The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program Strategy

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program Strategy represents a new phase in scholarship aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of citizens by improving the efficiency of human capital in new and promising sectors. It was launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, crown prince, prime minister, and chairman of the Human Capability Development Program Committee, on March 7, 2022. It complements the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's efforts in human capacity development and includes four paths: Al-Rowad (Pioneers) path, al-Bahth Wa al-Tatweer (Research and Development) path, Emdad (Provider) path, and Wa’ed (Promising) path.

The Human Capability Development Program Committee, in collaboration with several relevant entities, has developed the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program Strategy. It consists of multiple paths designed to align with the priorities of Saudi Vision 2030, its executive programs, and the evolving and fast-paced needs of the labor market.

The Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program Strategy consists of four paths with specific targets aimed to be achieved. They are:

'Al-Rowad' (Pioneers) path: Have students enrolled in the top thirty educational institutions globally, according to accredited university rankings worldwide, across all disciplines, to empower Saudi scholarship recipients to excel and compete globally in all fields.

'Al-Bahth Wa al-Tatweer' (Research and Development) path: This is one of the most crucial paths aimed at empowering the research and innovation ecosystem by sending graduate students to the top institutions and universities around the world, with the aim of qualifying and empowering future scholars.

The 'Emdad' (Provider) path: focuses on fulfilling the labor market in specific disciplines that are continuously updated through scholarships to the top two hundred universities, ensuring the provision of the necessary competencies to the labor market.

The 'Wa’ed' (Promising) path: It aims to sponsor students in promising sectors and fields according to national requirements for megaprojects and promising sectors. This is achieved through training sponsored students in the best programs and global academies to provide globally qualified human resources to sectors such as manufacturing, tourism, and other promising sectors.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program Strategy is based on three main pillars. Firstly, it focuses on educating and preparing scholarship recipients, enabling them to plan early for their academic and practical journey at global universities across various fields. Secondly, it aims to develop the paths and programs of scholarships, enhancing the Kingdom's competitiveness both locally and globally by sponsoring disciplines demanded by the labor market. The third pillar encompasses the necessary follow-up and care for the scholarship recipients, concentrating on developing the services they need and providing the essential guidance to enhance their readiness for the labor market upon their return.

Within the strategy of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program, the Ministry of Education announced on December 4, 2022, the start of the application process for the Custodian of‏ the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program for the academic year 2023/2024. The application period continued until May 5, 2023.

The application in this edition was available through three paths (Al-Rowad, al-Bahth Wa al-Tatweer, and Emdad), and it included top-quality specializations from leading international universities selected to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. It aimed to meet the requirements of the labor market, enhance the academic qualifications of male and female students, and support new and diverse specializations in promising sectors in the Kingdom, contributing to global competitiveness. Additionally, it encompassed supportive programs for enhancing quality of life and building a vibrant society.