In the past, participating in conferences, symposiums and seminars was limited to very few people. No working papers were published or presented except in a few selective sectors in which individuals had a scientific approach to things.
In the present time, things have changed and we are seeing a lot more people who are interested in attending such events. The public sector now takes part in conferences and scientific and charitable institutes hold events and sometimes spend huge amounts of money just to attend or contribute. This is all done in the name of learning and gaining more knowledge. It reflects the development of our scientific mentality, yet I believe there are still shortcomings that must be addressed.
For instance, some governmental sectors don’t allow their professional employees the chance to attend such events. Everyone questions the reasons for this opposition. The current developments in Saudi Arabia were spurred by academics that were trained in internationally established universities. These people are in constant need of updates about the latest inventions and happenings on the international level especially when something new is discovered and when advancements are made.
Having educated and well-trained people is something that helps in making our symposiums and conferences a success. One successful event attracts people to future events that highlight the developments the country is undergoing in various fields.
Working papers discussed at forums and symposiums are always suggestive of new ideas and programs for development. To be able to participate, each governmental institute must create a department to deal with issues related to conferences and seminars. This department should be responsible for monitoring international and national scientific workshops and seminars with themes related to the governmental body. Then the department should inform the administration to make appropriate arrangements and nominate candidates worthy of attendance and complete all required procedures.
Creating similar departments in each ministry will save a lot of time and enable nominated professionals to prepare for the event. It will also kill the routine in many governmental bodies that is usually the reason why so many employees lose interest in participating.
