dsg

training for senior Iraqi judicial at DSG

2006-03-30T03:00:00.000-08:00

Dubai School of Government facilitates training for senior Iraqi judicial delegation

A senior Iraqi judicial delegation headed by Madhat Al-Mahmood, Chief Justice and President of the Higher Judicial Council and experts from the World Bank recently visited the Dubai School of Government (DSG).

Leadership Development Programme at DSG

2006-03-30T02:58:00.000-08:00

Nabil Ali Al Yousuf (left) and Hamad Al Mazroui following the signing

Dubai School of Government to provide Leadership Development Programme for Dubai International Customs

The Dubai School of Government (DSG) today announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dubai Customs International (DCI) to develop a Leadership Development Programme for DCI officials.

Summers at Dubai School of Government

2006-03-30T02:56:00.000-08:00

Nabil Ali Alyousuf, Executive President, Dubai School of Government and Lawrence H. Summers, President of the world-renowned Harvard University.

Harvard University President hails Dubai's economic strategies

The President of the world-renowned Harvard University, Lawrence H. Summers praised Dubai's economic strategies during a meeting with members of the Government Leaders and Mohammed bin Rashid Programme for Leadership Development.

An excellent documentation of the 2 nd Working Group Meeting and High Level Seminar on Building Effective Action Plans

2006-03-13T06:43:00.000-08:00


On behalf of the Government of the United Arab Emirates, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the OECD Forum that is going to be held in the UAE on March 6th and 7th, 2006 . I would like to take this opportunity .....more >>

Bravo DSG

2006-03-11T22:55:00.000-08:00

Forum hosted by DSG identifies key improvement areas for administrative simplification

The second global Working Group on 'Good Governance for Development in Arab Countries' concluded in Dubai, with Arab government delegates resolving to finalise their respective National Action Plans for administrative simplification over the next couple of months.

The National Action Plans will be presented at the Arab Ministerial Conference on Good Governance for Development scheduled for May 2006 at the Egyptian resort city of Sharm Al Sheikh. The plans will address key areas of economic and social development in the region with a special focus on using e-government as a tool for simplifying administrative operations.

Delegates discussed the need for aligning the proposed action plan in each country with technical assistance programmes provided by OECD countries and other international organisations. They discussed the future strategic direction for regional policy dialogue and policy reforms at a country level.

The forum was hosted by the Dubai School of Government in cooperation with the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) supported by The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The forum also discussed technical cooperation and exchange of experiences in public and private partnership frameworks as well as the idea of formulating good practice toolkits.

Setting criteria for evaluating e-government and measuring impact, and a Pan Arab e-government or solidarity fund were also among the ideas proposed during the meeting.

Declaring the Forum a success, Mr. Nabil Alyousuf, Executive President of the Dubai School of Government said: 'We are happy with the level of progress achieved and our efforts to promote good governance in the initiative's member countries. We are confident that the forum's two-day discussions will result in purposeful action plans that will further support development goals within the region'.

The meeting also emphasised that e-government models cannot be successful without considering and implementing administrative simplification plans, highlighting the need to develop national awareness strategies for educating government employees on new administrative simplification tools and principles, with specific training programs for decision makers.

Interactive sessions

During the event, Egyptian, Palestinian and Lebanese delegations presented briefs on progress achieved in their respective countries. Ireland, Dubai and Morocco also presented case studies on the development of their respective e-government programmes and impact on administrative simplification strategies.

In line with its commitment to facilitate dialogue among participant countries, Dubai School of Government provided a portal for delegates to exchange information, discuss action plans and post updates and country reports.

Pan-Arab initiative

The 'Good Governance for Development in Arab Countries' forum, held in Dubai on 6-7 of this month, was attended by senior government officials and decision-makers from over ten different Arab countries in addition to OECD delegates and E-government knowledge experts from Europe. The initiative was launched at a meeting of Arab Ministers hosted by Jordan from 6 - 7 February, 2005.

The Dubai School of Government is the first research and educational institution established in the region that focuses on public policy governance. It was established in 2004 under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The Dubai School of Government collaborates and coordinates with other international schools of Government such as Harvard University's John F Kennedy School to launch research programmes and to encourage the global exchange of views and experiences on public policies designed to develop the skills of the leaders and decision makers in the Arab region.

