The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) announced grants covering 50% of programme fees for candidates enrolling in the August 2021 intake for its three English-language ‘Future Government Master Programmes’: Master of Innovation Management, Master of Public Administration, and Master of Public Policy. The initiative aims to enhance government performance in the UAE and support the professional development of employees in various sectors.
 
A virtual open day was held for potential students on June 21, 2021, via Zoom, where experts from MBRSG introduced attendees to the modules of the three programmes covered in the initiative, as well as the programme outcomes and teaching experience.
 
His Excellency Dr Ali Bin Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of MBRSG, said: “The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government is on a mission to advance government operations, procedures, and performance not only in the UAE, but in the wider region as well. One of the most effective ways we go about achieving that objective is by providing specialised and thorough programmes to upskill public sector employees and officials, enable them to carry out their duties efficiently, and empowering leaders to shape the future of their organisations, and by extension, the future of the communities they serve.”
 
“We hope this initiative will encourage more prospective candidates to apply for the Future Governments Programmes, which will support their professional development and help them adapt to a rapidly changing world, where a deep understanding of modern trends in government administration and public policies is paramount,” H.E. Dr Al Marri added. “This enables future leaders to address current and upcoming challenges, find innovative solutions to address them, and achieve the goals they aspire to.”
Introduced in 2016, Future Government programmes includes: The Master of Innovation Management (MIM), which is designed for professionals working in and with the public sector, who wish to pursue a career in innovation management. It is designed to help future leaders create future value, through the optimum implementation of innovation and its applications. The programme equips students with knowledge, tools and skills to succeed in a rapidly changing world and increased international competitiveness.
 
 The programme’s approach includes a strong theoretical foundation on core concepts of innovation management in the context of the creation of public value; experiential learning through interactive workshops and discussions and practice-based assessments; and personal competencies development for leaders in charge of leading, designing, managing and implementing innovations. The focus is understanding and solving wicked problems using design thinking and a customer-centric approach to solve problems that impact public value.
 
Meanwhile, the Master of Public Administration (MPA) is the premier professional degree for students seeking to advance their career in public/private service or non-profit management. It offers students a solid foundation in governance, organisational behaviour, economics, finance, and research.
 
MPA Graduates learn to apply contemporary organisational and management theories; develop innovative public management structures, processes, and systems; study the influence of various laws, norms, and ethical principles on the effectiveness of public organisations; examine research to analyse public policy issues in order to formulate solutions and make evidence-based decisions; evaluate the impact of global political and economic institutions, knowledge-sharing, and current trends on public governance; and use effective leadership and teamwork skills to solve complex organisational problems.
 
Also, part of the initiative is the Master of Public Policy (MPP). In addition to the general MPP programme MBRSG offers five MPP specialisations covering social policy, education, health, science and technology, and sustainable development, respectively. Nevertheless, four core modules are covered by all programmes, namely, Governance & Policy Process, Public Policy Analysis, Public Economics & Finance, and Microeconomics of Competitiveness.
 
The MPP’s scope includes providing students with theoretical and practical knowledge, rooted in the United Nations 2030 sustainable developments goals (SDGs), allowing them to develop and apply the analytical tools necessary for high-quality policy analysis and strategic development.
 
The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government is the first research and teaching institution focusing on governance and public policy in the Arab world, offering academic and training programmes that aim to train future leaders and prepare them to meet public administration and policy challenges across the region. Programmes are developed and delivered by a diverse group of scholars, academics, and researchers.