differences
  • Communicate across perspectives
  • Collaborate with confidence in diverse environments

Ready to enroll? Click here

What You’ll Learn: Intercultural Skills for Real-World Situations

Global Up for Individuals _ Assets _ Landscape

Inward: Understand Yourself

  • Identify your cultural lens and biases
  • Build self-awareness through reflection
  • Understand how your experiences shape your perspective
Global Up for Individuals _ Assets _ Landscape (1)

Outward: Understand Others

  • Analyze cultural differences and perspectives
  • Understand power, privilege, and inequality
  • Build empathy and perspective-taking
Global Up for Individuals _ Assets _ Landscape (2)

Forward: Take Action

  • Communicate effectively across cultures
  • Navigate tension and complex interactions
  • Collaborate in diverse environments

Why Global Up?

  • 8000+ professionals certified
  • 40+ nationalities represented
  • 4 program versions
  • State-of-the-art curriculum

Enroll now

How the Program Works: Simple, Flexible, Real-World Learning

A flexible, guided learning experience that combines self-paced content with real-time global dialogue — designed to fit your schedule and apply directly to your life.

Need help deciding? We’re happy to guide you.

  • Self-paced online modules. Access 18–20 interactive video modules through a dedicated learning platform. Learn at your own pace with guided reflections, practical examples, and perspectives from participants around the world.
  • Live facilitated dialogue sessions. You’ll be invited to join 4 live sessions (90 minutes each), led by AFS Qualified Facilitators. These small-group conversations help you deepen reflection, exchange perspectives, and apply what you’re learning in real time.
  • Reflection & real-world application. Throughout the program, you’ll engage in reflection activities and apply concepts to your daily interactions, work, or studies.

Learn with Expert Intercultural Facilitators

  1. Claudia Rojas

  2. Jennifer Peachey

  3. Linda Stuart

  4. Sarah Collins

Upcoming Global Competence Certificate Cohorts

Next cohort starts March 30 

2026 dates:

    • March 30 – April 27, 2026
    • May 25 – June 22, 2026
    • July 20 – August 17, 2026
    • September 14 – October 12, 2026
    • November 9 – December 7, 2026
▸ Live session dates and times will be determined based on participant time zones.
▸ A final certificate will be awarded upon successful attendance of live sessions.
▸ We offer flexible scheduling for private groups of five or more. Please email us at [email protected] if you are interested.

Choose Your Learning Pathway

Explore the curriculum of our programs here

Everyday intercultural interactions

Develop the skills to engage thoughtfully with diversity in your local environment, from your community to your social circles and daily interactions.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Recognize and navigate cultural differences in everyday situations
  • Build empathy and understanding across perspectives
  • Communicate more effectively in diverse settings

Best for:

  • Individuals engaged in diverse communities
  • Volunteers, community leaders, and youth workers
  • Anyone seeking to better understand and relate to others in their daily life

Global Up enhances your power skills

  1. Navigate conflict and differences across cultures

  2. Develop emotional intelligence & expand your self-awareness

  3. Build a high-performing multicultural team

  4. Further cross-cultural training skills

  5. Embed Global Competence into your learning experience

  6. Hone your global leadership skills

Learn more about how AFS Educates Active Global Citizens
Global Up for Individuals _ Assets _ 1600 x 1200 _ Carl Warren (1)

Professor from the University of St. Thomas Law School

Carl Warren

“Global Up Program helps new attorneys discuss their values and perspectives and the values that are already inculcated coming into this profession and how people can perpetuate perceptions of the past. This program addresses implicit bias that influences the way we are. It raises awareness. Moreover, it gave an opportunity for students to discuss their responsibilities as they enter the profession without having to strip themselves of their identity or moral compass.”

Participation Fees

The participation fee for the Global Up program is $295 USD

We offer a 10% discount for higher education faculty and staff, students, and non-profit organizations. Send a certification of your current status to [email protected].

What are the steps?
  1. Submit your application below
  2. We’ll send you a link to make program payment and finalize your enrollment.
  3. Begin the program!

Enroll now!

FAQ

The participation fee for the Global Up program is $295 USD.

Get started, we’ll guide you

Submit your request below to receive a payment link via email and finalize your enrollment.

Give the Global Up

Buy a voucher for the program,
a gift that will truly make a difference

Purchasing a voucher allows you to gift someone the invaluable opportunity to develop global skills and intercultural competence. This thoughtful present provides access to our program for a full year, empowering the recipient to broaden their horizons and thrive in today’s interconnected world. It’s the perfect way to invest in their personal and professional growth, opening doors to new experiences and perspectives.

Purchase the voucher through the form below.

Global Up Gift Card

  • This covers the 6-week online blended learning program designed to empower professionals worldwide with global skills and intercultural competence. You will receive instructions by email to redeem it.
  • Payments are processed by stripe.com. A receipt will be sent to your email.
Contact Us

To speak with an AFS Intercultural Programs representative, call +1 212 209 0900. You can find us at 5 Hanover Square, New York, NY, USA. Contact the GCC team at: [email protected].

About AFS

AFS Intercultural Programs is an international, voluntary, non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world.

AFS Global Competence Certificate (GCC) program is a research-based program that equips learners with tangible global competence skills.

© AFS Global Competence Certificate Program 2026