Arab E-government leaders meet again at the Dubai School of Government for round two of talks on E-government and Administrative simplification

2006-03-05T03:51:00.000-08:00

Mr. Nabil Alyousuf, Executive President of the Dubai School of Government

The two day forum is run in co-operation with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and is supported by the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP).

The forum which will be held on 6-7 March 2006 will include senior government officials and decision makers from over ten different Arab countries in addition to OECD delegates and E-government knowledge experts from Europe and the United States of America.

Scholarship Program

2006-02-23T04:58:00.000-08:00

Scholarship Program
The Dubai School of Government proudly offers a scholarship for UAE Nationals to continue their studies in public policy or public administration at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. For outstanding candidates with interest in public affairs, this scholarship will fully support the UAE scholar in pursuit of graduate education at Harvard.

Candidates meeting the following criteria should contact our office for more information:

Interest in research and public policy
Academic distinction at the undergraduate level
Strong quantitative skills
Strong English written and verbal skills
Demonstrated leadership skills

Scholarship Applications open August 1

For more information contact governmentscholar@teo.ae

Harvard Scholarship: Be Part of a Brighter Future in the Arab World

2006-02-20T03:22:00.000-08:00

Harvard Scholarship
Be part of a brighter future in the Arab world
Want to become a government leader in the Arab World?
If you have the aspiration to become a future leader in the public sector, the Dubai School of
Government, in collaboration with the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, will give
you the expert guidance needed to realise this ambition.
The Dubai School of Government is offering two scholarships for a Masters degree programme in
Public Administration in International Development. This multi-disciplinary programme offers high
level technical training and professional school approach with an economics-focused emphasis in
policy and practice. This highly challenging course is designed to ensure that tomorrow’s leaders are
not only skilled analysts but are able to articulate a vision and build consensus around that vision.
Applicants should have a good honours degree from an accredited University and they must be
fluent in both Arabic and English. Acceptance on the course will be subject to the requirements of
Harvard University and successful applicants are requested to commit to working at the Dubai
School of Government for a specified period of time upon successful completion of the course.
If you have what it takes to become a government leader in the Arab world, submit your CV and a
covering letter – both in English - stating your reason for application to recruitment@dsg.ae
Closing date for applications is 7th December, 2005. Successful applicants will be subsequently
contacted for interviews.
For more information, please visit www.dsg.ae

