RIYADH — The Saudi Space Commission (SSC) announced on Tuesday the decision to send the first batch of male and female Saudi students to pursue studies in space science disciplines in 30 most prestigious universities around the world. These students will be the beneficiaries of the Saudi Foreign Scholarship Program for the first time in obtaining qualitative educational opportunities that end with employment in the field of space sciences. Through this program, SSC seeks to qualify and develop national cadres specialized in the fields of space and its technologies. The first phase of the scholarship program includes bachelor and master degrees in the field of space in several disciplines such as aerospace engineering, space sciences and space policies. The Commission said that the program focuses on the development of national human capital as one of the most important enablers for the advancement of the space sector in the Kingdom. The Commission is working to provide qualitative knowledge to outstanding students in priority areas in the space sector, and thus enhancing the Kingdom’s capabilities in the fields of research, development and innovation through sending students to most prestigious universities. This is also aimed to building partnerships and scientific exchange with these universities, research and development centers, and international research institutions specialized in space sciences. The Commission stated that the program provides multiple benefits for the selected students. These include many advantages including study costs and financial guarantee, in addition to health insurance and travel tickets from the Kingdom to the headquarters of the scholarship study, apart from the provision of guidance programs by following up on the scholarship student and evaluating his academic development. The Commission invited on July 25 this year applications for the first Saudi Foreign Scholarship Program, ending with employment in the field of space sciences. The initiative comes within the framework of the comprehensive development witnessed by the Kingdom’s space sector. The program offers two tracks for students. This is either for those who have obtained unconditional acceptance for scholarship program or those who pursue studies at their own personal expense in disciplines related to space sciences in the world renowned universities. The scholarship program comes within the Commission’s plans to realize the Kingdom’s aspirations in this sector. This they hope to achieve by working through many paths to achieve global leadership in space sciences, including human capital development, qualification of competencies, and ensuring the availability of qualified national cadets who are compatible with the needs in the space sector in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.