Agenda - 2021

Humanitarian issues are among the most sensitive issues for the public. They are one of the most powerful forces for change and responding quickly to the reality and conditions in societies affected by war, conflict, natural disasters, poverty and illness. This means they should be a focus in effective and influential government communication. This talk is about the human ability to communicate and achieve the aims of government communication, including reaching effective levels and a direct response from the public..

Focuses:

• How do people become aware of humanitarian crises, and what motivates them to sympathize or stand in solidarity with them?
• How can government communication benefit from the public's perception of human communication?
• What defines the success of the communication between government and people?

Some people have rejected the Covid-19 vaccine and adopted critical and rejectionist positions based on prejudiced perceptions about the origins and causes of the disease even as news channels and newspapers have been encouraging people to take the Coronavirus vaccine and authorities have taken the vaccine to reassure them that it is totally safe. Observers and experts in social behaviour describe these perceptions as conspiracy theories.

This experience encapsulates a major challenge confronting government communication departments around the world, as a conspiracy theory frequently obstructs governments’ messages to the public, delays government plans for development, and limits the success of developmental projects. American political scientist Michael Barkun explains that conspiracy theorists do not view things as they are; rather, they perceive them through the lens of three core principles: firstly, the believe that nothing happens by accident or coincidence. Secondly, that nothing is as it seems. Finally, the belief that everything is connected through a hidden pattern.

Such views, according to Barkun, are often not based on evidence or scientific foundations, which makes them dangerous because they are based on fanaticism, rather than rationality. Dr Andreas Kappes attributes conspiracy theories to fear, asserting that fear plays a major role in some conspiracy theorists' beliefs, while neuroscientist Franca Parianen argues that people are more susceptible to misinformation if they have experienced a major loss of control at some point in their lives.

This session examines conspiracy theories not from a political standpoint but rather from the reality of their impact on many sectors of life as well as the challenges they pose to government communication efforts.

Focuses:

• Conspiracy theories are resistant to change and they obstruct governments’ role; so how can they be surmounted?
• How can government communication departments devise strategies and programmes to counteract the influence of conspiracy theories?
• What role can the media play in combating conspiracy theories? Is the media's role proactive, direct, or reactive in protecting the public from the threats posed by conspiracy theories?
• Can conspiracy theory techniques work against the conspiracy theory itself, i.e. can the theory be turned into a conspiracy that harms society and the public in order to overcome its impact?
• Frameworks to enhance trust between governments and societies

Will we demand that sociologists and data analysts partner with content creators and news editors now rather than in the future? Will media sociologists demand that news headlines be changed before they are published? What role will the target audience play in terms of content, dissemination and impact? And what does this have to do with the cultural, cognitive and behavioural similarities between the sender and the receiver?

These requirements are heightened by the challenges that government communication departments face, and by the need to ensure effective communication with the public. Given the rapid evolution of modern communication tools, it is no longer sufficient for government departments to have teams of specialists in public communication and visual and written media. Rather, it necessitates a sufficient understanding of individuals’ psychology and mentality, a thorough examination of data, and a study of communication patterns.

This session addresses how to integrate new sciences into communication departments, and how to develop a general framework for the needs of current and future government communication departments in order to achieve an effective level of public communication by drawing on experts from a variety of fields.

Focuses:

• How closely do communication teams reflect areas of expertise?
• Specialisations resulting from fast-paced digital change and its impacts on various aspects of life
• How can we assist government communication departments with content analysis?
• What academic fields should be developed or updated, and what role should universities play in supporting the future of government communications?
• Should media professionals receive sociology training, or should sociology students receive media training?

According to American psychologist Jerome Bruner, messages delivered to humans in the form of stories are 22 times more memorable than messages delivered in the form of facts, and this is supported by brain specialists and neuroscientists in a research paper titled “How Stories Change Our Brains", which was published in 2018. When we hear good stories, our brains undergo two changes: neurological and chemical.

