PHILADELPHIA, May 30, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania has partnered with Dubai World to launch the Dubai Leaders Program, a leadership development initiative designed to build a corps of leaders within Dubai World.
The Dubai Leaders Program is a premier executive development program that will bring up to 135 participants from across all of Dubai World's corporate organizations to Wharton Executive Education over a three-year period. This interactive program is focused on enhancing the strategic thinking capabilities and leadership skills of the participants. Dubai World participants will attend a series of live program sessions and immerse themselves in action-learning projects. The program is ambitious and unique, employing a wide range of learning tools and methods to develop each candidate over a one-year period.
"We are delighted to be at the forefront of such a unique educational opportunity with Dubai World. We expect that this program will achieve outcomes that keep pace with Dubai World's dynamic and creative business expansion," said Vice Dean Jon Spector, director of Wharton Executive Education. "This innovative program and collaborative relationship will help current and future Dubai World leaders drive and shape their respective industries."
In a speech at the recent Dubai Government Excellence Program Awards ceremony, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum highlighted future development initiatives that will boost Dubai World's growth by intensifying efforts towards cultivating new generations of young leaders.
"As part of our continued efforts to develop Dubai World's leaders and emerging national talent, we have taken the lead by launching the Dubai Leaders Program," said Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of Dubai World. "This initiative will be an example of excellence in leadership development, and will set a new standard and example for public and private sector organizations across the region seeking to implement and take their development programs to new levels," he continued.
Outlining the purpose of the program, Bin Sulayem added, "The Dubai Leaders Program will review the readiness and capabilities of our personnel to assume positions of leadership within Dubai World's group of companies."
Under the Dubai Leaders Program, an ambitious and comprehensive tailored management development plan in keeping with Dubai World's specific strategy and overall objectives will be formulated. The program addresses three different levels of executive educational needs: organization-wide business management skills, operating unit-specific skills, and individual skills.
"The Wharton Executive Education staff and faculty have identified and assessed the management capabilities of our personnel, leading to a personal development program in which a team of senior managers will participate," said Mahmoud Saleh, executive director of Shared Services and secretary general of Dubai World. "We chose Wharton because they were very flexible, allowing us to customize the content according to the needs of Dubai World, our corporate organizations, and the individuals in the program."
"We met with a number of young leaders and asked them where they see themselves in five years. Based on their input and considering the booming economy of Dubai, we designed a customized program, which is the first of its kind in the region," said Nihat Bulent Gultekin, associate professor of finance at the Wharton School. "The young leaders in Dubai World are enthusiastic and enterprising, and the academic course, along with the live campus experience that the program provides, will help them become global leaders," he added.
The Dubai Leaders Program is designed to deliver real, measurable results to Dubai World's business. "Wharton has worked with Dubai World to identify specific projects across its operating units that will serve as action-learning modules," said Jon Spector. "Not only is the content completely customized for Dubai World, but the delivery method -- which encompasses multiple operating units, multiple locations, and an incredible amount of post classroom follow-up -- is unique."
The program is expected to meet the Dubai World organization's learning needs and develop the business and organizational skills and perspectives of individual managers. The program will ensure that a cadre of highly-qualified personnel is available to fill senior leadership positions, at present and in the years ahead, thus building a chain of strong and effective leaders.
About Wharton Executive Education
Each year, Wharton Executive Education works with more than 8,000 business leaders on its campus in Philadelphia, at Wharton West in San Francisco, and at sites around the world. The Wharton Learning Continuum is Wharton Executive Education's model for delivering Impact Through Education(tm) -- supporting companies and individuals in a 9- to 12-month learning process that is designed collaboratively with clients, delivered by Wharton faculty, and monitored to produce specific outcomes.
About the Wharton School
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania -- founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school -- is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. The most comprehensive source of business knowledge in the world, Wharton bridges research and practice through its broad engagement with the global business community. The school has more than 4,600 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students; and an alumni network of more than 81,000 graduates.
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania logo is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2130
About Dubai World
Dubai World was formed to act as a holding company for the Group's commercial operations. Companies such as DP World, Nakheel, Istithmar, Jebel Ali Free Zone, and Dubai Multi Commodities Centre all fall under the umbrella of Dubai World. His Excellency Sultan Bin Sulayem is the Chairman of Dubai World.