RTA hosts workshop to spotlight Mohammed bin Rashid initiative for Government Innovation

The event was attended by a plethora of CEOs, Directors and considerable number of RTA employees.

"The RTA is keen on supporting national initiatives contributing to promoting the sense of national belonging as well as enhancing the performance, excellence and knowledge drive as such initiatives have a significant role in bolstering the profile of government entities and shaping them as advocates & patrons of innovation. Additionally, they help unearth creative ideas and develop projects capable of propelling the national growth rates," said Abdul Mohsin Ibrahim Younes, CEO of RTA Strategy & Corporate Governance Sector.

The Workshop was presented by Ahmed Al Nasirat, General Coordinator of the Dubai Government Excellence Programme; and Hazza Al Nuaimi, Senior Manager of Excellence Initiatives, DGEP.

Al Nasirat reviewed the objectives, mission and significance of the initiative which echoes the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and his keenness on diffusing the concepts of excellence and innovation, and stepping up the competitive edge of Dubai.

He noted, "The DGEP, which had been launched in 1997, managed to bring about a quantum shift in disseminating the concepts of creativity and quality across the public sector."

"The Mohammed bin Rashid initiative for Government Innovation is among the pioneering initiatives seeking to motivate public servants to think 'out of the box' away from the daily routines in order to nurture a business environment conducive to innovation and take the initiative to develop the community and improve the government service offering," he continued.

For his part, Hazza Al Nuaimi, delivered a visual presentation reviewing the activities, conditions and standards set for the initiative, how nominations are submitted and assessed, and the mechanism of selecting and honoring winners.

He indicated, "The key activities covered by the initiative included compiling innovators database, preparing a TV programme and an electronic forum for them, besides holding Dubai Conference for Government Innovation, workshops, forums, and designating a special stand for displaying innovators works in the 'Dubai Forum for Best Government Practices'."

Al Nuaimi also touched on the categories of the initiative, which include the Creative Idea, Creative Employee, Creative Leader, and the Sponsor of Creativity. These categories had been approved based on a set of criteria, most notably the high degree of creativity, and viability in terms of providing a creative environment, in addition to a creativity-supportive leadership.

"A highly qualified & experienced assessment team is in place to undertake the initial assessment processes and prepare the final list of candidates, and a jury panel would review and approve the results," added Al Nuaimi.

At the end of the gathering, the DGEP officials responded to a host of queries raised by the audience about the initiative.