Dubai School of Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

2006-02-20T03:14:00.000-08:00

Dubai School of Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support the Jordanian Prime Ministry’s public sector reform programme. The agreement signifies the importance of working in partnership to strengthen regional co-operation and to achieve recognizable acclaim for DSG as a fundamental contributor to public sector reform in the region.Through the establishment of this agreement, the Dubai School of Government will be supporting public sector reform in Jordan by capacity building in the Government Performance Directorate (GPD), which is in charge of monitoring government performance and facilitating reform in the Prime Ministry. Reform of public administration is part of a wider economic, social and political agenda which aims to transform Jordan into a more forward looking and prosperous state. The Jordanian Government has recognised the importance of public sector reform as a tool to improve its overall economic development. Furthermore, the technical assistance which the Dubai School of Government will provide will address the following: capacity building efforts within the Government Performance Directorate team ensuring the presence of the necessary skills and expertise required to define the proper key performance indicators as well as the actual running of Government Performance Directorate operations and building the internal work processes within these teams.Commenting on the MOU, Mr, Nabil Ali Alyousuf, Executive President of the Dubai School Government stated: “The need for governments to ensure that they have a strong monitoring and reporting system is of paramount importance and it is vital that they ensure that they have the correct systems in place to allow them to develop clear statements of where they want to be economically and socially in the future’.Mr. Alyousuf further added that “The Dubai School of Government through its experiences and expertise in public sector reform will seek to support the Jordanian Government in its quest to achieve efficiency in the public sector ensuring that the necessary structure and tools are in place in order to boost overall economic development’.Al Yousuf also added that ‘The professionals and team in Dubai School of Government will be supporting regional governments with capacity building and technical expertise, and is prepared to provide continuous support in improving the necessary public services structure, which will reflect positively on public services‘.The objectives of the Public Sector Reform Programme are therefore two-fold: to improve the ‘machinery’ of government; and to ensure the improvements of the ‘machinery’ is integral to all National Agenda policies and programmes.The importance of the public sector reform project in Jordan cannot be underestimated. Indeed, governmental reform has long been on the agenda and the case for change in this area is stronger than ever. At a time where most Governments are conscious of streamlining their systems and processes, the Jordanian Government is leading major efforts to improve a number of key areas: by decision making within its various departments and implementing a clearly articulated set of deliverables to be achieved within a defined time period. This in turn will drive performance measurements and standard setting to ensure that there is a clear structure in place to aid effective strategic policy making. However, it is not enough to improve the administrative ‘Machine’: It is imperative that the principles of enhanced accountability, efficiency, results orientation and value for money are embedded in all the individual policies and programmes which comprise the National Agenda. The Dubai School of Government team has regional and international experience in the field of Government performance and has worked on similar projects supporting various regional governments. Moreover, the Dubai School of Government offers various tailored Executive Education Programmes in this field that have been delivered to a number of Government Institutions. The Dubai School of Government is the first research and teaching institution established in the region that focuses on public policy governance. It was established in 2004 under the direction of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Dubai School of Government collaborates and coordinates with other international schools of Government such as Harvard University's John F Kennedy School. The Dubai School of Government offers academic programmes and participates in the global exchange of views and experiences relating to public and government policies, seeking to reinforce and develop the skills of the leaders and decision makers in the Arab region.

Dubai School of Government to Host The Regional Forum:

2006-02-12T12:09:00.000-08:00

Dubai School of Government to Host The Regional Forum:
"Good Governance for Development
in the Arab countries"

Dubai , United Arab Emirates - The Dubai School of Government will host a forum entitled “Good Governance for development in Arab countries”. The forum which will take place next week will be run in co-operation with Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and will focus on E-Government and the need to achieve public sector reform goals.

The forum which will be held on 12-13 September 2005 will include senior government officials and decision makers from a number of different Arab countries. Two delegates will represent each country, one for the e-Government aspect and the other representing the overall reform in the public sector.

The forum will allow Arab countries the opportunity to provide an overview of their overall e-Government initiatives with a focus on how E-Government initiatives can contribute to public sector reform.

This forum is part of the “Good Governance for development initiative, which is supported by the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development OECD and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The initiative was launched at a meeting of Arab Ministers hosted by Jordan on 6th-7th February 2005, in the presence of King Abdullah II, Donald Johnston, Secretary General, OECD, and Mrs. Rima Khalaf Heinadi, Assistant Secretary General, UNDP.

The overall “Good Governance for Development” initiative has adopted six key components toward reform and development. Each component will be led by one Arab country who will manage the meetings and knowledge sharing for that component. Dubai will represent the United Arab Emirates under the E-Government and Administrative Simplification theme. The other five components, which will be represented by other Arab countries during the forum, will be: Civil Service and Integrity; Governance of Public Finance and Public Service Delivery; Public Private Partnership and Regulatory Reform and finally, Civil Society and Media was chosen to represent the United Arab Emirates in the aspect of E-Government and the simplification of procedures. Dubai school of Government A was then selected to organize and manage the forum.

The Dubai School of Government is the first research and teaching institute in the region to focus on the administration of public sector. It was established in 2004 under the directions of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and in cooperation with distinctive international schools such as the John F. Kennedy School for Government Administration at Harvard University. The Dubai School of Government also offers various academic programs and supports the exchange of views and opinions on general government policies to further develop the skills of the leaders and decision makers in the region.

VIKTOR MAYER-SCHOENBERGER

2006-01-13T09:20:00.000-08:00

THE INFORMATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND GOVERNANCE

FACULTY GROUP

VIKTOR MAYER-SCHOENBERGER, CHAIR

The Kennedy School of Government is Harvard University’s center for research and policy initiatives regarding information, technology, and governance. Kennedy School faculty possess an extraordinary portfolio of research, teaching, and contributions to policy in the domain of information, technology, and governance.

