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KEEPING PACE WITH A CHANGING WORLD

This high ranking government official normally spearheads his e-team in his gadgets-studded department in the capital. Recently, he and his colleagues created the infrastructure for the federal government network and launched the HR and three other projects. But today, the 45-year-old department boss is sitting in a classroom, as a student, in Zayed University’s Centre for Business Excellence in Dubai Media City.

Mohammed Qamber is the quintessential face of the UAE government, truly representing what it is all about, a perfect blend of traditionalism and modernity, a dynamic administrative force that constantly reinvents itself to keep pace with the changing times.

Developing its performance in the various departments and ministries has always been part of the UAE government’s philosophy. And to this end, it has always believed in training all its cadres, from fresh recruits to the senior most officials — to bring them at par with the advancement in administrative and management techniques. So they can meet their responsibilities competently.

One perfect example of such intensive training is the UAE Ministry of Finance and Industry’s ongoing collaboration with Zayed University in launching the Executive Management Certificate Programme (EMCP). Created specially for top senior and federal officials, Zayed University has designed and developed the EMCP together the USA’s Yale University, one of the renowned institutions in the field. The EMCP is the first of its kind course launched in the Middle East. And the Yale School of Management is implementing it outside the USA, also for the first time.

The IT director is one of the 21 senior managers and department heads of the federal ministries and government sectors currently completing the course. The EMCP will be completed in two phases. Zayed University is conducting the first three courses: Accounting and Assessing Financial Performance, Global Managerial Economics and Strategic Management in Dubai, taught by the varsity’s faculty members. The Yale School of Management will complete the remaining three subjects: Marketing Management, Leading and Managing Organisations and Business-Government and Globalisation at its campus in the USA. All participants will obtain an accredited certificate from both universities.

The EMCP mirrors the UAE government’s strategy to invest in human capital to improve its competitiveness in a fast changing world. The programme is designed to strengthen the leadership skills of senior government officials, increase the capacity of innovation in the public sector, and enhance their ability to contribute to the nation’s development.

Mohammed Qamber is not a newcomer to such courses. Earlier, he had taken part in training programmes in the UK and USA. “My experience has been positive about such courses,” he says. “The best part is that people who conduct these courses have experience in dealing with fresh students as well as older people like myself.”

The EMCP reflects the UAE government’s vision of creating a high performance cadre at all levels. Explains the IT Director, “The government’s work has now changed. Now we train the executives, managers and directors. We even create a second-level management — the new graduates. We train them, we teach them new methods because we are now moving from the normal budget to performance-based budget.”

Courses like the EMCP also mirror the UAE government’s belief that its nationals should get appropriate and ongoing training, if the pace of development in the country is to be maintained. “Unlike in older times, today a government’s work has broadened, become more diversified and complex,” points out Qamber. “So, government officials need to possess a variety of management and leadership techniques to implement their departments’ strategies and plans.”

Mohammed Nassir Hamdan, divisional manager, Ministry of Health, department of planning and statistics, too, has completed some courses before, including one in Boston University. But he says, “This programme is interesting because I have never been to Yale. I’m excited about it.”

Tariq Yousuf Al Janahi, who belongs to the Change Management Unit, Ministry of Finance, opted for the course to enhance his planning and leadership skills.

The EMCP also reflects on Zayed University’s initiative in inducting international experts from renowned universities to make available the best academic programmes and practices to raise the efficiency of the UAE nationals.