HBMSU steers governmental excellence through Innovation Leadership in Governmental Sector program

UAE, August 25, 2015 – Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) continues to lead efforts to promote governmental innovation in the implementation of the directives of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to mark 2015 as the ‘Year of Innovation.’ It has introduced a professional diploma program in ‘Innovation Leadership in Governmental Sector’ which is currently being held with a broad participation of senior staff, Department Heads, and managers in local and federal government entities in the UAE. The program is considered as a quantum leap in terms of improving the fundamental competencies required for the success of government innovation initiatives. In addition, it serves the objectives of the ‘National Innovation Strategy’ launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make the UAE among the world’s most innovative nations by 2021.

The professional diploma program, which is directed to advance governmental innovation, emerges from HBMSU’s commitment to support the aspirations of the UAE’s wise leadership to optimally invest in human resources. It aims to empower government employees with modern knowledge and tools of creativity and innovation in order to become a competitive knowledge economy where the future provides an integrated lifestyle by achieving the goals of UAE Vision 2021. Innovation Leadership in Governmental Sector features a structure based on four training units that will meet the modernization requirements of government human resources in line with the country’s strategic priorities.

Available in Arabic and English, the four training units comprise ‘Effective Leadership Skills;’ ‘Identify Innovation Priorities to Build on Institutional Direction;’ ‘Innovation and Creative Thinking Techniques;’ and ‘Implementation of Innovative Initiatives Through Change Management.’ The diploma consist of 20-day continuous training with an average of six hours a day along with three days of graduation project that allows the participants the possibility of choosing to practice any of the four units as an independent training program to be held over five days. The program rigorously assesses participants to ensure that they gain the skills needed to qualify them for the certificate. This will allow them to work according to the principles of strategic leadership, self-direction and creativity, serving the aspirations of the leadership to take government work to a new level of excellence.

Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, HMBSU Chancellor and Chairman of the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, said: “HBMSU has started to develop a professional diploma that meets the needs and requirements of the UAE’s government sector. It offers a high degree of competence and leadership experience in the fields of innovation, leadership, and change management to enable the country to continue its march to excellence under the vision and directives of our wise leadership. The program is of particular importance as a strategic platform to gain better and more effective leadership skills and development capabilities in innovation and excellence for the enhancement of government performance, which supports national progress, ensures the happiness of customers, and uplifts the well-being of society.”

“HBMSU was and will remain one of the first supporters of the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to make Dubai a center for innovation to more than 2 billion people around the world. Hence, we focused our efforts on the development of a professional diploma program and other specific programs aimed at stimulating the human capacity to innovate and generate new ideas that can lead Dubai and the UAE to the first place in the world. We will continue spreading the concept of quality and innovation and revitalize education using innovative methods to keep pace with the smart transformation march to and cultural revival,” concluded Dr. Al Awar.

The professional diploma’s evaluation mechanism is based on the measurement of knowledge, skills and the level of contributions by the participants through individual and collective activities on a daily basis, founded on the understanding and resolving of standards issues and case studies. The certificate can only be obtained after the submission of a graduation project, which is a prerequisite for graduation. All participants who have registered an attendance rate of 80 per cent or more but did not succeed in the final evaluation will be awarded a ‘Participation Certificate,’ while the ‘Completion of the Training Program Certification’ will be given to all participants who were able to attend 80 per cent or more sessions and succeed in the final evaluation. The program also gives certification to all the participants who have passed the graduation project.