'Human Assets Middle East' to enhance organisational performance

The publication is an initiative of HR & training organisation biz-ability, together with publishers Fleming Woodman Consultants, both Dubai Media City based companies. The first issue will appear in November 2002.

"Human Assets is the first magazine of its kind in the region," said Hazel Jackson, Managing Partner of biz-ability. "This new quarterly publication is intended to become the main resource point for all Human Resources and Training Managers, as well as General Managers who aim to get a greater return on investment from their human assets."

Ms Jackson stressed the importance of the three-way partnership that is the basis of the magazine's success. "In order to be successful, Human Assets must be for and by the HR community. We therefore invited key players in the industry to participate, and we received an enthusiastic response. The initiative immediately gained the committed support of many prominent people and institutions in the region," she said. Among the founding members of the magazine's main advisory board are the local HR & Training consultancies such as Global Training Centre, Morgan & Banks Middle East, the Executive Search & Selection firm and others, along with HR professionals from key local organisations who are amongst the major employers in the UAE, including the Department of Tourism and Commerce marketing, National Bank of Dubai, Emirates Group, Jumeirah International, Jumbo, Al Futtaim (Private) Ltd and American University in Dubai.

The magazine's objectives are fourfold: to enhance and raise the value of human resources across the Middle East region; to create a central resource point for all HR & Training professionals; to provide relevant, practical information for managers to enhance organisational and individual performance; to provide a dedicated vehicle for suppliers to the growing human resources and training market.

Speaking about the planned contents of the magazine, Human Assets editor Judith Chalk explained, " Each issue will contain three main sections: the News pages, the main headline topic, and the Resource section. The news pages will feature regional and international updates, about events, people, conferences, news from associations, etc. The main theme of the first issue will be 'reward management', followed in further issues by in-depth treatment of topics such as 'nationalisation', 'employee resourcing', and 'people development'. This section will contain the headline article together with related content and features. Here, we intend to include relevant case studies and international trends with local relevance. The 'Resources' section will include information about legal and employment issues, a 'where to find' section, book and video reviews, learning, together with researched features and sharing of best practices."

Human Assets Middle East will be the first dedicated medium for suppliers to reach the growing human resources market. Advertisers will be speaking directly to the decision makers. Initially, the magazine will be promoted throughout the GCC countries: in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and the important HR sectors in Saudi Arabia. Eventually, the aim is to attract readers from all countries in the Middle East.

Human Assets will be available by subscription only: its projected readership is estimated at 50% HR managers and professionals, 30% training/learning managers and professionals, and 20% general managers. The www.humanassets-me.com website will feature additional information about the magazine.

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