TLDR:

  • RBC believes all learners should have the support, access and opportunities needed to succeed in a changing workforce.
  • As costs of living continue to rise – financial support for Education and Skills Training is more important than ever.
  • Universities Canada, working alongside partners, designs and administer more than 150 programs, spanning approximately 7,700 individual scholarships nationwide.
  • RBC’s collaboration with Universities Canada goes far deeper than traditional sponsorship, helping shape programs, reach non-traditional learners and create opportunities across multiple stages of a career – from early education to mid-career transitions.
  • Students like Taya Suttill show how funding enables learners from all backgrounds to pursue meaningful careers – blending academic knowledge, cultural teachings and real-world experience.
  • RBC wants more people to have the skills they need to succeed, which is why they’ve launched the RBC Next Step scholarships, to learn more visit www.rbc.com/scholarships.

Preparing Canadians for the future of work isn’t just a national priority – it’s an economic necessity. As industries evolve and new technologies reshape the labour market, workers need adaptable, forward-looking skills. Post-secondary education is currently one of the most reliable pathways to building those skills.

But education is expensive – and so is life. With tuition, rising housing costs and day-to-day expenses, financial support is increasingly critical to helping students access the education that powers their futures.

In Fall 2023 alone, Canadian Universities assisted more than 1.16 million full-time and 421,000 part-time students. Many are studying in high-demand fields like health, engineering and mathematics – areas that will shape Canada’s future workforce. But for countless students, the ability to pursue those fields hinges on whether financial support is available to them. This is where student funding plays a transformative role.

How student funding fuels opportunity

Julia Scott, Vice President of Member Services at Universities Canada, oversees the network’s scholarship and mobility programs. Representing 97 member institutions nationwide, the organization has administered scholarships for more than 60 years. Today, it runs over 150 programs and distributes approximately  7,700 scholarships annually, amounting to $24 million in funding.

For Scott, the value of this work goes far beyond dollars.

Julia Scott, VP Member Services at Universities Canada

“There is no better time for students to know that there are companies, investors, groups of people and governments willing to support them through their academic journeys,” she says. Scholarships open doors that might otherwise stay closed. They reduce financial stress for families, create space for students to focus on learning, and help level the playing field for people from underrepresented communities.

“Without a doubt, scholarships reduce financial stress,” says Scott. “But they also inspire siblings and strengthen communities. Graduates come back and give back – through entrepreneurship, community leadership or mentorship. It creates a ripple effect.”

Beyond access, financial support helps students pursue fields where Canada most needs talent. Many of today’s programs emphasize leadership, community engagement, diverse lived experience and skills for the future – such as adaptability, collaboration and communication.

“Talent exists everywhere,” says Scott. “Our role is to work with sponsors to ensure programs reflect the needs of the labour market and support a Canada where all learners can thrive.”

Taya Suttill: A future shaped by education, tradition and opportunity

One student who knows the impact of financial support is Taya Suttill, a Bachelor of Science student at Simon Fraser University and recipient of the RBC Indigenous Scholarship. Taya grew up in Cloverdale, B.C., but her heart is rooted in the Prairies. Each summer, she travels to Saskatchewan to help at Keep Ranch, a cattle operation located on the land her great-grandfather homesteaded in 1918. Over four years of hands-on work, she has fallen deeply in love with ranching – the land, the animals and the heritage she hopes to carry forward as a fifth-generation farmer.

Her academic path is helping her bridge Western science and Indigenous teachings. Through courses in biology and Indigenous ethnozoology, she’s learning how ecosystems function, how to steward land sustainably and how to approach animals with respect and reciprocity.

Taya Suttill on her family’s ranch in Saskatchewan Taya Suttill on her family’s ranch in Saskatchewan

“I don’t just see plants or animals anymore – I understand how they work,” she says. “Healthy land creates healthy animals, and everything is connected.”

Taya is passionate about sustainable and Indigenous farming practices, such as rotational grazing, which protects soil, encourages new growth and strengthens biodiversity. She hopes to bring this blend of knowledge – scientific, cultural and practical – into her future ranching career.

But pursuing university wasn’t going to be easy.

“The scholarship changed my life,” she says. “I didn’t have to worry about working part-time just to afford school. I could focus on learning. And it meant I could spend my summers on the ranch, doing the work I love.”

A collaboration committed to the future of work

Universities Canada works with organizations that share a commitment to equity, innovation and preparing students for the future. RBC is one such collaborator – helping ensure students have the support they need to build skills, pursue new paths and participate fully in Canada’s evolving workforce.

These collaborations go far deeper than traditional sponsorship. They help shape programs, reach non-traditional learners and create opportunities across multiple stages of a career – from early education to mid-career transitions. This aligns with RBC’s broader goal: to help people and communities keep pace with a changing world of work and strengthen mobility, innovation and resilience.

For students like Taya, this support is more than financial – it’s foundational. It enables education that builds confidence, skills and long-term possibilities.

A bright future for all

For Scott, the impact is clear. “It’s incredible to wake up every day and know you can make a lasting impact on someone’s life.”

For Taya, the future feels full of promise.

“I’m very excited to move out to the ranch next year, start my own cattle operation and live with the land in a respectful way,” she says. “My own little piece of paradise.”

Her journey – grounded in education, supported by funding and shaped by purpose – illustrates the promise of investing in students. When learners have the resources to pursue their ambitions, they’re not just preparing themselves for the future of work.

They’re helping to build a stronger, more resilient future for us all.

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