National Center for Professional Development: Guidelines for Teachers' Attendance at Conferences

The National Institute for Educational Professional Development in Saudi Arabia has confirmed a set of strict controls that regulate the attendance of educational staff at conferences and scientific events, stressing that the approval of the direct supervisor (school principal or supervisor) is a fundamental condition that cannot be bypassed for the accreditation of professional development hours.

The context of the new organization and its strategic objectives

This measure comes within the context of a broad educational movement underway in the Kingdom aimed at governing professional development procedures and ensuring their positive impact on the educational field. After years of individual efforts in attending events, the National Institute, through its “Guide to Accrediting Professional Development Activities,” seeks to institutionalize this process. This step aims to ensure that the activities in which teachers participate directly contribute to enhancing their professional competence and align with their specific specializations, thus serving the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in the education sector.

Requirements details: Balance between development and daily work

The institute clarified that the organizational guidelines precisely define the mechanisms for participating in conferences, stipulating prior approval from the direct supervisor, especially if the conference coincides with official working hours. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that teachers' aspirations for self-development do not conflict with their primary duties towards students, and to guarantee the smooth continuation of the educational process in schools without interruption or negative impact.

The guide also stressed the need for the conference topic to be closely related to the educational field or to the employee’s current job duties, to ensure the desired benefit is achieved and the acquired experiences are transferred to colleagues and students within the educational institution.

Official application and accreditation mechanism

The guide outlines specific procedural steps to ensure teachers' rights in calculating professional development points, as follows:

• Application submission: The teacher begins by submitting the participation request through the official approved channels.
• Initial review: The direct supervisor reviews the request to ensure it does not conflict with the interests of the business.
• Final review and approval: The application is transferred to the relevant committees in the education department (such as the Excellence Committee) to verify that the professional standards are met.
• Documents and proofs: After attending the conference, the beneficiary is required to upload attendance documents to be finally approved by the direct supervisor and added to his professional record.

The importance of conferences as a source of professional development

These guidelines derive their importance from the high value of scientific conferences, which serve as vital platforms for educators to exchange experiences and learn about the latest global theories in teaching methods and school leadership. Their impact extends beyond the individual, improving the school environment as a whole by sharing leading experiences and implementing successful practices discussed at these scientific gatherings.