The Saudi Cultural Attaché in Canada welcomed a new batch of scholarship recipients as part of the Pioneers Track for the academic year 2025/2026, which included the scholarship of 201 male and female recipients , with 61 academic students and 140 doctors training in fellowship and subspecialty programs at the University of Toronto.
Translation of the National Scholarship Strategy
Dr. Tahani Al-Baiz , the Cultural Attaché to the United States and Canada and supervisor of South American countries, explained that all scholarship recipients have enrolled in universities ranked among the top 15 globally. She emphasized that this reflects the Kingdom's commitment to increasing the number of students in the top 30 universities worldwide, a key objective of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program , launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Human Capability Development Program Committee, on March 7, 2022.
This approach comes within the framework of a comprehensive strategy aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Saudi citizens and raising the efficiency of human capital in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in building a knowledge economy and developing national capabilities in promising fields.
Developing national competencies
Dr. Al-Baiz emphasized that sending this cohort abroad represents a significant addition to the educational journey of Saudi scholarship recipients, combining academic studies at leading international universities with specialized clinical training at one of the world's premier medical centers. This integration contributes to developing qualified national talent to support vital sectors within the Kingdom, particularly in the fields of medicine, scientific research, and innovation.
Future implications
The Pioneers Program is a vital resource for providing the Kingdom with a generation of highly skilled professionals capable of competing in global markets and meeting the demands of sustainable development. This program also reinforces Saudi Arabia's position as a nation that invests in its people as the cornerstone of its development and progress.
