Mosamania
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Aiming toward a knowledge-based economy
Members of a Saudi delegation attend the 3rd session of Saudi-Chinese Youth Dialogue which began at Beijing University, Thursday.
Doha Ghouth
Saudi Gazette
The King Abdullah Scholarship Program (KASP) was the starting point of turning the Saudi economy away from oil dependency and toward a knowledge-based one. Launched in 2005, KASP is considered the largest scholarship program in the history of the Kingdom.
Some 30 countries have accepted over 200,000 KASP students, aiding the Kingdom in educating two generations of men and women. Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Mousa, Undersecretary at the Saudi Ministry of Higher Education for Cultural Missions Affairs, spoke about the outcomes of the scholarship program and expectations of the KASP students.
“Educating our youth is not only beneficial to our economy but makes us proud of these young men and women who will equip newer generations with high quality education and experience,” Al-Mousa said, adding that the ministry’s support of the scholarship program shows that it is compatible with the needs of the local labor market.
“The program will come to an end at some point but extending it from five years to 10 years shows how much the country is willing to invest in its youth by providing them with nothing but the best.”
Al-Mousa said KASP has helped rebuild relations between countries. “The conduct of Saudi students overseas had disproved many stereotypes of Saudi society. Many students have even set up charities in the US, the UK and Canada. One of the largest Saudi student populations resides in the US with over 30,000 students entering only the best American colleges every year.”
Osama Tayeb, President of King Abdulaziz University, said he sent 100 instructors abroad this year so they can return and give back to their country.
“It is not about what we lack in Saudi Arabia but more about what we need and that is the main reason behind this program. By sending instructors abroad, we are going to have our brightest educators teaching our students what they need to see the world from a different angle,” said Tayeb.
For students, KASP allows them to study in some of the most innovative fields around. Majed Madani, a student researching stem cell reconstruction, said the program allowed him to go to Germany and conduct groundbreaking research.
“I owe my life to this program because what I study is one of the most innovative fields of medicine which I would have never chosen had I remained back home. After trying different universities, I couldn’t find the specialty that served my passion and curiosity but coming to Germany has changed all of that,” he said.
Saudi Gazette - Aiming toward a knowledge-based economy
Members of a Saudi delegation attend the 3rd session of Saudi-Chinese Youth Dialogue which began at Beijing University, Thursday.
Doha Ghouth
Saudi Gazette
The King Abdullah Scholarship Program (KASP) was the starting point of turning the Saudi economy away from oil dependency and toward a knowledge-based one. Launched in 2005, KASP is considered the largest scholarship program in the history of the Kingdom.
Some 30 countries have accepted over 200,000 KASP students, aiding the Kingdom in educating two generations of men and women. Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Mousa, Undersecretary at the Saudi Ministry of Higher Education for Cultural Missions Affairs, spoke about the outcomes of the scholarship program and expectations of the KASP students.
“Educating our youth is not only beneficial to our economy but makes us proud of these young men and women who will equip newer generations with high quality education and experience,” Al-Mousa said, adding that the ministry’s support of the scholarship program shows that it is compatible with the needs of the local labor market.
“The program will come to an end at some point but extending it from five years to 10 years shows how much the country is willing to invest in its youth by providing them with nothing but the best.”
Al-Mousa said KASP has helped rebuild relations between countries. “The conduct of Saudi students overseas had disproved many stereotypes of Saudi society. Many students have even set up charities in the US, the UK and Canada. One of the largest Saudi student populations resides in the US with over 30,000 students entering only the best American colleges every year.”
Osama Tayeb, President of King Abdulaziz University, said he sent 100 instructors abroad this year so they can return and give back to their country.
“It is not about what we lack in Saudi Arabia but more about what we need and that is the main reason behind this program. By sending instructors abroad, we are going to have our brightest educators teaching our students what they need to see the world from a different angle,” said Tayeb.
For students, KASP allows them to study in some of the most innovative fields around. Majed Madani, a student researching stem cell reconstruction, said the program allowed him to go to Germany and conduct groundbreaking research.
“I owe my life to this program because what I study is one of the most innovative fields of medicine which I would have never chosen had I remained back home. After trying different universities, I couldn’t find the specialty that served my passion and curiosity but coming to Germany has changed all of that,” he said.
Saudi Gazette - Aiming toward a knowledge-based economy
