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QLC Government Leaders with Mohamed bin Ali Sultan al-Ali al-Maadid (front row, fifth from left), Zainul Abidin Rasheed (front row, fifth from right), Tina Ng, director of CSC International, Civil Service College, Singapore (front row, fourth from right) and CSC officials during the Learning Journey.
Qatar Leadership Centre’s Government Leaders were given an extensive, inside look at Singapore’s experience in public policy development during a five-day Learning Journey in Singapore in the last week of October. |
The Qatari Government Leaders, all of whom hold managerial and executive positions across a range of government institutions, took advantage of the opportunity to learn from Singapore’s success in developing government best practice to create an efficient and responsive public sector.
The 27 Qatari men and women learned from senior government officials, thought leaders and business executives during the Learning Journey, which was jointly organised by Qatar Leadership Centre (QLC) and Civil Service College (CSC), Singapore.
CSC is the central learning institution for Singapore’s public service; QLC provides a national platform for leadership excellence in line with the goals of 2030 and beyond.
Sheikh Dr Abdulla bin Ali al-Thani, board member and managing director of QLC, noted that the Learning Journey “will bolster the strategic capacity of these Government Leaders to contribute to the achievement of national goals by allowing them to learn from the experience of Singapore’s respected civil service institution and adapt the lessons to government service in Qatar”.
Qatar ambassador to Singapore Mohamed bin Ali Sultan al-Ali al-Maadid and Singapore special envoy to the Middle East, ambassador Zainul Abidin Rasheed from the ministry of foreign affairs, met with the Qatari group in Singapore.
Ambassador al-Maadid expressed his appreciation for the co-operation of Singapore with QLC, saying: “We can learn much from the Singapore experience in developing an active international business hub, with a high standard of living. Singapore’s success came as a result of systematic planning, aided by the development of a professional class of government employees.”
In preparation for the Government Leaders’ Learning Journey, Singapore ambassador to Qatar Wong Kwok Pun spoke at a Qatar Policy Seminar in Doha in June at QLC, in which he highlighted Qatar-Singapore bilateral relations.
His perspective served to frame the visit to Singapore as he highlighted significant government initiatives and developments of recent decades.
The Qatari group considered essential elements for good government, including principles of governance, the formation of strong institutions and the development of good policy in various arenas, whether for urban infrastructure, national healthcare or industrial development.
Captain Abdulla bin Sultan al-Ghanem, a QLC participant from the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), found the visit useful, noting: “The Learning Journey to Singapore was an opportunity to closely monitor government performance and revisit essential best practices; it promises to yield positive results when our knowledge is applied to the State of Qatar.”
Researchers and instructors from the CSC outlined the role of public service in economic development strategies, as well as in human and social development planning.
“During the Learning Journey to Singapore I became familiar with best practices in areas such as education, commerce and industry,” said Munera al-Mohannadi, head of the department of personnel at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. “I benefited from these experiences and will definitely apply what I learned in my work in Qatar.”
As part of the visit, the QLC Government Leaders visited Singapore’s National University Health System and Singapore Polytechnic. The group examined these organisations in the context of Singapore’s strategic planning processes while policy-makers highlighted similarities and differences between Qatar and Singapore.
The International Advisory Group worked with the Government Leaders in adapting relevant learning lessons from the experience.
QLC is accepting online applications from qualified Qatari professionals for its 2015-2016 national leadership programmes at www.qlc.org.qa
The closing date for applications is December 4.