The number of faculty at the Kennedy School who work fully or in part in the area of information, technology, and governance continues to grow rapidly.

In addition, several programs in the School focus their research and outreach activities largely on information, technology, and governance. These programs include the Governance of Information Seminar Series, the Rueschlikon Conferences on Information Policy, the Program on Networked Governance, the Science and Technology Policy Program, the Program on Technology and Economic Policy, and the E-Government Executive Education Program.

Students interested in information, technology and governance enroll in a variety of degree and non-degree programs including the Master's Degree Programs, Ph.D. Programs, and Executive Programs. A wide variety of courses in the area of information, technology and governance are offered each year. The School also maintains visiting fellows programs for qualified pre- and post-doctoral students.

Kennedy School Faculty
working on information, technology, and governance:

Faculty Member	Major Area of Interest
Branscomb, Lewis	Technology Innovation and Public Policy
Coglianese, Cary	Environmental Regulation and Administrative Law
Fung, Archon	Information, Participation and Regulation
Graham, Mary	Information Transparency and Regulation
Jasanoff, Sheila	Science and Technology Policy
Jorgenson, Dale	Information Economics
Kamarck, Elaine	Electoral Politics and Government Reform
Kelman, Steven	Public Management and Government Reform
Lazer, David	Complexity and Social Networks, Deliberation
Mayer-Schoenberger, Viktor	Regulatory Policy
Mechling, Jerry	Electronic Government
Norris, Pippa	Comparative Politics
Sparrow, Malcolm	Compliance Management
Zeckhauser, Richard

Q&A Ambassador Barbara Bodine, Executive Director, The Middle East Governance Initiative

2006-01-13T09:12:00.000-08:00

Q&A Ambassador Barbara Bodine, Executive Director, The Middle East Governance Initiative

Director of the Last December, Ambassador Barbara Bodine was named the first Executive Belfer Center’s new Governance Initiative in the Middle East, which promotes research and training in governance issues with a new generation of regional scholars and leaders in cooperation with the new Dubai School of Government. This new initiative and Ambassador Bodine’s appointment were announced at the 2004 Arab Strategy Forum in Dubai, which brought together a host of leaders from around the world, including Bill Clinton, Madeline Albright, the late Rafiq Hariri, and others, to discuss the future of the region.

As a former career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Bodine served as U.S. Ambassador to Yemen from 1997 to 2001, a period that saw enhanced support for democratization and increased security cooperation, as well as the terrorist attack on the USS Cole in 2000. She spent most of her 30-year diplomatic career in the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula, including tours as Deputy Principal Officer in Baghdad from 1980-1983 and Deputy Chief of Mission in Kuwait during the Iraqi invasion and occupation in 1990. In 2003, Ambassador Bodine served as coordinator for post-conflict reconstruction for Baghdad and the central provinces of Iraq.

What are your plans for the Governance Initiative in the Middle East?

Bodine: The primary focus of this initiative is to encourage, support, and enhance both the practitioner’s skills and the scholar’s understanding of the evolving governance issues in the Middle East region. Both we and the Dubai School of Government (DSG) recognize this effort must be regional to be successful, and that it must also grow organically if it is going to endure. As such, our approach is to build outward, cumulatively adding programs as we go. Most immediately, DSG and we will conduct both an executive program and a conference on e-government that we expect will result in the definitive work on that subject in the region. DSG and we will conduct at least one executive training program and follow-on conference each year. In addition, we are actively recruiting and can financially support professionals in the region for KSG’s many mid-career fellowship programs as well as students for the degree programs. Finally, and these are not strictly sequential, we will recruit a Senior Fellow in Islamic Government as well as senior and junior research scholarships by both those from the region and those interested in it. The ultimate goal is to raise the competence and awareness levels at both KSG and through DSG to the region.

How do you expect these efforts to be received in the region?

Bodine: This is a regional initiative and is the result of several years’ discussions between KSG and the Dubai government. Reflecting a growing sentiment in the region among citizens and leaders, Sheikh Mohammed al Gergawi of Dubai, who is also the driving force behind DSG and its relationship with KSG, opened the Arab Strategy Forum last December with a widely reported address in which he declared flatly that international crises can not be used as an excuse to delay reforms in the Arab world and challenged his fellow regional leaders to "change or be changed." But it is one thing to admonish and another to reform. Through GIME, the Kennedy School will provide the tools, resources and expertise. Someone asked me what was the core question behind GIME. Few in the region relish a return to the 7th century but many understand that the history of grafting foreign "isms" into the Middle Eastern context has not been good. So ultimately, the question for the leaders, scholars and people becomes: what does a truly twenty-first century Islamic government look like, and how do you get there?

Clearly improving regional governance is the principle aim of the initiative. Do you see this initiative bringing other benefits as well?

Bodine: Absolutely. First of all, this is a great opportunity for the Harvard community to play a part in what promises to be a historic transformation in one of the world's most volatile and geopolitically important regions. For all the assistance we hope to be able to provide the scholars and practitioners at DSG, this project will also provide a unique opportunity for American academics – faculty and students at Harvard – to deepen their understanding of this critical region and its emerging political and social issues. Given the central role of this region in global affairs, we could use both more regional experts and better understanding of regional governance issues.

The broader hope is that this understanding will help inform the public and political debate here in the U.S. Right now, there is a tragic disconnect between the resources the American government expends in the Middle East and the knowledge they have of the region and its people. This is a recipe for bad public policy. Given our long-term strategic interests there, we need to understand this region every bit as much as we want them to understand and accept us. As Joe Nye points out, the war on terror will ultimately be won or lost as a battle of ideas, and fostering better understanding among people on both sides directly contributes to our winning that war against the forces of extremist ignorance and violence. Promoting the spread of knowledge broadly is an important part of the mission of the university, and this is an opportunity for Harvard to take the lead on one of the most critical issues in the world today.

DSG E-Government Conference participants call for better information flows in Arab e-government initiatives

2006-01-13T08:59:00.000-08:00

The conference, organized by the leading Dubai School of Government in partnership with renowned Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, has united an elite audience of Arab and international academics, policy makers, and senior government officials to discuss the need for a paradigm shift in e-Government strategies.

'It is of paramount importance to re-conceptualize the benefits of e-Government projects, as the strong focus on technology infrastructures rather than information development and delivery had derailed governments from the principal rationale of e-Government,' said Mohammad Al Gergawi, Dubai School of Government Executive President.

'The resources deployed to develop e-Government infrastructure will be justified if e-Government enhances public administration and improves delivery of public value by providing transparent, accurate, and updated information to the public. Our goal is to achieve an e-Government that fosters genuine public participation through an interactive information sharing mechanism,' added Al Gergawi.

The two-day conference offers an insight into how e-Government projects can go beyond the realm of technology and infrastructure. The aim is to develop public-centered strategies that improve the flow of information and enhance public engagement in policy making. The Information Government (i-Government) concept introduces a new dynamic dimension of e-Government. It calls for more focus on the quality of information flows with a view to creating a strongly interactive public sector.

'As the leading and dedicated regional public sector management school, DSG, in cooperation with world-class institutions, organizes conferences and develops programs with a view to enhance public sector administration regionally. This conference is part of our efforts to shed light on the importance of e-Government as a venue for government-public dialogue. This can support the creation of transparent and useful policies and procedures,' said Nabil Ali Al Yousuf, Dubai School of Government Executive Director.

The first day of the conference addressed 'e-Government in the 21st century'. Professors Viktor Mayer-Schonberger and David Lazer of Harvard University made a presentation entitled 'e-Government and the coming revolution of i-Government', which was followed by a case study on the foundations of effective e-Government through the experience of Singapore, delivered by Dr. Chong Yoke Sin of NCS SingTel (Singapore).

'At the end of the day, e-government is not about technical innovation: it's about government reform,' said Ghazi Atallah of Cisco Systems General Manager Middle East, which is a sponsor partner in this event. 'Technology is the key enabler, but those delivering public services through new channels also have to work differently, breaking down inter-departmental silos and working seamlessly across interoperable networks. This way, they can deliver information and services that are easy to use, cost effective and, above all, relevant to people's everyday needs and interests.'

