Dubai Future Foundation Selects 40 For Government Innovation Programme

The Dubai Future Foundation has announced the participation of 40 government employees from 25 entities in the "Lead and Design Programme," part of the ‘Design Gov’ initiative. This programme aims to equip Emirati talent with specialised skills to innovate in government service design and operations.

The initiative focuses on providing participants with tools to anticipate and shape future government operations. The goal is to enhance the quality of life and establish Dubai and the UAE as leaders in human-centred government design. The 14-week programme promotes a culture of creative design and proactive planning within government entities.

Participants will gain leadership skills through human-centred design, enabling them to create high-impact services, initiatives, and projects. These efforts aim to prepare Dubai and the UAE for future challenges in sectors such as media, housing, tourism, welfare, technology, economy, health, education, culture, and transportation.

The ‘Lead and Design’ Programme includes a series of training workshops that blend theoretical knowledge with practical experiences. These workshops are conducted both within the UAE and internationally. Hybrid training methods are used to explore future design, innovation, and foresight technologies.

The programme began with an introductory day followed by a week-long leadership immersion in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This hands-on approach focuses on developing leadership skills through practical experiences that prioritise human welfare and societal impact.

Phases of Practical Application

The first phase involves five weeks of virtual group training to strengthen new skills and turn ideas into reality. This is followed by a week of in-person workshops and lectures in Dubai focusing on human-centred design. Participants will practice what they have learned to advance their missions.

The second phase includes real-world design challenges. The programme will conclude in December 2024 in Dubai with a three-day event where participants will present their projects aimed at driving positive future transformations.

Global Collaboration

This programme was developed with various UAE government entities and leading knowledge centres worldwide. The aim is to adopt global best practices to advance government operations effectively.

In 2019, the UAE government launched the ‘Design Gov’ Initiative to foster a design-centric culture in developing human-centred initiatives, policies, and programmes. This initiative seeks to leverage design's power in social and economic contexts to achieve the "UAE Centennial 2071" objectives.

With inputs from WAM