Sharjah Announces Training Programmes To Enhance Communication Skills For IGCF 2024

The Sharjah Government Media Bureau, in collaboration with strategic partners, is gearing up for the 13th edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2024). Scheduled for 4th to 5th September, the event aims to enhance government communication standards. To prepare young students and professionals, five pre-forum training programmes will be held from 26th August to 5th September.

These training sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including advanced technologies like AI and the Metaverse. They will also focus on essential skills for job market success, building successful media projects, and creating engaging content. The theme for this edition is ‘Agile Governments... Innovative Communication,’ aiming to drive transformative change in government communication.

From 26th to 29th August, the COMMS programme at Al Majaz Amphitheatre will offer diverse workshops. Dr. Sheren Mousa will lead a session on starting media projects. Dr. Ahmed Farouk will discuss digital world withdrawal and return strategies. Dr. Amr Abdelhamid will guide participants on podcast production for government platforms, while Dr. Rahima Aissani will focus on mobile journalism.

Additionally, Dr. Elsayed Darwish Bakhit will conduct a workshop on verifying fake news and photos. Dr. Mohamed Abdulzaher will explore advanced technology like AI and Metaverse and their impact on the Arab labour market by 2025. Dr. Mohammad Ayish will highlight the importance of data in government communication.

A series of specialised training sessions at Expo Centre Sharjah will target future communication skills development. One notable session is ‘Influencer Dynamics: Mastering Public Communication in the Digital Age,’ organised with Forbes Middle East and GovCampus from 3rd to 5th September. This programme includes interactive lectures, group discussions, hands-on exercises, and immersive workshops.

The sessions aim to provide deep insights into influencer strategies, engagement techniques, and legal frameworks essential for effective digital influence.

Universities Challenge

The ‘Universities Challenge’ will take place from 3rd to 5th September in collaboration with United Arab Emirates University. This platform allows students to showcase innovative ideas in digital content creation for government communication. Led by Muhammad Omran from Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, it aims to foster innovation and collaboration among universities.

AI Skills Camp

The AI Skills Camp (AISC) is scheduled from 2nd to 4th September in partnership with Artificial Intelligence Journalism for Research and Forecasting (AIJRF). Led by Dr. Mohamed Abdulzaher, CEO of AIJRF, this camp focuses on AI applications in government communication. Participants will learn essential skills for producing innovative projects and mastering digital content production.

The camp features experts like Dr. Sherine Moussa, an academic trainer at AIJRF; Dr. Munira Mohammad Alrahmani, a certified trainer at AIJRF; and Fadi Rida from Fonn Group.

Design Thinking Workshop

The fifth training programme is a two-day workshop titled ‘Design Thinking and the Innovation of Solutions,’ organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau's Training Department from 2nd to 3rd September. Ahmed Shahrouj, an international consultant in creativity and institutional innovation, will lead this workshop.

This session aims to delve into factors shaping creative ability and their role in institutional innovation using theoretical and practical tools to embed design thinking concepts.

The pre-forum activities are designed to equip participants with advanced skill sets through practical applications, ensuring they are well-prepared for future challenges in government communication.

With inputs from WAM