Dubai, September 24, 2014:The Best m-Government Service Award organized a workshop for university students to motivate them to participate in the second cycle of the award as well as to introduce them to its conditions and criteria. The award includes a Special Award worth AED 1 million reserved for university students in the UAE.

The workshop, organized in the presence of representatives of national universities and federal government entities, is part of the ongoing efforts by the government to promote a culture of innovation in services, contributing to the transition to a smart government. It is in response to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to transform universities into research centers which can actively contribute to the enrichment of the government's efforts, working together as a team.

H.E. Hessabu Hamid, Executive Director for Excellence in the Prime Minister's Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, said the workshop was organized within the framework of the preparations for the second cycle of the award, which will announce its results during the Third Government Summit in February 2015.

Stressing the importance of the workshop in promoting effective communications and exchange of knowledge, H.E. Hessabu Hamid said it was important encourage government authorities and universities to provide innovative solutions in line with the requirements of the Smart Government initiative. Contributions in this area will ensure access to efficient government services round the clock, meeting the needs and expectations of the customers, she added.

Join efforts to promote national partnerships
The workshop aims to explore formulas for joint efforts between federal government authorities and universities and strengthen partnerships on innovation in government services. The initiatives will be based on the vision of the UAE government to deliver services to people 24 hours a day and 7 days a week in order to meet peoples expectations and provide them happiness in accordance with the UAE Vision 2021.

The workshop addresses the key role of the universities in providing a suitable environment for the students to help them channel their capabilities in the creation of sophisticated technical applications that can facilitate the improved delivery of government services to the people.

Sector categories
The second cycle of the Best m-Government Service Award has expanded its scope to include categories representing key government sectors that have a key role in peoples lives. These include the sectors of health, education and social affairs, transport and infrastructure, environment and tourism, security, safety, economy and trade. The award has also identified efficiency and effectiveness of applications as well as ease of use and creativity as key criteria.

Smart phone applications
The Best m-Government Service Award covers smart phone applications for operating systems iOS, Android, Blackberry and Windows, as well as the provision of government services on websites which can be accessed on mobile phones via SMS.

Apart from the category for university students, the award aims to recognize best innovations at federal government authorities and local governments in the UAE as Arab and international levels. Nominations from the UAE and the Arab world will be received from December 11 to 18, 2014 through the Best m-Government Service Award website www.mgov-award.ae.