DUBAI: The Dubai Future Foundation has launched the “Lead and Design Programme” under the ‘Design Gov‘ initiative, involving 40 government employees from 25 entities. This programme aims to equip Emirati talent with advanced skills to innovate and improve government services.

Spanning 14 weeks, the programme focuses on creative design and future planning, helping participants develop leadership skills through human-centered design. It covers essential sectors like media, housing, tourism, technology, and health, ensuring that Dubai and the UAE remain leaders in government service innovation.

Participants engage in a mix of theoretical and practical training, both within the UAE and internationally. The programme begins with an introductory session, followed by a leadership immersion week in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This hands-on experience emphasizes the importance of leadership in creating impactful, human-centered government services.

The first phase includes five weeks of virtual group training, allowing participants to apply their newly acquired skills in real-world scenarios. This is followed by in-person workshops in Dubai, focusing on practical applications of human-centered design. In the second phase, participants tackle real-world design challenges, culminating in a final event in December 2024, where they will present projects aimed at driving positive future changes.

The programme is a collaborative effort involving various UAE government entities, knowledge centers, research institutions, and academic organizations worldwide. It aims to integrate global best practices into government operations.

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Launched in 2019, the ‘Design Gov’ Initiative promotes a design-centric approach to creating human-centered policies and programmes, supporting the broader goals of the “UAE Centennial 2071” by using design to foster social and economic progress.