Interior Minister underlines importance of developing ministry staff's leadership competencies

H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, today underlined the importance of developing the leadership competencies of Ministry of Interior (MoI) staff members.

He stated that this could be achieved by building and developing administrative capabilities among staff and fostering their professional skills, so as to meet the objectives of the MoI and its strategic plans. H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed also pointed out the importance of preparing national competencies and assessing and developing the capabilities of distinguished officers, to further empower them. In addition, H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed asserted the importance of preparing the second line of leadership to ensure the continuity of excellence and innovation. This can be achieved within the framework of an institutional system that adopts creativity and innovative ideas which benefit society.

Sheikh Saif was speaking during the launch of two programmes at the Creativity and Leadership Development Center at the General Secretariat of the Office of H.H. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. Held by the AFAQ for Leadership Development Center in Abu Dhabi, the first programme, "First Higher Leadership Programme," was organized in collaboration with Oxford University, UK. The "Second Line Leadership Programme" was organized in collaboration with Cambridge University, UK.

The launch event was attended by Lt. General Saif Abdullah Al Sha’far, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Interior; Major General Mohammed bin Al Awadhi Al Menhali, Assistant Undersecretary of Resources and Support Services; and a number of senior MoI officers.

The one-year long "First Higher Leadership Programme" targets a number of Directors General and Deputy Directors General at the MoI, as well as other sectors and the general headquarters under the MoI. The "Second Line Leadership Programme," an eighteen-month program, targets the Major and Lieutenant Colonel ranks at the MoI police departments.

Both programmes aim to develop and foster intellectual and educational skills among MoI members, and enhance both their basic and leadership capabilities. The programmes also aim to achieve the MoI's strategic objectives and implement institutional excellence standards.

Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Omar Ibrahim Al Ali, Director of the Creativity and Leadership Development Center at the General Secretariat of the Office of H.H. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, explained that both First Higher Leadership and Second Line Leadership Programmes represent an illustrious opportunity to impart sophisticated capabilities, according to the standards of institutional excellence and innovative methods. This aims to achieve the MoI’s strategic objectives to prepare MoI members for distinguished leadership capabilities.

He explained that the "First Higher Leadership Programme" includes training courses prepared by the prestigious British Oxford University; attending leadership conferences, seminars and meetings; and reviewing the best local and international practices. He pointed to the endeavors of the Creativity and Leadership Development Center to achieve the strategic objective of the Ministry of Interior, implementing the institutional excellence standards and developing the staff to exceptional levels.

He pointed that the "First Higher Leadership Programme" comprises two main parts. First is the cognitive and knowledge skills, which includes national security and foreign policy; world economy and technological advances; and demographic and social issues. The second is leadership competencies, which includes strategic thinking; change and development management; institutional planning and utilizing resources; empowerment and delegation; crises and disasters management; and project management.

He said that the "Second Line Leadership Programme" also targets officers working in the Ministry of Interior, with ranks of (Lieutenant Colonel and Major) and includes development of training courses in leadership skills; attending leadership and academic conferences, seminars and meetings; and reviewing the best local and international practices; as well as effective guidance and self-development programmes.

He added that the "Second Line Leadership Programme" is based on various axes, such as strategic thinking; change and development management; empowerment, delegation and effective guidance; crises, disasters and project management; institutional planning and utilizing resources; communication and team work skills; innovation and creativity skills at work along with skills of foreseeing the future and the skills of the spokesperson.
Source :WAM