Dubai School of Government to represent Arab region in South Korea at forum

2006-01-13T08:56:00.000-08:00

From left to right: Mr. Shabbir Cheema, UNDESA - Mr. Nabil Al Yousuf, Dubai School of Government - Mr. Adel Abdellatif, UNDP.

Nabil Al Yousuf, Executive Director, DSG, made the announcement today at the conclusion of the first Regional Forum on Reinventing Government in the Arab States, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the UNDP Programme of Governance in the Arab Region (POGAR) and hosted by DSG in Dubai.

Mr. Al Yousuf outlined the conclusions and recommendations reached during the 3-day event by the more than 40 delegates from countries across the region in conjunction with representatives from UNDESA, UNDP POGAR, and the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Officials from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen addressed regional efforts towards achieving integrity, transparency and accountability in the public sector.

The conclusions reached at the forum represented the exchange of experiences on recent reforms undertaken in the different countries. It also represented the serious intent of the participants to replicate the Forum at their national level as well as report the issues raised to their respective parliaments and discuss them at the national level.
-more-

"As the first knowledge institution in the region dedicated to public sector management, DSG is honoured to be appointed to present the results of this momentous regional forum at a global level," Mr. Al Yousuf said. "As a school of excellence serving the Middle East, we aim to contribute to the study of government internationally and to a broader understanding of government initiatives in the Arab world."

Mr. Al Yousuf thanked Korean keynote speaker Jae Doo Yea, Director General of the Planning Department, South Korea, for joining the Arab States during their preparatory conference and for briefing the attendees on his country's preparations for the 6th Global Forum.

Guido Bertucci, Director, Division for Public Administration and Development Management, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, summed up the forum, pointing to the proactive and positive initiatives taken by the region in preparation for the 6th Global Forum, and the concrete commitment of the delegates to implementing resolutions beyond the Seoul event.

Speakers at the 3-day event included, Adel Abdellatif, UNDP Regional Coordinator, Programme for Governance in the Region of Arab States, and Ragaa Makharita, UNDP. DSG hosted the Dubai event with the support of the Dubai International Financial Centre, as well as Shell and National Bank of Dubai.

DSG represented the UAE at the UNDP and Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) conference in February at the Dead Sea, Jordan, as a thematic leader on e-government and administrative simplification. DSG cooperates with international schools of public policy to delivers leading edge public policy knowledge and skills for regional government decision makers to utilise to enhance the efficiency of governance and public service delivery to positively impact the lives of their citizens. The school has taken a spokesman role in regional policy representation in light of its mandate.

Dubai School of Government receives top Harvard and international thinkers during regional e-government conference

2006-01-13T08:23:00.000-08:00

Mohammad Al Gergawi, Executive President at Dubai School of Government.

The conference entitled "From E-Government to I-Government: How Information Government will Revolutionize the Public Sector" to be held on 23 - 24 May 2005, is being organised by the Dubai School of Government (DSG) in partnership with Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

'This conference provides senior public sector decision-makers with the insight, strategies and information to overcome the challenges facing Arab governments looking to improve both bilateral information flow and services to its citizens through e-government implementation,' said Mohammad Al Gergawi, Executive President at Dubai School of Government. 'This whole region is going through tremendous political, social and economic transformation, forcing the public sector to adapt new policies and strategies as well as a new approach to communicate to and better service its citizens. 'e-Government in the 21st Century' conference will gather global visionaries, policy makers and intellectuals to share insight on how governments can develop, implement and manage effective e-government models for the future of our generations.'

Moving beyond technology infrastructure discussions, the conference will highlight the challenges and opportunities faced by governments in developing an efficient system of
communication among citizens while improving the flow of information in both directions, creating stronger engagement with greater participation and involvement between governments and their constituencies.

"E-government research has traditionally focused on either efficiency or competitiveness gains. We feel this is not enough," said Professor Viktor Mayer-Schoenberger,,Harvard faculty and co-chair of the upcoming conference . 'As we have learned from recent experience, successful interaction can be achieved by creating the channels that carry information between governments and its citizens, not by simply focusing on the technology infrastructure. It is the flow of information that will help to create more transparent and effective governments while increasing citizen involvement and participation in the creation of policies that affect their lives, hence 'i-government' or information-government, an approach that will improve the way governments and citizens will interact in the future.'

