Filipinos are working in technical and administrative positions in Saudi universities in large numbers and the Kingdom welcomes them to apply for scholarships at graduate level courses in Saudi universities, Al-Anqari told Tago.

Tago thanked Al-Anqari “for this recent generous development,” adding that he would encourage Filipinos seeking higher education to apply for the scholarships available in all fields except medical degrees.

Tago met with Al-Anqari on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Ministry of Higher Education in Riyadh.

Tago said those interested in applying for the scholarships may do so through the websites of the universities or through the Philippine Embassy, which shall send the applications to the Saudi Ministry of Higher Education through diplomatic channels.

At present, there are six Filipino graduate students on full scholarship at the King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST), which opened in 2009. They are in addition to Filipinos studying Islamic studies in universities in Makkah and Madinah.

The Philippine Embassy has urged Filipinos interested in studying in Saudi Arabia to explore local universities' programs through their websites, and to contact the cultural attaché at [email protected] for further questions and information.

King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh is ranked among the top 200 in the world, according to several ranking surveys. The 2011 ARWU Shanghai ranking listed the KSU as 261st internationally.

Webmetrics Ranking of World Universities placed KSU at 186 globally, top in the Arab world and 19th best in Asia.

During the meeting with Al-Anqari, Tago also expressed appreciation to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for the scholarship program for young Saudis studying overseas.

He also invited Saudi students who decide to study overseas to consider Philippine universities, particularly the University of the Philippines at Diliman and Los Banos in Laguna province, as well as other public and private universities.

Tago and Al-Anqari also discussed possible cooperation between the Saudi Ministry of Higher Education and the Philippine Commission on Higher Education in accordance with an agreement on academic and educational cooperation signed between the two countries in 2005.

They also discussed various aspects of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia.