Dr. Abdulrahman Abdul Manan Al Awar, Director General of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR), said that the UAE’s wise leadership believes in the importance of investing in innovation to build a better future for mankind, and is capitalizing on it to consolidate its global leadership and competitiveness at various levels, particularly in the field of government efficiency, and development of smart government services for customers.
HE’s remark were made on the side- lines of the ceremony to launch the events held by FAHR to mark the UAE Innovation Month. The event was also attended by HE Laila Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of Programs & Human Resources Planning, and FAHR employees in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
He also underlined the importance of UAE Innovation Initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, noting that the initiative supports the Governments efforts to establish a culture of innovative thinking and practice in UAE society. “In addition, it shows the whole world the importance the UAE accords to nurturing talented, creative and innovative people”, he said.
HE Laila Al-Suwaidi said: “We must be aware of the crucial role of individual and institutional innovation in enhancing the position and competitiveness of nations. Concerning the Authority, its interest in innovation comes to reflect its keenness to keep pace with the directives of the wise leadership, which believes that investment in innovation will significantly consolidate the UAE’s global leadership and competitiveness at various levels, hence declaration of February as innovation month”.
She said that the Authority was one of the top three federal entities at the state level to win the award assigned to innovation in the fifth and final round of Mohammed bin Rashid Government Excellence Award, noting that this achievement represents a big challenge to FAHR and its team and requires exceptional efforts to build sustained innovation.
The first day of UAE Innovation Month featured an interactive session titled "The Human Factor in Innovation", and another presented by Microsoft Corp. on utilizing artificial intelligence in managing attendance in the workplace, using facial recognition technology to analyse emotions and age levels.
Khalid Al Mazmi, Director of Strategy & Future Department, said that the Authority's agenda during UAE Innovation Month includes launching 21 recreational initiatives and events, as well as awareness activities for employees. Moreover, the Authority will hold two HR Club forums, in cooperation with Fujairah and Ajman Governments, titled “Innovation" and “Tolerance” respectively.
He said that the Authority will hold a series of workshops, including: Innovation using Lego techniques, Creativity Measurement Lab., Innovation Land using picture books, a training course entitled "Analyzing Workplace Competence”, a course on how to integrate nature with training, and artificial intelligence applications in government services, and workshop on design and printing using three-dimensional printing technology.
Al-Mazmi pointed out that Innovation Month will see a series of training courses and workshops for FAHR employees, including, “Linking Innovation With Different Stages of Knowledge”, another workshop to acquaint employees with the most prominent features and services of the updated version Smart App. (FAHR), launched by the Authority earlier this year, in addition to an exhibition showcasing the employees' hobbies, and to present different models of future offices, and organize a visit by a number of the Authority employees to the Higher Colleges of Technology Innovation Center in Dubai.