for Unique Masters Programme at Leading International Business School INSEAD
Senior managers from various Abu Dhabi government departments last week completed a two-week module in INSEAD Asia Campus in Singapore as part of a unique degree programme developed specifically for Abu Dhabi Government.
The Master in Entrepreneurial Leadership Programme, designed to reflect the overall strategy and objectives of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, is being offered to senior Abu Dhabi Government officials who have successfully met INSEAD selection criteria based on their abilities, performance and potential.
The programme was launched last October with a first module delivered at INSEAD’s Centre for Executive Education and Research in Abu Dhabi. This second module was recently completed on the school’s Asia Campus (Singapore) and focused on financial analysis and value innovation.
The integrated curriculum is multi-faceted and is linked to the participants’ work in specific departments, agencies or entities. The students are encouraged to look at old problems in new ways and to introduce innovative thinking as part of their business strategy.
The group is drawn from a range of departments including Municipal Affairs, Finance, Planning & Economy Transportation, Abu Dhabi Educational Council, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, Abu Dhabi Systems & Information Committee (ADSIC), Abu Dhabi Police, Executive Affairs Authority, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Western Region Municipality and Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region Court. Among them is Hasan Al Dhaheri, Manager, DCS Project Management Office (PMO)
“I think the professional development benefits so far have been significant not only in terms of learning about global business skills, but also in terms of the local relevance in applying those skills. This provides us with more confidence to apply the knowledge in our day to day work. Being in Singapore, and mixing with MBA students on and off campus, has also given us an opportunity to learn more about the global issues affecting Asia during these turbulent financial times,” he said.
Programme Director Philip Anderson confirmed that this first intake is characterised by the same mix of dynamic, international high achievers as the school’s other degree programmes, equipping them with a world-class masters qualification that fosters technical skills, as well as leadership capabilities.
He said: “For those of us involved with designing and implementing programmes at INSEAD, our partnership with the Department of Civil Service clearly demonstrates that the programme is not only contributing to the government of Abu Dhabi’s goal to become a world class admnistration, but is also greatly enriching the school’s curriculum by enhancing our understanding of the business dynamics in the region.”
The remaining modular work scheduled to be completed within the next 12 months will take place at the INSEAD Europe Campus in Fontainebleau France and at INSEAD Abu Dhabi Centre during the summer.
About the Department of Civil Service
The Department of Civil Service (DCS) was established in October 2005, out of the old Civil Service Department, with a brief to help modernise the Emirate's public sector. In just a few years, the DCS has moved from being a transactional and highly centralised organisation to one that now has a pivotal role in managing the human resources management needs of the entire Government of Abu Dhabi.
Under the Emirate's Policy Agenda, DCS is charged with developing and implementing a human resources master plan. This is designed to create a highly-performing public sector, make the Government the employer of choice and support the Emirate in its stated aim of becoming a world-class administration by 2012.
With just 100 staff covering disciplines that include Change Management, Leadership Development and HR, the Department's mission is to provide effective and efficient human resources management services through setting policies, procedures, guidelines and programmes that attract, motivate and retain competent personnel to serve its customers; ensuring that it exceeds the expectations of its stakeholders by continuously striving to enhance its processes.
That mission, developed with partners of the calibre of Said Business School, University of Oxford; Singapore Civil Service College and INSEAD; has resulted in some world firsts. These include the customised Master of Entrepreneurial Leadership programme and the use of Arab-specific psychometric testing in performance assessing UAE nationals.
