Inspiring Futures: Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships – Advanced Scholars Program
The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship – Advanced Scholars (QES-AS) program is about global citizenship.
“Global Citizenship is about the shared human experience. It acknowledges and celebrates that, wherever we come from and wherever we live, we are here together. Our well-being and success are ultimately interdependent. We have more to learn from one another than to fear about our future.” – World Economic Forum (WEF)
Through its international reach and research-focused programming, the QES-AS program has helped shape hundreds of global citizens equipped to find solutions to complex global development problems.
From 2017 to 2021, the QES-AS program provided opportunities for Canadian universities to engage with partner institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and to develop the next generation of community, research and academic leaders. It did so by offering promising scholars the chance to participate in international research mobility with invaluable training to help them grow as researchers, professionals and global citizens.
A total of 369 scholars from diverse backgrounds, genders and educational levels participated in the QES-AS program.
The program exceeded its target of having at least 75% of participating scholars come from LMICs and achieved its target of supporting at least 50% female scholars. Scholars ranged from early-career to doctoral and post-doctoral levels.
Participating scholars reported improvements in their leadership and teamwork skills, ability to conduct research and skills related to publishing and research communications, among other benefits. Despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, over 87% of QES-AS scholars reported that they met or exceeded their learning goals.
The QES-AS program involved 21 Canadian universities, 109 LMIC institutions and 222 Research Placement Partners (RPPs). It was successful in forming new, global partnerships while strengthening existing ones. Of the 109 LMIC institutions, 52.7% were new partners for Canadian universities. Similarly, 73.4% of participating RPPs represented new collaborations and relationships. The impact of the QES-AS program on forming beneficial, global partnerships for Canadian universities and institutions is undeniable.
The QES-AS program also strengthened research capacities of LMIC institutions by encouraging knowledge transfer
and global talent mobility involving applied research and specialized training. The program’s success was bolstered by the collaborative relationships developed between Canadian universities and their LMIC partners.