288 graduate from govt excellence programme

DUBAI - Sunday morning saw the graduation of 288 government employees thanks to the Dubai Government Excellence Programme — an initiative implemented to boost exceptional government performance.

Compared to 237 graduates in the first batch from May 2010 to June 2011, the 288 honourees represent over 28 local and federal bodies from the UAE who are now qualified internal assessors for excellent performance in their respective departments.

Clearing 21 intensive courses over the period from December 2011 to December 2012, the graduates have had their skills and experience honed to autonomously boost up excellence in the government of Dubai with no need to hire external assessors.

Secretary-General of the Dubai Executive Council and Chairman of DGEP Abdulla Al Shaibani said the 21 intensive courses, compared to the 13 given to the first batch, are meant to attain and enhance excellence among all Dubai government employees. “The 288 successful internal assessors of government excellence have become able to independently spotlight the strengths and weaknesses in their departments in view of international excellence benchmarks.”

Al Shaibani said the DGEP was been implemented in a bid to develop the performance of the government sector in the emirate.

Coordinator General of DGEP Dr Ahmed Al Nuseirat told Khaleej Times that the training workshops help government departments be self-directed and with improved quality management and external assessment.

“The new system further assists government bodies to map their internal development activities for corporate excellence. It also heightens integration, communication among all government sections, units and departments.”

The internal assessment of government excellence is based on four main sections: forming and empowering a team, planning and implementing the process of assessment, setting a development and enhancement plan, carrying out and following up the development plan.

Assistant Projects Manager and certified assessor at DGEP Samah Al Nuaimi said the employees are now being assessed by evaluators from their own departments. “Over 95 per cent of the trainees — 60 per cent of which are women — are statisfied with the one-year 21 courses which attract more participants from Dubai Police, and RTA.”

Head of Strategic Planning and FNC Secretariat General Muaz Hilal is a fresh internal assessor and said he was very keen to participate in the courses.

“We have benefited much from the set case studies, and they benefit our colleagues as well through practices.” Senior Quality Executive at the Mohammed bin Rashid Housing Est. Saleha Khamis is a graduate and said the courses have helped her practically and directly know how the government employees are being assessed by the Dubai Government Excellence Programme.

“Believing that we are in an era of quality and excellence, I have been very keen to participate in the essential courses to cope with excellence trends in Dubai government.”

Hazza Khalfan, Senior Manager of Excellence Initiatives at DGEP, said the training workshops held in Arabic have helped the graduates to instantly recognise and implement a variety of self-assessment techniques on existing samples derived from Dubai government facts and terms.

“They also had a chance to exchange information, experience and skills on excellent performance modules.”

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com