RIYADH – Minister of Education Dr. Ahmed Al-Eissa assured Saudi scholarship students in Canada that the Kingdom has worked to provide all facilities for an easy transfer to universities in other countries.

Dr. Al-Eissa said in a tweet, "I would like to reassure our students in Canada that your government is keen on your academic future ... We will provide all possible facilities for your easy transfer to international or local universities..."

He urged students to cooperate with the cultural attaché in Canada for this purpose.

Plan already in action to transfer students from Canada

Saudi students studying in Canada now have the opportunity to transfer to 18 different countries to continue their studies “without being affected”, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Educationfor Scholarship, General Supervisor of Cultural Attachés Jasser al-Harbash told Al Arabiya English on Tuesday.

“We are starting to coordinate with cultural missions in other countries to start the immediate transfer of students to countries with top education programs. Priority countries are Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. Education is in English, and we do not want to transfer them to a country with non-English curriculums,” Harbash told Al Arabiya English.

“There are currently more than 12,000 Saudi students studying in Canada, 7,000 of whom are on scholarship programs while many are accompanying spouses and children. 5,000 are studying for their bachelor’s degree and 2,000 are in postgraduate programs, and medical fellowships in different specializations,” Harbash said.

Harbash added that they are capable of transferring all Saudi students from Canada to countries with cultural missions in the US, UK, New Zealand and Australia, all of which are considered countries with top educational institutions, and have good relations with Saudi Arabia. — SPA