"We can start using technologies to facilitate a broader and deeper re-conceptualization of the role and functioning of government" adds Harvard Professor David Lazer, who is associate director of the US-based National Center for Digital Government and chairs the conference with Mayer-Schönberger. "While 'electronic government' means efficiency-driven technology in the public sector, our challenge is to conceptualize 'information government', a public sector deeply connected to its citizenry,' says Lazer.

The invitation-only conference, "E-Government in the 21st Century: Towards i-Government - From Networks to Strategy", brings together Arab ministers, government decision-makers and heads of industry from across the region. Dubai School of Government, a leading knowledge institution for governmental studies in the region, is organising this event following the successful recent completion of the Executive Education Program on e-government in March 2005.

H.E. Khirbash opens first Harvard-certificated e-Government executive program in Middle East at Dubai School of Government

2006-01-13T07:59:00.000-08:00

UAE Minister of State for Finance and Industry H.E. Dr. Mohamed Khalfan bin Khirbash

The Executive Education Programs are part of DSG's ongoing cooperation with Harvard University's prestigious John F. Kennedy School of Government (KSG).

Dr. Khirbash told the regional delegates from UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestine, Bahrain, Iraq and Syria: 'This particular training program could not have been more timely. We are witnessing genuine change across public sector operations worldwide.

'Initiatives such as this executive program will continue to ensure that we have the knowledge resources to maintain our place at the forefront of modern government. This program is crucial to the future success of our bid to apply Information Communication Technology (ICT) to create good government.'

He added: 'E-Government is not merely an alternative way to deliver services. It is a culture and a state of mind. It is a culture based on modernity, excellence, and quality. Public sector employees need to embrace this culture if e-Government is to deliver the results we know it can.'

"This executive program represents the definitive learning and experience in global e-government, which our region can assess and gain the tools to apply in our own countries.

The 5-day program is led by two world-renowned Harvard professors, Viktor Mayer-Schoenberger Mechling, KSG Associate Professor of Public Policy, MPA and PhD in economics and public affairs, and Jerry Mechling, KSG Lecturer in Public Policy and Director of the e-Government Executive Education Project. The program uses the famous Harvard Case Study Method customised to the Middle East region to highlight how technology is being used to streamline processes and drive large scale change in the public sector across the globe.

Earlier this year, DSG highlighted Dubai's expertise in e-government, presenting the Emirate's learning and experience at February's UNDP/OECD joint regional conference in Jordan.

DSG, as the first knowledge institution for government studies in the region, contributes to the study of government internationally and to a broader understanding of government initiatives in the Arab world. Last week, DSG hosted the Regional Forum on Reinventing Government in the Arab States organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the UNDP Programme of Governance in the Arab Region (POGAR).

Dubai School of Government puts forward Emirate's e-Government experience at UNDP/OECD Jordan Summit

2006-01-13T07:57:00.000-08:00

Held under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II, the conference launched a three-year programme on "Good Governance for Development in the Arab Countries" (GfD) following the resolutions of the sixteenth Arab Summit in Tunis, 2004.

"The UAE was among six Arab states that agreed to host and coordinate activities under the GfD programme, Dubai having been singled out as a regional leader in e-government, administrative simplification and regulatory reform," Nabil Al Yousuf, Executive Director, Dubai School of Government , said today.

"The UAE delegation here today represents a cross-section of government bodies in the Emirates. We have presented Dubai's experience in the e-government sphere of public management to further the conference's objective of sustained regional growth through strengthened good governance based on the rule of law, transparency and accountability, as well as increased citizen participation," Al Yousuf continued. "The DSG will play a leading role in the ongoing coordination of the GfD programme on behalf of Dubai and the UAE."

