Maryam Al-Zarouni, Director of HR Planning Department at the Authority, said: “The Annual Maarif Forum for Training and Development 2020 was held under the title "Digital Transformation Towards Education and Training," and more than 7,600 employees in ministries, federal entities and local governments benefited from the forum organized by the Authority within “Ma’arif” initiative for the Federal Government’s preferred training partners.”

She explained that the forum featured 144 free virtual training programs and workshops extending from May to the beginning of November 2020, with more than 200 training hours. She added that some of the workshops were broadcast through the e-learning portal ‘Al-Mawrid’, launched by the Authority in late 2019 as an ideal training platform for government employees, while other workshops were broadcast via various virtual  applications and platforms such as (Microsoft Teams, WebEx, Zoom, etc).

Maryam Al-Zarouni stressed the importance of training and empowering human resources in the ministries and federal entities, to enable them to achieve the UAE Government’s visions and plans, as well as meet the aspirations and directions of the wise leadership, headed by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Hesd of the State, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

“The forum enhances the Authority’s efforts in developing the competencies and skills of federal and local government employees, and contributes to providing government institutions with qualified human capital capable of achieving the UAE vision and its national agenda,” she noted.

On her part, Fatima Al Jasmi, Head of Training and Continuing Education Policies Department at the Authority, said: “The programs and training courses featured in this year's annual Ma’aref forum varied between general and specialized.

“The most important of these courses are: change management skills, innovation, crisis management, best practices in corporate governance, team management, and effective leadership.”

She added: “The Authority organized the activities of the eighth session of  Maarif virtual forum for training and development in cooperation with about 32 partners and training providers enlisted in Maarif initiative for the federal government.s preferred training partners, which was launched in 2013, as the first of its kind at the federal government level. The initiative is concerned with preparing a list of the best training providers in the UAE to make it available to ministries and federal entities to benefit from their training programs at competitive prices.”

Ma’aref Initiative aims to: Establish a partnership based on social responsibility and serving the mutual interests the government and private sectors. Guarantee providing high quality training for around 84,000 employees working in 56 ministry and federal entity. Meet the training needs in accordance with the training and development system of the Federal Government employees. Achieve a financial surplus from the training budgets of federal entities, and serve the maximum number of employees. Enhance the competence and productivity of the Federal Government, and create a favorable business environment therein. Assist federal entities to select training courses online, in accordance with predefined time frames.