-Muscat

In line with the high directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq – may Allah protect and preserve him – to develop national leadership and achieve the mission of the Royal Academy of Management in providing leadership across various sectors, the Royal Academy of Management has launched the second batch of the Public Policy and Strategic Planning Program (Path for Distinguished Undersecretaries). This program aims to enhance public and executive policies, increase the readiness of state administrative institutions, and contribute to fostering innovative executive concepts and achieving the goals of Oman Vision 2040. It is implemented in collaboration with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore and the University of Cambridge in the UK.

His Excellency Dr. Mohad bin Said Ba’owin, Minister of Labour and member of the Academy’s Board of Trustees, stated in his speech that the launch of the second edition of the Public Policy and Strategic Planning Program for Distinguished Undersecretaries reflects the belief of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq – may Allah protect and preserve him – and implements His Majesty's directives. It confirms our firm commitment to achieving His Majesty’s vision and aspirations by developing national leadership and advancing the role of the Royal Academy of Management in enhancing national leadership across various sectors and effectively developing public policies to achieve the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
He added that the previous edition of the program had yielded positive results, including strengthening institutional links, developing public policies, directing them towards effective governmental communication, simplifying governmental procedures, and fostering institutional communication and economic growth.

Dr. Ali bin Qasim al-Lawati, President of the Royal Academy of Management, noted that the Public Policy and Strategic Planning Program gathers decision-makers and policy makers from government entities to enhance cooperation and coordination among various administrative units of the state to achieve the goals of Oman Vision 2040. The program will expose participants to global trends and the latest developments in strategic thinking and planning, policy formulation, and implementation tools. He emphasized that the program is designed in collaboration with leading global institutions, focusing on the local context to address global trends and their impact on Oman, and its national priorities in developing and implementing public policies at various levels.

He added that the program aims to graduate participating national leaders with strategic solutions over its five-month duration – until October 2024 – through what they gain from the program’s modules, including analytical readings of qualitative data that contribute to policy formulation. The program includes training modules, learning sessions, and structured dialogues that enhance the formulation of dynamic strategies and evidence-based strategic planning, using modern techniques to inform strategic decisions. He expressed hope that the program would produce many recommendations, given the participation of decision-makers involved in policy implementation.

The program targets 25 participants from distinguished undersecretaries and similar positions across various administrative units of the state. It aims to equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to understand the impact of global trends and developments on Oman’s competitiveness, formulate public policies, develop implementation mechanisms, address effective policy implementation challenges, translate national strategies into actionable plans, and evaluate and review the effectiveness of public policies based on goal and outcome indicators. It also aims to enhance the culture of inter-institutional collaboration and employee engagement.

Public policies represent a collection of programs, activities, plans, directions, legislation, and general decisions produced by state entities related to procedural and developmental activities. These policies are shaped through data analysis to formulate decisions, laws, and orders implemented through senior administrative and leadership layers. The importance of public policies lies in their strategic role in linking various leadership tiers within state institutions, contributing to driving development processes towards achieving sustainable development goals, enhancing executive and administrative innovation, and supporting Oman Vision 2040.

The Royal Academy of Management works with several strategic partners to implement its innovative executive and administrative programs and initiatives. The Public Policy and Strategic Planning Program is executed in collaboration with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, which focuses on developing management thinking and sustainability in public policy, administration, and international affairs, and the University of Cambridge, which is ranked among the top 20 global centers in business fields.