QES 2025

What is the QES 2025?

The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships program (QES) was created to improve global talent exchange between Canada and other nations. The program aims to develop the next generation of innovative leaders and community builders by providing enriched academic, professional, and cross-cultural experiences and by facilitating lasting local and global community engagement.

The objectives of the QES program are to:

1. Develop global citizens through enriched academic, professional and cross-cultural experiences;
2. Foster a new generation of enterprising leaders in Canada and around the world through facilitating lasting local and global community engagement; and
3. Enhance collaborative capacity and deepen peer relationships among Queen Elizabeth Scholars to enrich the program experience and facilitate personal and professional growth.

The expected outcomes of the program are:

1. Increased knowledge and skills through academic and professional experiences of young global leaders;
2. Enhanced networking between Canadians and emerging global leaders; and
3. Strengthened impact to local and global communities by young leaders.

This call for proposals is worth $6 million CAD, and each institution may apply for $300,000 CAD in funding and is exclusively for scholarship projects.

What are the Award Criteria?

Canadian universities may seek up to $300,000 CAD in funding from QES. It is anticipated that project activity will commence as early as January 1, 2025, subject to the signing of a Contribution Agreement between Rideau Hall Foundation and the successful Canadian universities.  All project activities must be completed by December 31, 2028, and final reports must be submitted by February 28, 2029.

Key criteria includes:

• Must focus on the adaptation, response, and resilience to a changing climate, while enhancing academic diplomacy
• Priority will be given to proposals that focus on diversity and inclusion and result in a strengthened impact to local and global communities by young leaders.
• Participants must spend a minimum of 60 days on the program. The 60 days does not include travel days or any in-country briefings/orientation.
• All QES funded activities must be for academic credit.
• Projects must aim for a reasonable gender balance.
• The program will require all scholars to participate in leadership development, networking, and community engagement activities during their award.
• Projects may build on existing partnerships between Canadian universities and international partners, but funding may alsobe used to establish new relationships.
• Canadian universities are expected to participate in knowledge sharing activities throughout the program to impart insightsand learnings from the project with other Canadian post-secondary institutions.

Please consult the QES 2025 Guidelines for more information.

Process to Apply

1. Read the QES 2025 Program Guidelines
2. Submit your project concept note to the Vice-Provost, Global Engagement.
3. Internal deadline: May 2, 12:00pm EDT.
4. Internal selection process. Queen's may advise clustering proposals together to form a strong single institutional proposal.
5. PIs on selected proposals meet together to plan joint external application.
6. Complete external application.
7. External deadline for institutional application: June 7, 2024, 5:00pm EDT.

Internal Application Link

Have Questions?

 Email the Office of the Vice-Provost, Global Engagement.