The Dubai School of Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme (SZHP) to organize a customized executive education leadership development curriculum that will nurture young leaders of tomorrow.

 

As an immediate outcome of the agreement, the program titled ‘Zayed Future Leaders’ was rolled-out on 1 May with a three-day training module on ‘Leadership for the 21st Century’. Drawing the participation of select high-calibre employees from SZHP, the ‘Zayed Future Leaders’ Program will run until January 2013 covering topics such as financial management, negotiation, motivation and team building.

 

Uniquely designed to harness the essential qualities of management, decision-making, problem-solving and business competence, the modules aim to prepare future leaders for tackling potential challenges and contribute to the process of nation-building.

 

Executive Education organized a three-day training course on public financial management for Zayed Future Leaders of the Sheikh Zayed Housing Program (SZHP).  Held between 3 – 5 June, the training was delivered by finance expert Jamal Ibrahim Abu Seif, Director of Fiscal Studies in the Department of Finance, Dubai Government. The program introduced participants to the Dubai government’s legislative framework for financial management. In addition to examining the mechanisms used within various government units, the training was designed to offer a better understanding of the latest methods used in the preparation of public budgets.

 

Besides identifying processes that raise efficiency, the session particularly offered insight on financial reform measures that are generally adopted across the public sector. The training focused on topics such as the concept of public revenue, rationalizing public expenditure, and reforming public budget to increase effectiveness.

 

Day-one of the training looked into the effective management of public finances in light of the global financial crisis. The sessions on the second day focused on government financial management, public revenues, resource development, public expenditure and rationalization. Issues related to the protection of public funds and the budget were tackled on the third day. 

 

The outcomes of the training are evaluated through specific measurement mechanisms that help identify the extent of progress made by participants and the level of familiarity gained on each topic. The participants’ application of the class-room learning is further assessed through monitoring their competency in finding solutions for challenges in government departments and their contributions to collective decision-making, particularly public budget affairs.