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The Master’s programmes offered by the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG), which cover various administration, innovation, and public policy specialisations, are a notable milestone along the UAE’s ambitious journey to develop and upgrade work systems across all government and private institutions in the country.
Over the years, the programmes became an effective tool to coach generations of future leaders to drive development and establish the UAE model – an agile and highly efficient ecosystem that is capable of addressing all challenges and transforming them into opportunities.
Despite the difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, MBRSG celebrated the graduation of its 7th and 8th batches, where a total of 285 Master’s students graduated in 2020 and 2021, from several disciplines, namely, public administration, innovation, and public policies. This achievement adds to Dubai’s already impressive track record. The emirate’s leadership constantly strives to achieve the seemingly impossible and establish an innovative government that charts a bright future for its people, never settling for anything less than first place.
MBRSG’s Executive President His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Sebaa Al Marri said: “Investing in human resources and honing their skills and capacities is at the core of the UAE leadership’s vision – a vision that inspires our plans and strategies at the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government. Our goal is to ensure government excellence in the UAE and the Middle East region; we are working to establish an integrated system of educational, training, and research programmes and we count on our graduates to play their part in building the outstanding government we aspire to, whose motto is innovation, sustainability, and excellence.”
For his part, Prof. Raed Awamleh, Dean of MBRSG, explains: “MBRSG’s Master’s programmes set the stage for an advanced generation of future leaders capable of designing and implementing effective government policies. Graduates acquire the skills and knowledge they need to be decision makers or advisors in their respective fields. Our programmes also aim to promote an innovation-friendly workplace environment, which we believe is the most potent tool for forecasting future requirements and developing sustainable solutions to the challenges facing development plans.”
Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA)
Graduates from MBRSG’s Master’s programmes assert that the programmes they completed helped mould their expertise, opening up new prospects for innovation in their respective organisations or personal projects. Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) graduate Khawla Al Hosani, who works at Emirates Schools Establishment, says that enrolling at MBRSG significantly enhanced her research and analysis skills allowing her to make informed, data-based decisions. It also improved her teamwork skills and ability to process directives and constructive criticism and make speedy decisions, which ultimately enhanced her career and provided her with a deeper understanding of federal government institutions.
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Master of Public Administration (MPA) graduate and Ministry of Interior employee Khalid Abdulla Al-Dhanhani believes the MPA programme has contributed to his personal development, in addition to boosting his confidence and enhancing his skills and abilities, from time management and dealing with workplace pressures to strategy, financial planning, and team leadership.
When it comes to the work environment, Al-Dhanhani explains that the programme has two main strongpoints: First, all courses and materials are closely linked to everyday practices at government departments, such as government policies, human resources management, financial studies, and strategic planning, among others. The programme addresses shortcomings in work processes, offering solutions to improve the system and re-engineer procedures to fit the latest scientific practices.
The second key advantage is the opportunity to meet government leaders enrolled in the same programme to exchange and compare experiences in order to determine the ideal administrative systems and procedures.
Master of Innovation Management (MIM)
Usama MohammAd Al Bastaki, a graduate of MBRSG’s Master of Innovation Management (MIM) programme and a Dubai Health Authority (DHA) employee reported using the knowledge and crisis management skills he learned from the programme to enhance procedures at his workplace, which, by nature, calls for innovation and exploring new ideas. Al Bastaki conducted extensive research to determine how best to establish a healthcare innovation framework at the Authority.
Master in Public Policy (MPP)
Master in Public Policy (MPP) Tareq Mohammad Taji, who works for Dubai-based “startup studio” Lab Holding, noted that the MPP programme enhanced his understanding of public policy agendas and the UAE’s general strategic directions, as well as the role that the private sector plays in these plans and how to bring the public sector and private sectors together and set them on a collaborative path towards these national goals.
