Scientific and Professional Societies and their Role in Development
The main paper was presented by Dr. Riyad Nejem, commented on by Eng. Salem Al-Marri and Dr. Reem Al-Furayan, and the debate was moderated by Mr. Abdullah Al-Dhwaihi. The paper noted that the terms of scientific societies and professional societies are overlapping, and that both terms are used interchangeably depending on the field and the country. Dr. Riyad believed that the scientific society is mostly a non-profit organization, established to advance the progress of a field, profession or the like. It adopts policies that serve this field or profession and its employees, in a way that achieves its interests in a balanced manner without looking at the material returns.
Then the paper addressed in some detail the activities of these societies, and the law of scientific societies issued in 1421, which allows Saudi universities to establish scientific societies operating under their direct supervision.
The paper also identified the problem that these societies face with low subscriptions. Dr. Riyad talked extensively on this, whether in relation to the numbers or the mechanism, in addition to the geographical distribution of the societies, calling for reconsidering this situation, so that professionals all over the Kingdom can benefit from them.
The comments made on this paper stated that the scientific and professional societies are an important entity in civil society institutions. It is difficult to talk about them without examining their reality in the Kingdom.
However, the scientific societies in the Kingdom face many problems, the most prominent of which are related to subscriptions, and they lack the governance that gives them credibility and professionalism to enhance the confidence of the target group of members and the bodies that provide financial support for their activities. In addition, the activities of many scientific societies are far from reaching the aspirations of Vision 2030, and there is a gap in the relationship and partnership between many scientific societies, the reality of the market needs, and promising opportunities in the private sector.
The comments made on the paper reiterated some of the problems experienced by the scientific societies, including low subscriptions, their inability to reach their audience and weak resources.
The opinions varied regarding the independence of scientific societies from universities, where some advocated the need to make them independent. Others, however, saw that there is difficulty in this process. The societies are an essential part of the universities’ social responsibility, and the making them independent may weaken them.
The opinions also varied regarding the merger of societies that are similar in scope. Others advocated their necessity to serve the theoretical and practical aspects in an integrative way. Still others considered that merging eliminates scientific competition and diversity.
At the end of the discussion, a number of recommendations were provided. They aimed at supporting and developing scientific and professional societies in order to fulfill their role to contribute to achieving the Saudi Vision 2030, the most important of which are:
- Reconsidering the law of scientific and professional societies, setting a clear and defined system for their tasks and subscriptions, and reviewing the geographical distribution of the Saudi scientific and professional societies for the benefit of professionals.
- Similar societies need to be merged together, or at least reduced to raise their efficiency and the comprehensiveness of their scope.
- Scientific and professional societies are invited to study the Saudi Vision 2030 to invest in the development aspects.
- Considering separating the scientific and professional societies and their laws for the different tasks and their respective roles, and accordingly the different challenges they face.
- Searching for funding sources to support these societies, whether by the private sector, the State, or through universities.
- Giving young men and women the opportunity to make a shift in work methodology, improve the quality of life, and get them involved in their goals to keep pace with the aspirations and goals of the Saudi Vision 2030.