When we hear direct facts, two different parts of our brains light up: language processing and the understanding of language. Listening to stories, on the other hand, increases brain activity fivefold. To imagine feelings and interpret emotional reactions, we engage the motor cortex as well as our emotion and visual image simulators. This suggests that a larger portion of our brain is involved in the story, and we are more likely to remember it.

These studies prompted communication experts and content creators around the world to use the storytelling method to present their discourses to the masses, encouraging a number of governments around the world to create stories that improve the effectiveness of their communication with communities and persuade them to adopt their development policies.

This session addresses a number of questions about storytelling techniques, including:

• What role does storytelling play in a government’s communication?
• What can government liaisons do to improve their storytelling abilities?
• What are the new and emerging channels and platforms that can capture the attention and interest of the general public?

Focuses:

• Reviewing examples of successful storytelling; how to use storytelling to develop ideas and convictions
• Is the storytelling method applicable to the messages of all government communication agencies or is it restricted to specialised messages?
• Are there stories that are appropriate for certain communities and audiences but not for others, and who determines the form and type of stories that are appropriate for audiences?

The White House, the famous office and residence of US presidents, began various podcast programmes several years ago in order to improve public communication. A series of face-to-face meetings between White House officials and the public was planned, covering a wide range of topics and answering questions in real-time and publishing speeches to enable immediate and unprecedented access to the powerful institution's conversations and news.

Podcasts remain a key media arm for addressing and reaching audiences and answering their inquiries, whether the organisation represents a specific local administration or a service entity. Generating an audio product on a podcast platform remains a challenging job. Finalising a detailed plan, selecting and engaging with guests, finding new and intriguing themes, building a media identity for the programme, crafting questions and scripts, and marketing content are just a few of the things we will discuss in depth throughout the workshop.

Focuses:

• How to pick a topic that appeals to the audience's interests
• How to create appealing audio content
• How to become a podcast influencer
• Strategies for developing effective action plans

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, people around the world have increased their use of social networks and their content became the driving force for their patterns of consumption, attitudes and views on many global issues. According to Hootsuite and We Are Social’s report on the state of the digital world, during the pandemic months, 43% of internet users spent more time on social media platforms and podcast audiences grew by 15%.

This reality puts the content industry on social networking sites at the forefront for those concerned with mass communication. Whether they work for government communication units or as writers, journalists, artists, and the owners of businesses and organisations, they have to respond to the question: In this digital age, what kind of content can address each audience?

Focuses:

• What exactly is good content?
• How can you figure out who your target audience is?
• How can content become a tool for social prosperity?
• What is interactive content, and how does it differ from traditional content?

The mission of the International Government Communication Centre (IGCC) is to make dialogue, communication, and direct interactive talks key components of daily administrative work. The Centre developed an innovative, interactive platform for discussion and a special programme as an advanced and practical concept for government communication.

The platform reflects government communication's pioneering role in various institutions, and the government and private sector plans to support sustainable social development and to develop services for various sectors and individuals, in addition to innovations and initiatives for further development, in light of Sharjah's pioneering role in the sphere of government communication.

As one of the IGCC's objectives is to develop the concept, methods and practices related to government communication, the platform serves as a link to direct lines of communication and the exchange of ideas and expertise among officials, on the one hand, and between officials and the public, on the other.

The idea is to host a number of top officials on one platform, bringing them together to discuss their organisations’ general plans in the framework of the distinguished role played by government communication. In response to questions from the programme’s presenter, each official offers a record of their organisation’s role, goals, vision and scope. They also highlight the role of government communication and the avenues and applications it provides to achieve the goals set out in the plan.

The International Government Communication Forum, which concludes with concrete studies, suggestions and inspiring ideas each year, plays a significant role in improving communication in diverse institutions.

