First graduates awarded Harvard Certificates at Dubai School of Government's E-Government program

Nabil Ali Al Yousuf, DSG Executive Director, addressed the graduates of E-Government: Leadership in a Networked World, saying: 'I would like to thank Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government for their cooperation in delivering this quality program. It provided our participants with world- class knowledge and experience which will enable a generation of leaders in this region to apply definitive concepts of e-government in the Arab world.'

' The distinguished Harvard faculty presented definitive knowledge on e-government and public administration, and demonstrated the best ways to apply global innovations in our own countries,' he added.

One of the graduates of the DSG program, Dubai e- Government Acting e-Services Director Mahmoud Al Bastaki, extended his appreciation to DSG for running such a well organized program. 'Many global case studies were presented and discussed during the program, which demonstrated to us how to apply best practices in e-government in this region and what to avoid in deploying them. With 45 delegates from different countries of the region, it was an excellent opportunity to share our experience.'

A Jordanian delegate, Haif Bannayan, Under Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, said: 'I would like to thank DSG and KSG for this exciting program. We met and shared experiences during the past days with delegates from across the region. The global case studies presented during the program empowered us with the knowledge we need to go a step further in applying the proper methods of e Government in our countries. The program came at the right time as we are in need to such a beneficial and advanced knowledge.'

The 5-day program was held by DSG in cooperation with Harvard University's KSG. The program was led by two world-renowned Harvard professors, Viktor Mayer-Schoenberger, 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 used 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.

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 region.