MBRSG organizes course on ‘Strategic Leadership in A Challenging World’ for KSA’s Assistant- Undersecretaries

The Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG)– a research and academic institution focusing on governance and public policy in the Arab world – concluded a course on ‘Strategic Leadership in the Age of Challenges’ in cooperation with Elm, the Saudi Information Security Company.

The programme aimed at providing Assistant Under-secretaries in KSA with a set of strategic leadership skills that help them achieve important milestones in institutional work, as well as to introduce the participants to the latest in applied science in government leadership, governance and leadership development.

The three-day course briefed participants on contemporary challenges and modern concepts in government work, and presented an overview of the concepts and styles of modern leadership. It offered a comprehensive perspective of strategic leadership and its practical applications as well as capacity-building efforts to motivate and influence the team members positively. The course also aimed at enabling participants on the use strategic planning tools to support leadership and ensure continuous self-development.

H.E. Dr Ali Sebaa Al Marri, Executive President of MBRSG, said: "Through the course, we aimed to highlight the leading experience of the UAE's government management and in preparing leaders of the future. It highlighted the significant achievements of the UAE's leadership governmental work within a short period, making it a model among world nations."

He added: “The collaboration with Elm is part of our strategic objectives aimed at strengthening cooperation frameworks, exchanging knowledge, and disseminating best practices in the field of training and public education, in addition to enriching the knowledge base of both entities.”

“We live in era characterised by a series of rapid changes that impact the action plans and mechanisms of work by institutions, government and private bodies.  In today’s era of globalisation, executive government officials face new challenges that require new skills and advanced qualifications that are commensurate with the level of responsibility they have. This is essential to build strong and competitive institutions capable of growth, leadership and sustainable development.” H.E. explained.

Aisha Al Shamsi, Director of Executive Education Programs at MBRSG, said: “The course was tailored to explore the challenges of strategic leadership in the era of globalization, and to enable the participants to overcome any obstacles they may face in undertaking their responsibilities, and to explore opportunities to enhance government performance in line with global best practices.”

She added: “Leadership is the key driver of the success of organisations. The messages and outputs are key to providing participants with ways to develop their strategic leadership skills and to adapt these skills to serve the vision and objectives of government agencies and the public interest."

The course included a field visit organised by the School to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority. The team prepared a special agenda for the visiting delegation, and briefed them on initiatives and strategies adopted by the Authority that helped to develop the national statistical system and further strengthen the UAE's global competitiveness.

Mohamed Hassan Ahli, Executive Director for the Calculation and Data Sector in the Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, expressed his delight in welcoming the group of officials, as he thanked MBRSG for choosing the Federal Authority Competitiveness and Statistics to be part of the program.

He said: “The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority strives to be a national knowledge base dedicated to serving all segments of society in the UAE and in the Arab world. Our vision calls for ’Knowledge for Prosperity.’”

“We introduced the participants to the experience of the UAE in implementing and achieving the objectives of the national agenda and the goals of sustainable development. This is one of the indicators of the success of our efforts and that of all our partners from federal and local government agencies, as we work to spread knowledge and achieve prosperity.”

The course focused on developing the leadership skills required to deal with the current regulatory and competitive challenges, in addition to introducing participants on how to determine the future directions of government institutions. The course focused on how to formulate strategic priorities, Including the leadership vision by assessing the contemporary situation and informing the participants about the modern ways to crystallize and design a sustainable competitive strategy.

This strategy will enable the organization to achieving its aspirations and enhance its competitiveness. This will also help in determining performance standards as per advanced academic methodologies, contributing to enhancing the performance of the institution and its various units.

The themes of the course included leadership perspectives and contemporary challenges, challenges of government work, future government scenarios, and a detailed explanation on the importance of leadership thinking in facing challenges. It also included models of strategic leadership, team spirit building, ambition enhancement, analysis and understanding of institutional competence, and building the institution's vision in light of accelerating external changes.