Agenda - 2019

Details

This year, the International Government Communication Forum focuses on exploring the role of government communication in enabling individuals to change what needs to be changed within themselves in order to benefit from the extensive developmental efforts made by governments around the world. This would allow them to actively contribute to building a secured and successful future for themselves and their communities. Therefore, it is important to highlight one aspect of government communication which is most capable of influencing people and encouraging them to adopt the necessary changes. This aspect involves behavioural change campaigns based on behavioural analysis studies which are built on psychological and sociological analysis..

Every government development goal or initiative is in reality a project aiming at change for the benefit of the individual. But does the individual have the desire for change? Do his physical, psychological, and financial conditions allow him to think or even contemplate both change and development? Is his mentality flexible and positive enough to welcome government efforts and interact with them? Will his cultural environment facilitate the adoption of change or will it exert pressure on him? Will he invest in acquiring the new skill set required for that change to happen? To answer these questions, government communication teams must deploy the necessary mechanisms that help them analyse the characteristics of their citizens and understand their mentality, psyche and motivating factors based on their background and living conditions. They need to consider this information as their scientific base when designing their outreach campaigns and deciding on the key messages.

How far is this role promoted within government communication teams around the world? Do some governments still assume that providing information, rational arguments and positive messaging is enough to motivate citizens to adopt good behaviours and portray positive attitudes? How can social psychology and behavioural economic theories be incorporated as an essential part of the government communication task to help formulate sustainable behavioural change campaigns?

Key Session Highlights:

• Establishing a Culture of Behavioural Change as Part of the Government Communication Function: Behavioural analysis and change theories are at the heart of strategic government communication. So how can we establish units which specialise in behavioural studies and analysis to be part of government communication functions? What role does it play in supporting government decision-making? How can we change the perception of communication departments’ staff from information and outreach service providers to change agents and leaders within their communities?
• Behavioural Change Campaigns... When and How? What steps are to be taken when designing and implementing behavioural change campaigns? How can their impact be measured so that their costs are justified and results widely shared? Are there innovative ways to build cross-government partnerships as well as partnerships with the private sector in order to achieve a wider reach with greater impact and lower costs?
• The Role of Technology in Behavioural Change Campaigns: How can an immediate response to public outreach through social media be guaranteed in behavioural change campaigns? How can the risks of information security and privacy be handled in light of the large amounts of personal data being gathered from behavioural analysis studies?
• Behavioural Science as a Pathway to Leadership: Which governments are most successful in the field of behavioural change? What is the role of the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE as a whole in pioneering the adoption of behavioural change as part of their government communication functions and applying it to the highest standards both locally and regionally? What is the importance of international coordination and cooperation and how can it be strengthened?

The 8th edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF), to be held under the theme 'Behavioural Change Towards Human Development', will address various topics related to the role of government communication in motivating individuals to play a key role in the development process. We live in a time when the responsibility for overcoming development challenges does not solely lie with governments; it is now a shared responsibility with citizens and strategic partners, particularly media.

The media is the most accessible platform, with a powerful influence on views and perceptions and has a strong impact on the minds and hearts of its audience. Thus, by channelling people’s capabilities towards the achievement of the desired development goals, the media is a symbolic driving force capable of influencing the cultural fabric of societies.

Guided by these beliefs, this special session of IGCF hosts the renowned US media personality Larry King, who has over 60 years of experience in media. He has conducted more than 30,000 interviews, authored 20 books, and hosted all US presidents since Gerald Ford until Obama. King will provide us with insights on the power of media, its ability to touch the hearts and minds of people and to motivate them to change. Also, he will discuss how governments can effectively communicate with societies through leveraging media and building real and transparent partnership with it.

Key Pillars:

• Fake News and its detrimental impact on government communication efforts.
• The role of media in raising awareness and changing public behaviour towards major development issues facing humanity.
• The future of media in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the growing role of machinery.

Details

The success of any government’s development strategies is not solely limited to building the necessary infrastructure, improving the regulatory framework, or launching advanced services and strategic initiatives. It is not solely limited to ensuring the validity of advanced technologies, employing robots to serve humans, achieving scientific breakthroughs in laboratories and research centres or ensuring future readiness. Nor is it limited to government efforts to end wars, avoid or manage natural disasters, or combat terrorism.

These efforts by themselves are not enough to advance countries unless their societies are made up of motivated individuals who are committed to success and who are the driving force behind their country’s developmental initiatives. These initiatives do not only include the development of their country and its national economy, but also – and more importantly- the development of these individuals’ capacity, their mindsets, the quality of their life and their full potential. Without that, no national investment, no matter how generous or significant, will achieve any real or meaningful progress, nor will it enhance people’s lives or standards of living without their assistance.

In this day and age, the importance of activating the role of an individual in the development process is substantial. Past experiences have proven that the importance of positive engagement by members of the society offers a powerful edge for governments when implementing solutions to the various challenges facing societies around the world. This is why the role of government communication is crucial as it aims at empowering individuals and providing the only tool by which governments can raise awareness, influence attitudes, broaden points of views and inspire social cultures on a large scale to achieve this goal.

