News

INSEAD and Duke CE Partner for Dubai Government Leaders Program

20 May 2008

Mohammed Bin Rashid Program for Leadership Development (MBRPLD), an innovative leadership program designed to develop future national leaders capable of promoting the sustainable development of Dubai, has recently launched the second cycle of the Government Leaders program, a level of MBRPLD that aims to qualify the future leaders of Dubai Government departments. The program also aims to establish an assembly of unique talented individuals having distinguished potential, knowledge, skills and experience at all departments of Dubai Government.

The new candidates who will undergo the 24-month program were revealed immediately following the graduation of the pioneering batch of 40 participants. With the ultimate aim of grooming world-class government leaders whose primary duties include implementing the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015, MBRPLD has developed the Government Leaders program in collaboration with INSEAD, the business school for the world; and Duke Corporate Education (Duke CE), a world leader in executive education.

“Dubai Government requires leaders who have the personality, technical proficiency, managerial expertise and leadership skills. Leaders who have the capacity to lead and stand out in a highly demanding work environment. MBRPLD, in collaboration with INSEAD and Duke, has developed the Government Leaders program specifically to address all these requirements," said Adel Al Shared, Director, MBRPLD.

"With the initial batch of candidates having successfully completed the entire program, we are pleased to present another set of candidates who are destined to join the ranks of Dubai's elite pool of government leaders. As such, I wish to thank all candidates for showing their commitment to serve the government and the rest of the country by sacrificing a part of their time and effort to make themselves available for this critically important initiative," added Al Shared.

Participants of the Government Leaders program have come from varied backgrounds from across Dubai, particularly the five sectors defined by the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015, which was launched last year by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Prospective candidates had to go through a five-stage selection, screening and assessment process. Successful applicants will then undergo a 24-month training with emphasis on the four major areas of personal development, technical knowledge, management acumen and leadership development. Each program candidate will also be provided an individual advisor and mentor, who will come from a 500 Fortune company.

The Government Leaders program has also prepared various innovative training activities to enhance knowledge transfer and ensure optimum learning. Among the activities incorporated in the program are mentoring, Dubai Policy Watch, personal development plan, book review sessions, one-on-one training program, study visit program and a series of workshops.

“The Government Leaders program is perfectly aligned with the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed to ensure continuity in the strategic development program of Dubai by equipping all government leaders with the necessary skills and know-how to implement the emirate's strategic plan. The program also enables participants to deeply and qualitatively understand the many challenges that leaders may face in various fields of management, leadership and personal potential development, through programs such as Institutional Excellence in Public Sector, Public Administration Challenges, Development of Leadership Approach, Change Leadership, Persuasion and Negotiation Skills, and others,” Al Shared concluded.