The goals of the platform are:

• Discussing the experiences of Sharjah’s government and private institutions in various disciplines
• Providing a comprehensive, integrated and accurate picture of government communication’s role in the emirate's development initiatives
• Sharing Sharjah’s remarkable development journey as a renowned Emirate with a distinguished position globally
• Connecting local institutions to the global ideas and experiences presented at the annual International Government Communication Forum and identifying the best practices for government communication
• Helping to provide a platform for the Emirate’s officials to present their advanced experiences on a global scale
• Working to create a permanent annual platform for the Emirate's institutions to showcase their achievements and innovations

Effective crisis communication is critical for successful crisis management. And as we have seen in the past year and half in the wake of an unprecedented global pandemic, governments play a crucial role in strengthening the resilience of their citizens and infrastructure networks in times of crisis.

While preventing a crisis is ideal, it is not always possible. So, what happens when public health issues, natural disasters, acts of terror, or scandals? Communicating in a crisis is difficult, and that’s why we need to make sure you have experienced counselors at your side..

Focuses:

This session will analyse successful crisis management responses by governments in a diversity of situations, especially in context of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak

The talk will also attempt to answer the following questions:

• What constitutes a real crisis?
• What are the basic tenets of a successful government crisis communications plan?
• Why is it natural for people look to leaders for confidence and strength in times of crisis?
• Why does crisis management communication work better when embedded in strategy?
• Has communication determined the effectiveness of governments in the way they have handled the COVID-19 crisis?

Digital communication platforms and social media allowed individuals and visionaries, with strong opinions, and constructive and innovative ideas to serve as ambassadors for their countries to the rest of the world, and have held them accountable for shaping public perceptions of their societies, cultures, and even governments, making them effective and active partners in development projects.

Today, government communication departments are aware of the magnitude of the impact and change that influencer can bring about, which has prompted them to build bridges of cooperation with influencers in order to address the most pressing challenges that obstruct the delivery of messages to the public and disrupt the public's response to them, known as the " Infodemic", and the resulting underestimation. Is it possible for social media influencers to work alongside government communication departments to achieve the required development goals?

Focuses:

• What is the public's perception of social media influencers?
• What role do influencers play in shaping their country's image?
• How can departments of government communication and influencers? of the social media collaborate better?

In order to mobilise support for government programmes and policies, government communication plays a critical role by creating a culture of interaction with all segments of society. The youth segment is regarded as one of the most important segments of society, particularly in the Arab world, because it plays a vital role in developing the region's countries and helping them transition effectively and safely to the future. Despite the importance of this segment and the energy it creates, discussions about the future focus on technology and modern tools rather than on human resources. Young people are treated as recipients, even during discussions about education and how crucial it is to develop education in order to improve human capital. When terms such as 5G, AI, and the Fifth Industrial Revolution "5II" are used to depict our time, the problem becomes obvious.

With the primary focus on scientific tools and output, the public’s consensus is that the youth of the future should be good employees, performers, and consumers of all the ideas and products offered through technological media. However, societies need more good people who can understand how science is used for the greater good, people who can develop social connections, and individuals who can comprehend, empathise and collaborate with others.

Focuses:

• This session focuses on the factors that can help people achieve a balance between material success and emotional development.
• It will address the following question: What kind of thinking are we ready to deploy in order to keep up with the constant changes in inventions and discoveries that alter the nature and shape of social life?
• What role does government communication play in achieving a balance between emotional intelligence, and social intelligence?
• Based on their priorities, how do young people perceive the societies of the future and what role they will play in them?

During International Government Communication Forum, Sharjah Youth Forum discusses two main themes; security and media, in order to guarantee the continuity of possibilities, and to deliver the ideas of the youth to the people who works in fields of concern, which changes constantly.

Themes:

Security:

• plans for a safe environment that attracts different nationalities.
• The readiness of the police sector technologically, and the inclusion of AI to serve the country and its residents.
• The efficiency of human capabilities(youth) in-line with the aspirations of the police sector for the coming 50 years.

Media:

• The importance of promoting the accomplishment of UAE and its culture.
• The role of the youth in representing UAE’s media.
• Reinforce the concept of valuable and beneficial media content in the shadow of the influence of external challenges.

