Exec Programme For Top Official From 7 Nations
By Wani Abdul Gapar BERAKAS

Bandar Seri Begawan - Senior officials from Brunei and six other countries converged at the Bolkiah Executive Centre yesterday to begin an executive development programme on public policy and management organised by the Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam.

Officiating the opening ceremony was the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Yang Dinniliakan Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof.

Senior managers today face management issues and challenges that are complex, daunting and constantly changing. Dealing with this dynamic environment takes skill and insight, and an ever-expanding range of talents and tools. Only continuous learning will equip us for tomorrow's world, he said.

In view of this, the Ministry of Defence introduced the executive development programme in 2004. The programme, now in its fourth year, provides senior executives with the conceptual framework and cutting-edge tools needed for continued success in service.

Participants will explore trends in managerial practice and gain new perspectives on public policy and management. Subsequently, to use this understanding to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to analyse the design of programmes and policies, and resulting implications and outcomes.

The programme is a rigorous inter-disciplinary three-month sequence of studies in addition, it also includes a two-week overseas study trip to Australia programmed by the Asia Pacific Research Institute, Macquarie University - during which site visits to relevant ministries and agencies will be conducted to further expose the participants to the experience in public sector management. The programme is designed, developed and delivered by the Linden Group.

According to Dr Ong Jin Hui of the Linden Group, the programme aims to "stretch world views and understand the wider context of governance".

He pointed out how senior managers are compelled to constantly update themselves with fresh perspectives and new skills in dealing with issues and challenges in today's evolving work environment.

The Executive Development Programme 2007 is a departure from the last three programmes and offers a more interesting experience to the participants. The curriculum is more structured, more comprehensive and broader, with greater focus and integration. The faculty is made up of international academicians with vast expertise and diverse experience from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; Simon Fraser University in Canada; Nanyang Technological University; and the Conflict Management Partners at Harvard.

The Linden Group has been conducting executive programmes for provinces in China, the civil service in Pakistan, senior officials in Dubai through the Dubai School of Government, planners in Papua New Guinea, and the Police Force in Singapore.

The Executive Development Programme was initially targeted at senior military officers from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. The Ministry of Defence, however, believes that the optimal environment for learning occurs when participants from diverse backgrounds, but with broadly comparable positions, come together and share the insights of their broad-based experience.

In 2005, the programme was opened up to participation by several senior officials’ lit iii the other government minister and departments in Brunei Darussalam, including the Royal Brunei Police Force.

For greater diversity and to further enrich the learning, last year the Ministry of Defence invited a senior military officer each from China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore to attend the programme.

The success of this experiment has demanded an even further broadening of the participants' pool.

So, this year a senior military officer each from Thailand and The Philippines, plus a representative from the non-government sector, namely the Brunei Economic Development Board, has been added to the list.

The programme also further contributes to strengthening the long-standing and excellent defence relations that exist between Brunei and the countries mentioned.

This year's 24 participating members hail from the Prime Minister's Office; ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs & Trade, Education, Industry & Primary Resources, Development and Health as well as the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Royal Brunei Police Force, Brunei Economic Development Board and officers of the armed forces of China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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