MBRCGI Collaborates With UAEU And HCT To Enrich Ibtekr Government Innovation Platform For Future Leaders

The Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation (MBRCGI) has signed two strategic partnership agreements with the libraries of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT). These partnerships aim to enhance government collaboration with national academic institutions, promoting innovation within the UAE's government sector. Through MBRCGI’s Ibtekr platform, government employees and future leaders will gain access to a vast array of resources and knowledge.

Ibtekr is recognised as the first digital platform in the Arab world dedicated to public sector innovation. It was launched to support His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's vision of spreading a culture of government innovation across the UAE and beyond. The platform underscores the UAE government's commitment to investing in people, building their capabilities, and encouraging them to innovate and develop solutions for future challenges.

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MBRCGI will collaborate with UAEU and HCT to expand resources on Ibtekr, making it accessible to approximately 40,000 students and researchers. This initiative aims to upskill future government employees. Huda Al Hashimi, UAE Deputy Minister for Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs, remarked on the broader impact: "These partnerships reflect the government’s commitment to spreading knowledge, fostering a culture of innovation, and empowering the next generation of public sector innovators."

Prof. Ahmed AlRaeesi, Acting Vice Chancellor of UAEU, highlighted how this partnership will enhance the academic environment. He stated that through this collaboration, their community will benefit from Ibtekr's extensive knowledge pool. This partnership aims to elevate academic excellence by developing innovative solutions and producing highly capable graduates ready to excel in their fields.

Dr. Faisal Alayyan, President & CEO of HCT, expressed satisfaction with collaborating through Ibtekr. He noted that this partnership would significantly enrich students' academic experience while strengthening digital infrastructure. It supports HCT’s mission to prepare future leaders in technology and innovation.

The collaboration with UAEU integrates advanced resources from Ibtekr into UAEU’s digital repository. This integration provides students and faculty access to research papers, case studies, publications, and innovation toolkits. Joint research projects between UAEU and MBRCGI are also encouraged under this partnership.

Promoting Innovation Competitions

The MoU with HCT enhances access to Ibtekr’s digital resources for its students and faculty by integrating these into HCT’s library systems. MBRCGI will organise training sessions and workshops for HCT students on using Ibtker in research projects and innovation challenges. Students are encouraged to submit research papers to enrich Ibtekr's content.

Innovation competitions will be held at both institutions to inspire students in developing creative solutions for real-world challenges. These events provide platforms for showcasing projects while benefiting from Ibtker’s extensive network.

Fostering a Culture of Innovation

MBRCGI employs a three-pronged approach: identifying public sector innovation trends; incubating innovative initiatives within the UAE government; creating transformative approaches facilitating innovative solutions. The centre aligns with "We the UAE Vision 2031," focusing on unlocking individuals' potential while enhancing the UAE's global position as an innovation hub.

This initiative reflects a significant step towards fostering a culture of innovation within academic institutions in the UAE. By leveraging digital platforms like Ibtekr, these partnerships aim to equip future leaders with essential skills needed for effective governance.

With inputs from WAM