Due to the rapid advancement in technology, threats to countries and the security of their borders are no longer based on the ground through military defence forces. Defence and security lines are needed in order to ensure that data and cyberspace are not breached and destroyed or used for extortion or other unethical acts.

The purpose of this discussion is to educate both the specialized and general public about the importance of cyber security and the role of individuals in defending cyberspace, as well as the scope of the threat and the danger that any breach or violation of the Cyber Security system may pose to individuals, institutions, and nations.

Focuses:

Social media and digital platforms have succeeded in reaching different audiences, from adults and children with all of their specializations and interests. Tools and communication strategies for each platform created a distinct audience group, with some platforms dedicated to teenagers and young people, others to human rights activists and opinion and position holders, yet others to photography and visual documentation fans, and so on.

These platforms and means were extremely beneficial to government communication departments, as they improved their ability to identify their target audience and become more aware of the message types that best suit each audience, resulting in enhancing the quality of the public message and leading to a twice improvement in the quality of the its quality.

Focuses:

• Is it a priority or a necessity to define the target group in communications?
• Is young people's privacy today linked to the privacy of messages addressed to them?
• What distinguishes new generations from other social groups?
• How can government communication departments use the Tik Tok platform to reach out to teenagers and young adults?
• Is it necessary for government communication departments to hire young people who are familiar with the mindset of the new generations?

When countries discuss their capacity and power centres, they emphasize the importance of young generations in their cultures. This means that, as many civilized countries have realized in the previous 50 years, their civilization is still young, providing them with an excellent opportunity to change and make a significant difference in the future.

Remie Akl emphasizes the importance of youth and their energy in shaping their country's future and bringing fundamental change to societies' values, cultural and customs through quality and innovative efforts.

Focuses:

• What are young people's perceptions of their social roles?
• What are the challenges and obstacles that young people face when it comes to devoting their time and energy to making a positive difference in their communities?
• Is social media a source of new opportunities or a source of distraction for young people, resulting in a waste of time and effort?
• Where and how do young people begin? Is there a well-defined strategy in place to change, act positively, and lead?

Ghandour will attempt to answer the pressing, timely, and topical question of where truth fits into communication and whether it can be simplified to shape public opinion and facilitate public life, in his own inimitable style. He will also reveal to his audiences how serious, academic concepts can be communicated to learners using unconventional techniques like drama, comedy, graphics, and animation; and why innovation should become a priority.

Focuses:

• Should serious, academic concepts be communicated to learners using unconventional techniques like drama, comedy, graphics, and animation?
• Can communication be simplified too to shape public opinion and facilitate public life? If so, then does innovation become a priority?
• What does the truth need to be unveiled? Is truth waiting to be told in good stories, good sound design, good lenses and colouring? Does the truth also require strong marketing and distribution?

From the television era in the 1940s to the Cold War years, government communication has undergone significant transformations, some of which have resulted in changes in methods, techniques and tools becoming such well-established models for government communication specialists that they are now taught as part of the communications curricula at colleges and universities around the world.

In light of these changes, the question arises: Are existing government communication lessons and instruments still relevant to the future of communication? Or do communication organisations require major changes in content creation and presentation as well as in systems and strategies to influence the public? In government communication, what is a constant and what is a variable?

This session covers a number of lessons learned from key government communication strategies over the years, and future demand.

Focuses:

• Will the audience of the future wait for traditional means of communication?
• What established practices will survive, and what has become outdated and obsolete for current and future government communication?
• What drives change? The mentality and consciousness of the masses or the development of contemporary media?
• Should the reform begin with government communication practitioners or with a specialised academic curriculum?
• Will the audience of the future wait for traditional means of communication?
• What established practices will survive, and what has become outdated and obsolete for current and future government communication?
• What drives change? The mentality and consciousness of the masses or the development of contemporary media?

