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Learning
November 15, 2019

Five years of Queen Elizabeth Scholars

The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship, more affectionately known as the Queen Elizabeth Scholars (QES) program, celebrated two major milestones in 2019: the program awarded its 2,000th scholarship, and celebrated its fifth anniversary.

The idea for the QES program was born from the desire to celebrate and honour the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne in 2012. Three years later, the first Queen Elizabeth Scholars began their journeys of knowledge exchange throughout the world.

This prestigious scholarship is centred around leadership development and community engagement achieved through educational exchange and real-world experience. Ultimately, the goal of the program is to develop a new generation of global leaders, both Canadian and international.

Approximately 70% of participants are Canadians traveling abroad and 30% are from other countries coming to Canada, for stays ranging between three months and three years.

What makes the QES program unique is that it permits participating universities to conceptualize and structure projects reflective of their expertise, and that leverage their relationships, both domestically and globally. This creates a decentralized and flexible model, where much of the design and innovation of the program happens at the university level, reflecting local priorities.

This collaborative initiative is made possible through the leadership of the Rideau Hall Foundation, in collaboration with Universities Canada, Community Foundations of Canada, and Canadian universities.

Learn more at queenelizabethscholars.ca.

 

Please note: The Rideau Hall Foundation does not accept applications for the Queen Elizabeth Scholars program. If you are interested in becoming a Queen Elizabeth Scholar, you must contact the international office of the Canadian university where you would like to study. Lists of participating universities and their projects can be found here and here.

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