Muscat: The Royal Academy of Management launched a call for applications for its flagship programme, “Master of Leadership and Management" for the Government sector in collaboration with Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University on Sunday 18, September 2022.
The programme targets Section Heads and their equivalents in the government sector with a vision of preparing executive leaders of Oman, enabling them to contribute to building effective and innovative government sector entities in line with the New Economy era.
Dr. Ali Qasim Al Lawati, the President of the Royal Academy of Management, stated: “Launching this Master of Leadership and Management programme puts His Majesty Sultan Haitham’s royal directives regarding the development of all levels of government leadership into action.“
Dr. Al Lawati noted that the world is witnessing an accelerated change in the global economic order, which requires an equally accelerated pace in developing the human capital needed to thrive in this competitive economy. Therefore, this programme will equip middle management in the government sector with the necessary skills, knowledge and attributes allowing them to adapt to as well as keep pace with the evolution of the new economy with all its integrated forms, be it knowledge economy, digital economy, circular economy or innovation-based economy.
The aim of this programme, Al Lawati also added, is to keep abreast of the Sultanate’s great paradigm shift especially in the realm of developing government sector leaders, noting that the Royal Academy of Management’s contribution is aligned with the diverse and ever-changing needs of the economic and management world orders.
Al Lawati stated, “The programme has been closely designed with the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University emphasizing real-life application in line with the Sultanate’s development plan, thus offering participants both modern knowledge (through the Academic programme) and the practical application of it (through the applied projects). The programme, His Excellency added, will offer participants exposure to global trends and best practices delivered through cutting-edge methods.
Moreover, Dr. Ali Al Lawati announced that this programme targets Section Heads in the government sector.
He explained that their role is highly critical as they are the link between policy development and execution. The programme will thus enhance their capabilities and contribute positively towards them transforming conceptual strategies and plans into reality.
Dr. Sanjeev Khagram, director general and dean of Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University stated: “We are proud of our partnership and affiliation with a prestigious institution like the Royal Academy of Management and to join its aspiring and transformational efforts to develop the leaders of Oman, across the government and private sectors, to be future ready.”
It is worth noting that Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University offers the world’s No. 1 ranked Master’s in Management as well as renowned professional and executive education, under the umbrella of the No. 1 university for innovation in America according to U.S. News & World Report. It offers unmatched access to innovation, learning and development expertise, and global experience with a singular focus on learner and partner success. Moreover, the University is among the list of universities approved by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.
Ms. Kawther Al Mahrouqi, the Master of Leadership and Management program lead, stated that 25 Section Heads and their equivalents from the government sector would be selected to join the program in January 2023. Admission to this program will be open for all who meet the eligibility criteria and pass the rigorous assessment process in place.
Al Mahrouqi further stated that this program will greatly enhance the participants’ leadership skills. The program will last 12 months of blended learning, exploring the latest global trends in leadership, management, innovation, strategy, public policy analysis, and agile governance, among other areas.
She also added that the programme approaches leadership development in a comprehensive and dynamic way combining in-depth academic knowledge with the latest skills, while providing innovative solutions that are in line with the requirements of the new economic order.
Ms. Kawthar clarified that the programme will also focus on enhancing participants’ attitudes and leadership behaviour both personally and professionally. In order to achieve this, it includes various components such as residency programs, individual and group coaching sessions, simulation workshops as well as the opportunity to meet with local and international experts. The applied individual and group projects in the field of digital transformation will be implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.
The programme is scheduled to commence in January 2023. Participants will be able to study whilst in full-time employment as the program is delivered virtually, except for some face-to-face courses and activities. For the latter, leave arrangements will be coordinated with participants' respective entities.'
Participants who complete all requirements will be awarded a Master of Leadership and Management degree from Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University. They will enjoy a lifetime membership with both the Royal Academy of Management and Thunderbird alumni networks. For more details on the eligibility criteria and application process, please visit the Royal Academy of Management official website via this link: www.ram.gov.om before the end of Saturday, October 15th, 2022.
The Royal Academy of Management, established in January 2022, is blessed by the Royal patronage of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. It aims to develop Oman's leadership across government and private sectors, fulfilling Oman’s vision for the future.