In general, awareness is the term used to describe the human mind’s knowledge and understanding of what happens in societies. Awareness is divided into the individual consciousness, which is connected to each person separately, and the ‘collective consciousness’, a term coined by French sociologist Emile Durkheim, which forms the basis for society as a whole. Individual awareness, however, contributes effectively and fundamentally to the building of collective awareness through behaviours that are social practices.

When the Coronavirus pandemic broke out in 2020, the phrase ‘collective awareness’ started reappearing in the speeches of leaders and government officials. The pandemic underscored the importance of developing a collective awareness that understood its role and responded to pandemic policies, and of improving awareness and vigilance with regards to minds and feelings.

This session discusses strategies for raising awareness in government communication, beginning with the development of speeches, using scientific approaches when choosing the type of speech, language, timing, and local and international situations, as well as the expected communication strategies that lead to choosing the most prominent method of communication.

For the audience, there will be a review of models used to raise collective consciousness and ensure that the intended effect and immediate response are achieved.

Focuses:

• What are the most prominent models officials use when delivering speeches during the Coronavirus pandemic, and how can different rhetorical models be identified?
• To what extent does the target audience influence the models of discourse?
• Discourse development elements include readable language, body language, tone of voice, and time
• Strategies for determining the speech content, message, and timing
• Ways to evaluate the public’s reaction to the discourse's content and objectives

According to 2020 statistics, some 3.2 billion photos and 720,000 hours of online video were shared worldwide, three million were posted on Facebook, and 95 million photos and videos were uploaded to Instagram daily.

In the UAE, users of social media platforms spend an average of two hours and 55 minutes per day on these platforms, according to a survey published by WeRSM and Hootsuite in the same year, while they spend one hour and 57 minutes per day reading news on websites, platforms, and in newspapers. Live news is sixth on the list of topics that viewers search for on YouTube, right after movies and songs.

These statistics raise many questions for government communication departments.

First, do social media platforms rely on content created by news and media organisations and users? And which one depends on the other? Could this volume of content and information have been produced so quickly without these platforms and applications and, at the same time, would these platforms have survived and continued to develop without this content?

The answers to these questions appear to be varied and diverse, but the most frequently asked question by many experts and stakeholders around the world is: Who is the greatest winner? Why have these platforms become so influential that they now have such a strong grip on a global virtual reality? Can we expect to see the emergence of new competitive platforms? In light of all of this, what is the future connection among media organisations and content creators on the one hand and among platforms on the other, and what is the future of media content and intellectual and material rights?

This session allows specialists and experts to ask detailed questions, and it opens people who work in government communication to new opportunities to contribute to the future of mass communication.

Focuses:

• Content - the status quo and the challenges
• Government communication departments and the impact of the digital content industry
• Modern communication players. Who will come out on top?

The iconic American-Canadian film ‘The Day After Tomorrow’, which depicts the impact of climate change on Earth and opens with a drop in global temperatures and the start of a new Ice Age, was released in theatres throughout the world in 2004.

Following the success of the film, a group of scholars published a study titled ‘Does tomorrow ever come? Disaster narrative and public perceptions of climate change.' in 2006. They discovered that viewers had realised they were responsible for the environment and that they needed to change their consumption patterns in order to protect nature.

The study confirms the impact of entertainment content on audience beliefs and opinions, as confirmed by Canadian-American psychologist Albert Bandura. Imitation learning plays a significant role in accelerating lasting social change, and this indicates that the core value of respect for others is a core value of respect for oneself.

This session discusses entertainment content’s value with respect to raising public awareness, influencing people's behaviour and establishing lifestyle practices, and how government communication departments can use entertainment content in all its forms to achieve the desired effect and aim.

Focuses:

• Identifying recreational communication and its impact on society
• Is it possible for government communication agencies to manage entertainment content when communicating messages?
• How does the investment in entertainment content affect attitudes and behaviours?
• How aware is the general public about the messages conveyed by entertainment content?
• The art forms that are most influential in terms of cultural change

The White House, the famous office and residence of US presidents, began various podcast programmes several years ago in order to improve public communication. A series of face-to-face meetings between White House officials and the public was planned, covering a wide range of topics and answering questions in real-time and publishing speeches to enable immediate and unprecedented access to the government institution's conversations and news.

