Khalifa Fund collaborates with ADU Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in training through footy

The Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Abu Dhabi University (ADU) hosted a specialized training course organized by Khalifa Fund on Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Self-improvement, during which twenty students from ADU enjoyed the benefits of leadership, stress management and self-development using a unique approach to learning through the medium of – football.

As part of their integrated plan to develop the concepts of leadership and creativity amongst young UAE entrepreneurs, Khalifa Fund initiated the training of students in the areas of accounting, management and marketing for the second year in a row, thus further enabling them to develop a plan based on their own ideas, interests and talents.

Deputy CEO of Khalifa Fund, Ibrahim Al Mansouri said, “Khalifa Fund seeks to promote and develop a culture of creativity and innovation in citizens from different segments, especially the youth and students. The Fund has developed the concept of promoting Entrepreneurship among school and university students, in collaboration with renowned scientific institutions and through integrated programs.”

Experts from the International organization, The Challenge of Excellence, under the name “Tsu Chu Buzz”, managed the program that focuses on entrepreneurship and teamwork, as well as promotes the benefits of leadership, stress management and self development. “Tsu Chu Buzz” was conceived by Tony Woodcock (Nottingham Forest and former Arsenal player) and his partner Susan Kay, the owner of The Challenge of Excellence, a company that specializes in leadership and training executive management teams, and providing individual and family counseling and organizational development.

Susan Kay said, “We have achieved good results since the introduction of the initiative (Tsu Chu Buzz) and we are delighted to be working with the Khalifa Fund to develop projects that pursue the same objective and which instill the spirit of leadership and creativity amongst the youth.”

Toni Woodcock, too was pleased to see his concept of developing leadership skills through playing football come alive in the UAE to provide the necessary requirements for youth, who are passionate, willing to learn, and can accomplish something when they are motivated.

Al Mansouri stressed on the keenness of the Fund to contribute to any initiatives that are designed to stimulate the creativity of youth, and develop those skills that prepare them to be entrepreneurs and equipped to manage their projects, and other initiatives with the overall objectives of developing Abu Dhabi. He pointed out that the Fund looks forward to an effective contribution to create a generation of creative citizens in various fields.

He further added: “Khalifa Fund projects will do a critical analysis of the three best concepts, and will work with entrepreneurs to develop and implement these concepts to convert them into commercial applications for investment, and provide the necessary funding if they comply with conditions and requirements of the Fund.”

Khalifa Fund recognizes the importance of developing capable human capital and sharpening the skills of young people, since investment in manpower is their main objective. For this reason, university students are extremely important to the Fund, whom it seeks to attract to refine their skills and discover their capabilities as an essential untapped resource of entrepreneurial talent, and subsequently invest in specialized training programs for this category of people.

This course is one of the activities organized by ‘FIKRA’, the center of innovation and leadership at ADU, under the program of joint activities with Khalifa Fund, the strategic partner of this center. FIKRA promotes a culture of entrepreneurship and the development of skills of the youth in this field through training courses and educational activities that support the people who came up with these ideas and help them develop their own projects.

ADU Chancellor, Dr. Nabil Ibrahim said in this regard, “The main objective of FIKRA partnering with the Khalifa Fund is supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in various segments of the society in Abu Dhabi, through the provision of networking and starting points, turning their ideas into reality and pumping up the economy and the community of Abu Dhabi in particular, and the UAE in general”.

He added that the name of the center reflects its strategy for the propagation of innovation and creativity. “We are keen to pick the best innovative practices to promote a culture of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation, and this session uses football as the means to demonstrate the effectiveness of team spirit and how to make decisions effectively to achieve victory. Similarly, this team-play simulates the members of a company to spring into action and achieves growth and success, while spurring creativity of the company’s management such that it matches the talents and meets the interests of the team.”