The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) held 20 specialized training programs, attended by nearly 500 federal and local government employees, as part of the 6th Annual Ma’arif Training & Development Forum & Exhibition 2018. The event kicked off last Sunday at Dubai Knowledge Park and concludes on Thursday, with the participation of hundreds of federal and local government employees and some 50 preferred federal government’s training providers under the title "The Modern Technological Revolution in Training and Development".
In this regard, HE Laila Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of Programs & Human Resources Planning, said that the Authority views the Annual Ma’arif Training & Development Forum & Exhibition as an ideal platform for reviewing the latest systems and techniques for training employees, developing their skills and behavioral and professional skills. “It also provides an opportunity to meet experts and specialists in education and training as the topic focuses on training in the workplace”, she added.
Al Suwaidi continued: “During the 6th Annual Ma’arif Training & Development Forum & Exhibition 2018, and in cooperation with a number of its partners the Federal Government’s preferred training providers under Maarif initiative, the Authority held 20 specialized training programs, benefiting about 500 staff working in ministries, federal bodies and local government institutions”.
She noted that the training programs witnessed a remarkable interaction and attendance by the employees of the federal government and local government institutions, who praised the diversity of the topics and content of the training programs that focused on ways to empower and develop human capital, how to take advantage of the modern technological revolution in training and development. In addition, the programs help in identifying and analysing training needs and mechanism of monitoring return on training.
She spoke about the most important training programs held by the Authority during the Forum, including: general and specialized training programs and courses supervised by experts in their fields, namely, modern training and development technology using smart games, using virtual reality training and development strategy to improve learning outcomes, basic concepts in human resource management, Balanced Scorecard outstanding performance, and the art of identifying and analysing training needs using LEGO games.
HE Laila Al Suwaidi added that the forum also featured a series of brainstorming sessions including: "How to start your project with a modest capital, how to build your brand in the UAE, in addition to an emotional intelligence session - the key to happiness and success. Another session also discussed the potential threats of artificial intelligence to HR and training and development experts.
She thanked Ma’arif training providers for their role in making the sixth edition of the Annual Forum for Training & Development 2018 a success, particularly those who provided free training programs during the forum.
"Ma’arif" initiative for the Federal Government's preferred training partners
Ma’arif initiative, launched in 2013, is considered one of the Authority’s strategic initiatives, and the first of its kind at the level of the Federal Government. The aim is to prepare a list of the best providers of training services in the UAE and make it available to the ministries and federal entities, so that they can take advantage of training programs at competitive prices.
The Ma'arif initiative aims to:
Establish a partnership based on social responsibility and serve the mutual interests of the government and private sector. Guarantee providing high quality training for around 84,000 employees working in 56 ministries and federal entities. Meet the training needs in accordance with the training and development system of the Federal Government employees. Achieve a financial surplus from the training budgets of federal entities and serve the maximum number of employees. Enhance the competence and productivity of the Federal Government and create a favourable business environment therein. Assist federal entities to select training courses online, in accordance with predefined time frames.