Podcasts remain a key media arm for addressing and reaching audiences and answering their inquiries, whether the organisation represents a specific local administration or a service entity. Generating an audio product on a podcast platform remains a challenging job. Finalising a detailed plan, selecting and engaging with guests, finding new and intriguing themes, building a media identity for the programme, crafting questions and scripts, and marketing content are just a few of the things we will discuss in depth throughout the workshop.

Focuses:

• How to pick a topic that appeals to the audience's interests
• How to create appealing audio content
• How to become a podcast influencer
• Strategies for developing effective action plans

Due to the pandemic in 2020, people around the world increased their use of social networks and their content became the driving force for their patterns of consumption, attitudes and views on many global issues. According to Hootsuite and We Are Social’s report on the state of the digital world, during the pandemic months, 43% of internet users spent more time on social media platforms and podcast audiences grew by 15%.

This reality puts the content industry on social networking sites at the forefront for those concerned with mass communication. Whether they work for government communication units or as writers, journalists, artists, and the owners of businesses and organisations, they have to respond to this question: In this digital age, what content can address each audience?

Focuses:

• What exactly is good content?
• How can you figure out who your target audience is?
• How can content become a tool for social prosperity?
• What is interactive content, and how does it differ from traditional content?

The seminar seeks to explore the Emirate of Sharjah's Business Sustainability Committee's activities, vision, mission, and objectives, as it is one of the Emirate's most important committees with long-term goals and visions, ensuring the sustainability of operations under all circumstances.

PILLARS:

• What does "business sustainability" imply? What is the idea behind it?
• What are the concept's key elements? What role does government communication play?
• What are Sharjah's business sustainability plans? How does government communication work?
• What is the Sharjah's overall business sustainability strategy?
• What are the most effective methods for achieving business sustainability goals?
• What is the committee's message to all institutions to ensure business sustainability?

In 2020 and 2021, a pandemic like none other in modern history turned life upside down in most countries around the world. The magnitude of these events, which impacted health, economic and social aspects, did not obscure the image of international events around the world as conflicts raged and significant policies changed, particularly in the Arab region.

As a result of these events, false and malicious information and news began to flood social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, and the popular mobile application WhatsApp. Ostensibly, this was done to change political views, start a debate about conspiracy theories, or simply to attract celebrities for commercial purposes. People who believe such news are deluded and living in a world of political, medical and scientific illusions.

Focuses:

• Misinformation about the Coronavirus and its implications for society and international security
• Media technologies are posing a threat to social media platforms
• Press and misleading news in the time of Coronavirus
• Investigating and verifying the media’s credibility

This session aims to predict journalism's future. There are many questions about the tools used by journalists and editors, as well as methods of communicating with readers and audiences, all of which centre around the forms and patterns of new and readable information.

Do readers still rely on newspapers to keep up with global developments and changes? Is the reader seeking background information and analysis? What awaits the press after today, given the quick transmission of information on social networking sites and the strong reliance on them in the advertising and promotion market? And, at a time when their readability is declining and the desire for advertising in them is declining, how long can newspapers continue to be a source of content for modern digital platform.

Many questions are posed and answered by the chief and managing editors of the UAE's daily journalism in a discussion that presents challenges, looks to the future, and attempts to find thoughtful solutions

The International Government Communication Centre launched a distinguished initiative in 2019 during the eighth session of the International Government Communication Forum with the goal of providing knowledge content and an information base for all factors related to government communication, such as research, studies, books, references, and documented global best practices, in order to create an e-library. The initiative serves as a hub for information-sharing and research aimed at advancing government communication systems on a local, regional, and global scale.

The Researchers’ Platform includes a variety of academic and knowledge-oriented activities, a presentation on the IGCC’s most recent publications, and book reviews on topics related to government communication issues or the forum’s themes.

