In collaboration with University of Dubai and Thunderbird School of Global Management ASU (Arizona State University), the Department of Economic Development in Dubai honored 15 employees, who graduated in the first batch of the Rawasy program, which aims to develop leaders from the staff at various departments and directorates.

This initiative comes in the context of the pursuit of DED to enhance the management and leadership skills of its employees. The program targets employees in the middle level management and those exhibiting promising leadership potential.
His Excellency Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of DED in Dubai, Dr. Eesa M. Bastaki, President of University of Dubai, and Sarah Schwab, General Manager of Europe, Middle East and Africa at the Thunderbird School of Global Management ASU, honored the graduates of the first batch, in the presence of a number of officials and managers of the DED and its institutions, and the University of Dubai.
On this occasion, H.E. Sami Al Qamzi said: "We congratulate the first graduates in the Rawasy program who were selected according to specific criteria based on a written test, personal interview and awareness workshops organized by a joint team from the University of Dubai and the Thunderbird School of Global Management ASU. We are confident that the program will increase the productivity of the staff and help them achieve innovation in the fields of employment.

Raising level of performance
H.E. Al Qamzi stressed that the human resources management policy in the DED is not limited to employing individuals, but rather to finding mechanisms that can support training and development programs and contribute to enhanced performance and skill levels. Participation in the Rawasy program is part of the strategy to develop the capability of the DED cadres. The program, which consists of three training modules, is specifically designed to meet the needs of the targeted leaders, and has been built on the basis of the strategic plan of the department, H.E. Al Qamzi said.
We are delighted to partner with Dubai University and Thunderbird School in view of their high reputation in the academic arena. The University of Dubai has been supporting the UAE government initiative in the rehabilitation of its citizens through human resource development programs in the public and private sectors, based on the highest educational standards of the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America. Our success with the first graduates confirms our continuing role in the development and empowerment of the employees of the department and its institutions, H.E. Al Qamzi added.

Vocational training
Dr. Eesa M. Bastaki said the University of Dubai continues to provide academic support to governmental and private institutions in Dubai and the UAE. He added that the vocational training provided by the university is linked to the scientific mission at the national level, especially with regard to administrative development, which aims to update the necessary skills and knowledge, and to enable national institutions to increase the competitive advantage of the workforce. Dr. Bastaki said the University of Dubai is working with international institutes such as Thunderbird School to secure the best professional training programs in management development.

Sarah Schwab said: "Thunderbird is honored to partner with DED and the University of Dubai in delivering the Rawasy program to develop the capacity of DED employees. We are excited to see the managers who participated in our program apply their newly acquired leadership skills. In doing so, they will not only grow professionally and personally but also motivate, encourage and engage their colleagues and team members towards greater professional achievements. Ultimately, investment in leadership development creates sustainable government and enterprise, which form important cornerstones of the Dubai Plan 2021. We thank the DED senior leadership for their commitment and foresight in sponsoring this worthy program.
Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University is an American business school and a part of Arizona State University. The school offers masters degrees and executive education programs in global management.