Riyadh: The 2025 Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) Regional Conference opened yesterday at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) School of Public Policy (KSPP), marking a milestone as the first NASPAA event of its kind to be held in Saudi Arabia.
According to Saudi Press Agency, NASPAA is the global standard in public service education. It is a nonprofit membership network comprising more than 320 institutional member schools that offer degrees in public administration, public policy, public affairs, nonprofit management, and related fields.
The 2025 NASPAA Regional Conference brings together scholars, senior policymakers, and public policy experts from around the world for discussions on the future of public policy education, institutional innovation, human capital development, sustainability, and the evolving landscape of public policy and decision-making.
With the participation of speakers from over 24 countries, the conference agenda features a series of dialogue seminars and sessions aimed at exploring challenges and opportunities in governance, technology policy, sustainability, and capacity building.
In his opening remarks, KAPSARC President Fahad Alajlan emphasized the conference's role in shaping a new global model for public service, stating, 'Let us use this conference to challenge conventional wisdom, champion new voices, and construct a truly visionary model of public service - one rooted in ethics, collaboration, and, above all, results.'
'The 2025 NASPAA Regional Conference affirms the role of academic dialogue in shaping the next generation of public policy professionals,' said Dean of KAPSARC School of Public Policy Dr. Ghadah Alarifi. She added that the event offers an opportunity to bridge theory and practice by fostering collaboration between educators and policymakers.
NASPAA President Dr. Mohamad Alkadry expressed his appreciation to Saudi Arabia for hosting this year's event. He commended the launch of the conference and underscored the importance of the partnership between NASPAA and the KSPP.
'This collaboration is vital to advancing the quality and reach of public policy education across the region,' said Alkadry. 'We are committed to supporting academic institutions in Saudi Arabia as they prepare current and future public and nonprofit sector leaders with the skills and competencies required to navigate an increasingly complex policy environment.'
This inaugural regional gathering underscores Saudi Arabia's growing stature as an intellectual hub for public policy discourse, in line with Vision 2030's goals. It also highlights the increasing value of cross-border collaboration in building resilient academic ecosystems and designing policy frameworks with real-world impact.