أThe Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) recently launched ‘’FAHR Award’’ for the Best Scientific Research in the field of Human Resources, as one of its innovative strategic initiatives. The Award is organized on an annual basis, targeting students of UAE University, Zayed University, Higher Colleges of Technology, as well as teaching staff, in specializations related to the subjects of the Award.
In this regard, HE Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Awar, Director General of FAHR said that the introduction of the Award reflects the Authority's keenness to contribute to supporting the Human Resources Strategy in the Federal Government and enhance the Authority’s initiatives through studying the reality of human resources to help shape its future.
HE went on saying: “We need to propose solutions that can enable us to overcome the challenges ahead by strengthening the role of ministries and federal entities through innovative initiatives, thus contributing to the achievement of aspirations of our leadership, led by His Highness President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
“The Authority is introducing this award to enhance the role of young people in the development of government work, and to instil a culture of innovation in human resources function, using modern methods of scientific order to upgrade national competencies and develop human capital. Winners of the first round of the award will be announced in April, 2018.”
The Director General of the Authority stressed that FAHR Award for the best scientific research in the field of human resources aims to motivate the youth to continue their research initiatives, study the reality of work and challenges involved. In addition, the Award targets highlighting the crucial role of human resources in achieving excellence, as well the important contribution of universities - teachers and students - in improving human resources experience.
Target groups and participation conditions
For her part, Klaitham Al Shamsi, Director of Strategy and Future Department, said that Award winners will receive financial and in-kind rewards for the best researches related to the future of human capital in the UAE which produce innovative proposals and initiatives that can be adopted and implemented. “The Authority will determine at each award round, a number of topics that are relevant to the future of human capital”, she added.
She pointed out that the Award targets students in their third year and above of Bachelor’s studies, Master’s students and faculty members at the UAE and Zayed Universities and Higher Colleges of Technology. Participation in the competition, according to Al Shamsi requires a number of conditions: the subject of the research is linked to one of the areas agreed upon at a specific round. The research has never been published before in any way and has not been won in any other competition. Submission must include the search paper which should not be less than 6,500 words (20 pages), and an abstract of no more than 500 words.
Klaitham Al Shamsi stressed that participants should submit the research and any information requested within the period specified in the declaration of the award, otherwise, the organizing body may withdraw the prize in the event of any breach to participation conditions. Participants will make visual presentations on their researches, and the Authority will have the right to make use of such researches.
Proposed areas of research for the first round 2017
The Director of Strategy and Future revealed the proposed research areas for the first round of the Award, which include institutions of the future; the role of ;human resources departments; impact of technology on human resources function; modern work systems; performance management; Emiratization in Government Sector (opportunities and challenges), Social media and its impact on human resources departments; productivity and institutional efficiency; innovative methods of employee training and development; skills, competencies and functions required for the future; human resource strategy; employee integration; workplace environment and institutional culture; creating an innovative and stimulating work environment, managing talent at work, and innovative use of human resources at institutions and individuals levels.
Independent jury
The Authority has set up an independent, impartial arbitration committee composed of human resources specialists to evaluate research files.
Evaluation Criteria
The research files are subject to six evaluation criteria: following the basic principles of scientific research, clarity of approach and methods used to meet the challenges of research work, value-added results from the research presented, innovative ideas and proposals presented in the research. It is proposed to publish a summary of winning researches in the semi-annual HR Echo Magazine issued by the Authority in Arabic and English.
Prizes
The first-place winners (students or faculty members) will receive AED 30 000, in addition to Golden Shield, with their research abstracts published in HR Echo Magazine, the second- place winners will receive AED 20,000, and Silver Shield, with their research abstracts published in HR Echo Magazine, while the third-place winners will receive an amount of AED 10,000 and Bronze Shield.
The winners will have the opportunity to present their innovative research and ideas at the annual Human Resources Conference organized by the Authority, as well as during one of the HR Club's meetings, one of the strategic initiatives of the Authority.