JEDDAH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has approved new incentives for university teaching staff, especially those working in new universities in remote areas, those holding degrees in rare specializations and those making remarkable scientific achievements.
Higher Education Minister Khaled Al-Anqari said the king also approved the criteria for providing the incentives. Those who benefit from the financial incentives include professors, associate professors and assistant professors as well as lecturers and tutors.
He said the payment of new allowances would start from the beginning of this year, adding that the king had allocated SR5 billion in the current budget to provide housing units for teaching staff inside university campuses.
Teaching staff at new universities in Jizan, Al-Jouf, Tabuk, Najran, Hail, Baha and Northern Border Province will receive a 40 percent increase in salaries while those in King Khaled, Taiba, Taif and Qassim universities will get 20 percent, he said. “Those working in colleges away from the university by 30 to 60 km will receive an allowance of 20 percent. The allowance will be 30 percent if the colleges are away by 60 to 120 km; and 40 percent if they are away by more than 120 km,” Al-Anqari said.
Authorities have to make sure that there is no duplication in payment of allowances and priority must be given to the highest allowance, the minister said quoting the rules and regulations for the payment.
Lecturers and tutors in the new universities will be given a 20 percent increase in salaries in accordance with the conditions set by the Council of Higher Education.
Saudi teaching staff holding engineering, medical, health and computer degrees will get a 40 percent increase in salaries, the minister said. A 30 percent allowance will be given to those whose specialties are in administrative, financial and legal subjects, he added. Those specialized in languages and translation, basic and applied sciences, special education and children’s education will get an allowance of 25 percent while lectures and tutors will receive a 20 percent allowance.
A cash award equivalent to 10 percent of the monthly basic salary will be given to teaching staff receiving a national award. For those receiving a regional award, the remuneration will be 20 percent, international award 30 percent and those who win patent 40 percent.
The patent should be in academic and scientific fields obtained by teaching staff, either individually or jointly from a national or international authority. Medical and scientific discoveries and rare surgical operations conducted by the teaching staff would also be considered for the award.
Al-Anqari said the Cabinet had approved end of service benefits to professors, associate professors, assistant professors and lecturers who have completed more than 20 years on the basis of the last salary they obtained. They will also get allowances up to SR10,000 per year for attending college council meetings.
The Cabinet has also approved a university teaching allowance equivalent to 25 percent of basic salary for teaching staff, Al-Anqari said. The monthly allowances for officials in leadership positions will increase as a dean will get SR2,500, his deputy SR2,000 and the department head SR1,500. He said the new allowances and incentives approved by King Abdullah would improve the performance of university and college staff and their academic contributions. He thanked the king for his generous support to higher education in the Kingdom.
