Dr. Inas Al-Issa, Deputy Minister of Education, affirmed during the opening of the second edition of the Saudi-Canadian Education Partnership Forum in Toronto that academic cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Canada represents a fundamental and deeply rooted pillar in the joint educational work process.
She explained that education system is witnessing a major developmental leap that has made it more competitive and closely linked to the fields of innovation and sustainable economic development, in clear line with the strategic objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
The historical context of Saudi-Canadian educational relations
Historically, academic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Canada span decades, with Canadian educational institutions being a preferred destination for thousands of Saudi scholarship students, particularly in medical, engineering, and exact science fellowship programs. This long-standing partnership has contributed to knowledge transfer and technology localization, establishing a solid foundation of mutual trust that culminated in the launch of this forum, first held in Riyadh in 2024, and now in its current iteration in Toronto.
The impact of Vision 2030 on educational transformation
These partnerships are of paramount importance locally, regionally, and internationally. Locally, they contribute to achieving the goals of the Human Capital Development Program within Vision 2030, which aims to cultivate globally competitive citizens by enhancing the quality of academic output. Regionally, they solidify the Kingdom's position as a leading center for education and scientific research in the Middle East. Internationally, they open up broad avenues for collaboration in addressing global challenges through joint scientific research and the exchange of expertise.
Broad national and international integration
The forum's activities were characterized by broad participation that included about 33 diverse Saudi entities, including ministries, national institutions, the system of public and private universities and institutes, in addition to research centers, hospitals and cultural attachés in Canada and the United States of America.
In contrast, the Canadian side had a strong presence, represented by more than 45 prestigious universities and educational institutions. This presence reflects a mutual desire to broaden cooperation and develop the educational and research environment. This large gathering seeks to leverage international expertise and localize global best practices in education within Saudi national institutions to enhance the quality of academic and professional outputs across various vital fields.
Shared visions for the future of education
The forum's agenda included two intensive dialogue sessions featuring leading academics and specialists from both sides, aimed at envisioning a more effective collaborative future. The first session focused on discussing institutional and national priorities within the Saudi education system in light of the major transformations brought about by Vision 2030, to ensure that academic plans align with the demands of the global labor market.
The second session was dedicated to exploring ways to enhance joint cooperation in the field of technical and vocational training, and to developing the specialized skills of students and trainees in line with the rapid technological developments that the world is witnessing today in various industrial and technical sectors.
fruitful investment partnerships
The events witnessed significant momentum through specialized bilateral meetings aimed at building effective strategic partnerships and showcasing promising investment opportunities in the Saudi education sector. A key meeting was also organized on the sidelines of the forum by the Arab-Canadian Business Council, in cooperation with the Canadian Embassy in the Kingdom and the Saudi-Canadian Business Council, to explore prospects for economic cooperation related to the knowledge economy.
The Saudi delegation concluded its activities with field visits to a group of universities and specialized colleges in the Canadian province of Ontario to learn about leading experiences, which confirms the role of this forum as a pivotal platform to enhance educational, research and health cooperation between the two countries, and to drive sustainable development.
