Mohammed bin Rashid Programme for Leadership Development (MBRPLD) has launched the Promising Leaders Programme, a level of MBRPLD that aims to prepare a vital, elite and strategic professional manpower reserve that is capable of sustaining the leadership requirements of Dubai Government in line with its strategic plan and international and regional aspirations.

MBRPLD is an innovative leadership programme designed to develop future national leaders capable of promoting the sustainable development of Dubai.

More than 2,000 talented UAE nationals were short listed for the Promising Leaders Programme, but only a select group of 70 young candidates successfully hurdled the stringent qualification process and were subsequently handpicked for the first batch of the unique programme, said an official spokesman.

The 24-month training cycle has been meticulously developed by MBRPLD in collaboration with Duke Corporate Education (Duke CE), a world leader in executive education; and INSEAD, the business school for the world.

"As the leaders of the future, the candidates have a fundamental responsibility to sustain the economic growth enjoyed by Dubai and the UAE. Bearing this in mind, MBRPLD has established the Promising Leaders Programme to strengthen and expand Dubai's pool of elite next-generation leaders by thoroughly preparing high-potential prospects in all aspects of strategic governance, particularly in view of the demanding nature of leading a highly dynamic and rapidly evolving society such as Dubai," said director, MBRPLD, Adel Al Shared.

"MBRPLD has designed and customised the framework of the program, which is essentially based on Dubai Government's distinct requirements; leveraging their respective expertise to create the most ideal learning approach by simulating the effective communication, vital project management, excellence, challenges, opportunities and other defining characteristics of the actual working environments where these leaders-in-training will be deployed in the future," added Al Shared.

Following the orientation activity, the candidates will spend the next two years completing a series of modules that provide integrated learning across the key areas of personal development, technical knowledge, management acumen and leadership development.

The modules include: Business and Finance Fundamentals; Understanding Communication Styles and Effective Self Management; Marketing Fundamentals and Decision Making Tools; Project Management Skills and Working Well in Teams; Analysing your Organisation and Communicating Value to Others; HR Management; and Becoming an Effective Leader.

The primary objectives of the Promising Leaders Programme are to empower participants to develop key managerial skills and capabilities; ensure a comprehensive understanding and awareness of the government's duties; develop the participants' skills and abilities according to each job description; and develop and support in the implementation of the participants' development plans.

Moreover, the Promising Leaders Programme has been designed as a major accelerator towards realising the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015, which was launched last year by vice-president and prime minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Qualified for consideration under the programme are UAE nationals aged between 22-25 who are graduates of recognised universities and have manifested a passion for excellence and the motivation to achieve. Successful candidates from the first batch are proficient in both English and Arabic languages, acquainted with computer applications, and also passed a tough assessment centre test and a series of interviews.

MBRPLD has been initiated as an innovative leadership programme designed to develop the professional expertise of prospective and incumbent high-level government officials of Dubai. It has likewise been established to ensure long-term, systemised leadership development across all government departments.

Duke CE has been ranked by Financial Times as number one in the world in custom executive education for the fifth consecutive year, while it has garnered the same distinction from Business Week for the third time in a row.

INSEAD is one of the world's leading and largest graduate business schools, with two campuses based in Singapore and France.  - TradeArabia News Service