The Elite Program, a specialised program initiated by the Executive Office of Dubai and managed by Mohammed Bin Rashid Programme for Leadership Development (MBRPLD), has announced that it has achieved its strategic goals following the conclusion of the Dubai Opening Study Visit Program (DO) in Singapore, as program participants have gained more practical insights on the development strategies and management systems of one of Asia's most progressive countries. The DO program gave Elite Program participants a rare opportunity to visit a major utility management facility in Singapore and join the city state's renowned experts and prominent private and public sector leaders in high-level discussions on major issues affecting "global cities".
The series of seminars and panel discussions conducted during the study tour covered topical subjects such as the "Asian Financial Outlook", the concept of "National Competitiveness", "China & India, Economics and Geopolitics", "Sustainable Urban Development: The Singapore Experience" and the "Economics of Sustainable Development". The Elite Program participants also toured Singapore's NEWater Visitor Centre to learn more about Singapore's water management system and its NEWater facilities, which are renowned worldwide for adopting the highest quality standards and the most advanced technologies in treating wastewater.
Adel Al Shared, Executive Chairman, Elite Program said: "The Dubai Opening Study Visit Program in Singapore has been a refreshing and insightful experience for the Elite Program participants as it enabled them to reflect on and learn from the success story of Singapore and gain significant insights on the management systems adopted by our host country. We are confident that the knowledge and practical experience the participants have gained will be very helpful as they continue to develop towards becoming effective leaders of Dubai and the UAE."
Fatma Ibrahim Belrahif, Head of Strategic Projects, Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), participant of Elite Program said: "The Singapore educational tour has been a very informative and interesting activity for the participants. We have learned so much, particularly with regards to the Singaporeans' style of management, which has proved to be highly successful as has been reflected by their excellent economic performance and high standards of living. This activity has certainly been a very good way to start the year for the Elite Program."
Capping the three-day seminars was a lecture conducted by Singapore's Director for Strategic Planning Ms. Elizabeth Quah, representing the Singaporean Prime Minister's Office (PMO), who served as keynote speaker during the closing ceremony of the DO forums. Ms. Quah discussed Singapore’s institutions of government, the Principles of Governance in Singapore, the country's personnel management philosophy and how this is translated into the development of public sector leaders for the country.
The DO program revolves around three key themes that have been deemed critical for public sector leaders to succeed in managing global cities such as Dubai: governance and national competitiveness; sustainable urban development; and strategic and economical outlook. The experience and knowledge acquired from the study tour will be used by the program participants to develop customised strategies that are beneficial to Dubai and complementary to the Dubai Strategic Plan.
The Elite Program been established to identify and prepare promising young UAE nationals to be future leaders capable of managing the strategic initiatives of the local and federal governments. The DO program is part of several modules specially developed for the Elite Program participants.
The Elite Program targets talented young professionals in the 21-25 age bracket who have a bachelor's degree from a recognised university, proven academic excellence, strong leadership potential, working knowledge in both Arabic and English, basic computer skills, and a genuine dedication and commitment to the region's human and socioeconomic progress.
Further details of the activities of the program are available on the Elite Program's website (www.tep.ae).