Researchers’ Platform’s objectives:

• Providing a free forum for students in UAE’s universities' communication and media faculties to discuss master's theses, research, and applied graduation projects in many fields of government communication.
• Bringing attention to the Professional Diploma Programme in Government Communication and social media.
• Hosting a group of academics and government communication professionals from local and federal agencies and bodies to discuss different aspects of government communication and offer their institutional experiences in this field through the presented papers and studies.

Researchers’ Platform’s Program

• Professional Controls and Ethical Standards in Government Communication Guide:
  • Dr. Mohammad Ayish - American University of Sharjah
  • Dr. Khayrat Ayyad - University of Sharjah
  • Dr. Ahmed Farouk- University of Sharjah
  • Dr. Sheren Mousa- Ajman University
  • Crisis Communication - Effectiveness of the UAE Ministry of Health in Raising Awareness about the Coronavirus -Dr. Rahima Al Tayeb Aissani- Al Ain University
  • The role of Media Literacy in Enhancing National Values -Dr. Shaban Hasan Hamada Alnasiri- AL Qasimia University
  • Vision Reference: The Paths of Interaction of Social Media Users with Government Accounts during Covid-19 -Dr. Amal Badar - Ajman University
  • The Concept of Technology Generation in the Strategic Planning of Governments - Dr. Samira Boudjema Setoutah - University of Sharjah
  • Branding the Emirate of Sharjah: Strategy, Dimentions, and implications for Development - Mahbooba Abdulrahman Mohamed Saleh - University of Sharjah
  • The Growing Importance of Chief Storytelling Officer - Rashed Bin Harib Al Falahi- the first Chief Storytelling Officer
  • High-Impact Digital Content Creation - Wedad Ahmed Bu Humaid - Director of Government Communication Department at the Ministry of Health and Prevention
  • Yasser loves university initiative – The winning file in the 7th edition of Sharjah Government Communication Award in the category of “Best Youth Initiative in Government Communication” - Yasser Mohamad Ahmad- Digital communication officer- Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority.

Job Shadowing Programme is designed for both employees and students. The training programme is conducted, according to a time and target-bound plan, by a qualified professional team who share their experiences and expertise with the aim of supporting work in media and administrative entities and equipping interns with the necessary knowledge through practice.

The Programme includes two modules:

• Experience the Professional Work Shadowing Porgramme

Pick up job experience through the Professional Work Shadowing Programme, which gives you the opportunity for practical learning by sharing the experiences and expertise of employees working in the field.

Trainers:

• How to be career creative

The workshop highlights six different ways of achieving career creativity at work and methods of transforming creative ideas into executive plans. It sheds light on the obstacles an employee faces in employing creative thinking in their field of work and how to overcome and address them..

Workshop Topics:

• Definition of creativity
• Six different ways of career creativity
• Develop creative skills at work
• Methods of converting creative ideas into operational plans
• Obstacles of creative thinking

Trainers:

The session will discuss ways of media success, by reviewing examples of media professionals who came from outside the field and achieved exceptional successes, earning themselves a large audience base.

Focuses:

• Mechanisms of Media Influence
• The Attraction of Career in Media
• Media: Study or Talent?

The effectiveness of government communication channels in the UAE is a key pillar of development plans and best practices, because the country’s institutions are eager to develop a constructive communications policy based on the principle of transparency and public opinion..

In the Digital Participation Index published as part of the UN E-Government Survey 2020, the UAE rose one position to 16th place. The index assesses citizens’ participation in policy-making and government decision-making and the development of public services.

This session hosts citizens representing various segments of society, including children, adolescents, youth, elderly, and people of determination in an interactive meeting with a government official for a lively discussion about how the public is involved in decision-making and the impact of their involvement.

Focuses:

• Methodologies for public-government communication, models and impact
• Mechanisms for assessing public opinion
• The manner in which the government responds plays a role in fostering trust between the community and officials.