The UAE delegates included, Mahmood Al Bastaki, Acting Director, Dubai eGovernment, Tareq Loutah, Director, Trade and Industry Development Department, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mansour Al Awar, Director, Total Quality Management, Dubai Police, Ahmad bin Hmaidan, IT Director, Dubai Department of Justice, Tareq Ibrahim Al Kassim, Director, Criminal Cases Department, Dubai Department of Justice, and Mohammad Aal Saleh, Director, Expertise and Disputes Settlements Department, Ruler's Court.

The conference brought together prime ministers, ministers and regional senior government officials, representatives of Arab regional organizations, civil society organizations, the private sector, media and experts from OECD member states and the UNDP.

Other Middle East countries presenting their experience in areas of the GfD initiative include host country Jordan, addressing the subject of "The Role of the Judiciary and Enforcement of Judgments", and Morocco on "Civil Service and Integrity". Lebanon will be showcasing its experience on "The Role of Civil Society and Media in the Reform of the Public Sector", Egypt on "Governance of Public Finance", and Tunisia on "Public Service Delivery".

Launched last year at the directive of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE Minister of Defense, the Dubai School of Government, in cooperation with Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government (KSG), is dedicated to enhancing public sector management in the region by developing talented leaders through exchange of ideas and knowledge sharing.

Dubai School of Government has also planned an extensive schedule of executive education programs in the area of public sector management for regional decision makers; forums and conferences aimed at knowledge exchange on current public policy issues; and distinguished lectures where world leaders share expertise.

e-Government Education Program at Dubai School of Government

2006-01-13T07:42:00.000-08:00

The Dubai School of Government has opened enrolment for its upcoming E-Government Executive Education Program, launched in cooperation with Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Announcing the launch, Mohammed Al Gergawi, Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai, said: “It is particularly appropriate that the Dubai School of Government's first executive education program addresses 'E-Government: Leadership in a Networked World'. We are opening enrolment for this program at a time when Dubai has been singled out as a regional leader in e-government, administrative simplification and regulatory reform." The School next week joins a UAE delegation to Jordan, to present Dubai’s e-government experience at a conference on Good Governance.

"The new Dubai School of Government executive education program offered in March is designed for high-level decision-makers from across the region, including ministers, deputy ministers and director generals who are leading e-government initiatives in their countries.,” Mr. Al Gergawi continued.

Participation is also open to senior advisors in government departments involved in the areas of science, technology, information, communications, development planning and governmental reform. The program will attract diplomats, development leaders, university presidents, CEOs and CIOs from across the region.

"Significant change in the public sector is being driven by the growing capabilities of information technologies. Technology-related issues need to be understood by leaders throughout any organization, not just by technology specialists," Mr. Al Gergawi said. "As the information age matures, public institutions are turning to computer networks to design and deliver services and - more broadly - to govern."

In line with the Dubai School of Government’s mandate to enhance public governance and contribute to the intellectual advancement of the study of government, the Harvard-taught session is designed to help regional public sector leaders develop successful, real world approaches to technology-related issues.

The program objective is to give executive decision-makers the strategic tools and perspectives that enable them to identify suitable objectives and define the means for their own customized e-government strategies; understand potential hurdles; anticipate and overcome possible obstacles; appreciate general e-government evolution and the challenges and opportunities raised by information technologies; and use themes and concepts from the program to devise their own technology-related strategies and select the resources and partners to implement them.

The Kennedy school’s academics will deliver the definitive work and latest research on e-government. Moreover, with the participants they will review and assess global e-government experience and its application to the region. Kennedy School's Associate Professor of Public Policy, Viktor Mayer-Schoenberger, and Jerry Mechling, Lecturer in Public Policy and Director of the e-Government Executive Education Project, will teach the course using the famous Harvard Case Study teaching method.

Mayer-Schoenberger's research focuses on information and communication technology policy. Founder of data security company, Ikarus Software, he developed _Virus Utilities, which became the best-selling Austrian software product and advises businesses, governments and international organizations on the regulatory and policy issues of information and telecommunication technologies.

Mechling's studies focus on the impacts of information and digital technologies on individual, organizational and societal issues. An international consultant on the topic, he is primary author of “Eight Imperatives for Leaders in a Networked World”. He is a present Fellow of the US National Academy of Public Administration, and was formerly a Fellow of the Institute of Politics.

[http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=18371&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html]