Change agents

UAE students taking leadership training courses at Dal receive a tour of Halifax city hall (Nick Pearce photo)

Have you ever considered leaving your home, city or country? How about immersing yourself in a completely different culture on the other side of the world? This is exactly what a group of students from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are doing.

The students are enrolled in an 18-month-long leadership development program offered through Dalhousie’s College of Continuing Education in agreement with the UAE’s Ministry of Presidential Affairs in Abu Dhabi. Young Emirates from the UAE are observing and learning best leadership practices in Canada.

“The best part is practicing what you learn from the university in the workplace, so you know your strengths and where there’s room for improvement,” says Nawal Alkayoumi, a student from the UAE. “After this phase we will have an international work placement. When we’re done that, we’ll have another phase which will finalize the leadership courses.”

Another student, Faisal Alhammadi, says his favorite part of the program has been “meeting nice people.”

“Nobody knew each other and we are working very well together,” he adds.

Both students are interested in working as managers when they return to Abu Dhabi. Along with the rest of their classments, these students recently had the opportunity to meet Mayor Peter Kelly and learn about municipal government and public policy.

“The goal of the program is to develop the next generation of leaders for the Presidential Ministry.  It’s a very ambitious goal that demonstrates impressive planning on the part of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan,” says Andrew Cochrane, Dean of Dalhousie’s College of Continuing Education. 

Abu Dhabi, although often thought of as Dubai’s less glamourous neighbour, is significant as it houses the government of the UAE. Furthermore, Abu Dhabi holds nearly nine per cent of world oil reserves.