Muscat – The ‘National Programme for Developing Leaders and Future Foresight’ launched its first educational unit today, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance through the Partnership for Development Program (Offset), and with the Eller Executive Education at the University of Arizona. The first batch comprises of 30 participants, who hold positions ranging from assistant general manager and department director to assistant department manager; they will be a part of the knowledge journey consisting of five educational units that will last over a period of six months.

The program will address various aspects related to leadership skills and knowledge, which contribute to refining capabilities while facing professional challenges; it will also empower participants to assist in improving economic opportunities and building bridges between the public and private sectors to enhance Oman’s goal of global competitiveness.

Dr. Ali bin Qassim Al Lawati, President of the Royal Academy of Management, stated that the program would provide participants with skills of systematic institutional thinking, leadership methods, change leadership, innovation based on critical thinking, decision-making methods, in addition to strategic thinking. He stressed that the program would play an important role in improving the governmental performance of the units of the state’s administrative apparatus

Dr Yasmin Bint Shanan Al Balushi, Program Director, explained that the program’s educational units are based on a multi-modal teaching that combines the experience of accelerators, with individual and group training, personal interviews and research projects. She indicated that there are trainers who have participated in the ‘Certified Leadership Coach Training Program’ launched by the Academy earlier this year in some units of the National Program, which will give them the opportunity to see first-hand, the process of their training and learn from global experiences.