Canada hosts 16,000 Saudi students, says ambassador

The Canadian government has praised Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for developing education in the Kingdom and emphasized the close ties it has with the country.
Speaking recently with Arab News before the opening of the International Exhibition and Conference on Higher Education (IECHE), Canadian Ambassador Thomas MacDonald said that between 4,000 and 5,000 Saudi doctors had completed part of their studies in Canada.
He said Canada now hosts 16,000 Saudi students, the fourth-highest number of international students in the country. “Our network of Saudi alumni is growing rapidly every year.”
MacDonald said that Saudi Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, completed part of his education at the University of Alberta, Edmonton and Dalhousie University in Canada.
Canada took part in the IECHE for the fourth time. The expo featured 34 Canadian institutions and two keynote speakers who highlighted what the country has to offer Saudis.
He said that last year 75 percent of all visas for Saudis were issued in five days or less. “It is now possible for students to work in Canada so they can have some work experience and education,” he said.
Referring to the IECHE, the ambassador said: “Over the past three years, this event has successfully grown to become an important forum allowing students from Saudi Arabia to learn about the tremendous opportunities for post-secondary education from leading international education institutions.”
MacDonald said Canada offers quality education in all its 10 provinces and three territories. It has a safe and friendly environment and affordable tuition fees.
“International students in Canada have access to academic programs, which allow them to gain valuable work experience through work placements and cooperative education, and the most sophisticated and state-of-the-art technologies and facilities. In 2012, five Canadian universities ranked among the world’s top 100 universities.”
“I invite Saudi students to meet all the representatives from Canadian universities and colleges, and to discover how studying there will set you on the path to achieving your dreams and securing your future,” he added.
On Saudi-Canada relations, MacDonald said: “We have a positive relationship in a wide range of fields, including the energy sector, where we’re both global leaders. Saudi Arabia has the world’s largest oil reserves and Canada is number two or three in terms of oil reserves. We have a lot of common interest in energy security as we are both members of the G20,” he said.
MacDonald added that the two countries were also collaborating in the security sector including counter-terrorism. “We share a lot of common views on regional issues ranging from Syria to Iran and other areas.”