How can individuals change their view of themselves from recipients of support and services, and indirect contributors to the developmental process, to a driving force in their personal lives and a great influence within their societies and on their country’s overall economy? How can we encourage them to shift their roles from observers of the challenges, to serious contributors towards their development? How can governments remind individuals that real change starts from within?

Key Session Highlights

• Changing the Individuals’ Perception of Their Role and the Impact They Can Have is the Most Important Goal of Global Awareness Campaigns: Is it possible to prepare and implement a long-term international communication strategy - in which governments join forces with both the private and the academic sectors - to change the individuals’ perspective of themselves and to empower them to face the challenges arising as a result of the development process?
• The Individual as a Key Partner in Developing Strategies Whose Implementation Requires His/ Her Contribution:What are the best proven approaches to involve citizens when it comes to developing governmental plans and strategies so that they are aware of their own responsibilities and are able to play a key role towards their success? (*Success stories gathered from the UAE and around the world).
• Fostering the Ideology of Individual and Personal Responsibility Within Schools and Universities:How can government communication work with educational institutions in order to build generations who are able to face the challenges of development and to contribute towards building the future? What is the impact of raising the levels of self-esteem and confidence in students and how does it affect their ability to succeed?
• Defining the Parameters of the Individual's Impact on Humanity:What is the role of the media in highlighting the impact of individuals on humanity? How can we deploy non-promotional platforms, such as cinemas, theatres, and intellectual literature, to create public awareness which could educate citizens on the principles of individual responsibility? What are the challenges in adopting a culture of individual responsibility within the context of current global events, specifically among refugees and the less fortunate who live in rural and remote areas and to whom campaign messages are difficult to reach.
• The Role of Government Communication in Motivating Citizens: What necessary mechanisms are needed to help understand the psyche of citizens and build their confidence, so they are ready to take initiatives and contribute to their country’s development? What is the importance of sharing inspirational stories of responsible individuals and promoting them as champions of both change and development within their communities?

Details

The evolvement of the role of government communication to involve a closer focus on human empowerment and participation in development and in combatting challenges which come with it, is a big leap forward for many government communication teams, especially in the Arab world. Government communication teams in the region are expected to oversee every aspect of their unit’s function, alongside other new tasks and skills involving scientific research on the psychosocial, social and economic aspects of their initiatives. This shift is expected to generate a number of challenges, including an aversion to change by government entities and government communication staff alike.

However, in order to create buy-in, the launch of internal communication campaigns which work on modifying the traditional perception of government communication as a function, identifying its new role, determining staff expectations and inspiring and bringing them up to speed with their new role is highly recommended.

A modification in the policies and criteria for employing new government communication staff is another step in the right direction, especially when attracting the right type of skills. This can be achieved through partnering with specialised agencies to help recruit talents and offer specialised training to build their capacity in the fields of social and economic behaviour. Moreover, government entities will need to develop mechanisms to measure the impact of communication campaigns and train staff on how to use them, share results and involve all relevant stakeholders.

Are government communication teams ready for this new, important role? How can this readiness be ensured as quickly as possible, so they can start assuming their new roles and help elevate mankind to a place where they are able to combat future developmental challenges?

Key Session Highlights

• Creating a Culture of Communication for Human Empowerment within Government Entities: How can we ensure that government communication staff are comfortable in their new role and inform them about its importance and impact on the general public? Who will be assigned to manage an internal communication campaign on such a large scale?
• Training, Capacity-Building and Attracting Communication Competencies to Empower People: What are the new communication trends and theories which must be taught to communication teams for a better scientific understanding of their audiences, so they can in turn positively influence their behaviour and encourage them to become catalysts of change in their personal lives? What are the most prominent academic and training institutions in this field? What types of mutual cooperation formats are there? How can qualified personnel be trained in behavioural science and in managing successful communication campaigns as quickly as possible? What key skills should be enforced when building the capacity of future government communication staff?
• Managing Communication Campaigns: Will government communication departments face challenges when planning and managing human empowerment campaigns? Will they face a challenge in securing budgets for social and economic campaigns compared to the traditional communication tasks? What is the importance of measuring both the impact and benefits of such campaigns?
• The Future of Government Communication:Is government communication function expected to disappear or face structural changes like other departments/ sectors? In what areas of government communication can Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies be deployed to support the human empowerment agenda? How will the recruitment process for these departments change in the future? What organisational and cognitive challenges are expected to arise in the face of implementation?

Key pillars:

• How do countries build their soft power?
• What is the social and economic impact of soft power?
• What is the role of media in building soft power?
li>How is the impact of soft power measured?

Key Pillars:

• What role does the media play in educating people on the importance of preserving mental health and achieving sustainable happiness now and in the future?
• How can we focus on positive messaging and make it part of the new media language, programmes and coverages?
• Can the media become a key partner to government communication teams and support their quest in instilling a culture of happiness and positivity?

Details

Education will play a pivotal role in preparing human capital for an effective engagement in the future labour market (which is expected to witness major changes). It is estimated that 65% of today's students will be employed in positions which have not yet been created. Despite many governments recognising the importance of changing their education systems to embrace anticipated change, the education sector’s key stakeholders, including students, families and overall communities, are still not fully aware of the magnitude of this challenge. Some parents are still keen on encouraging their children to join the more traditional paths of education, such as medicine, engineering and law, because they still see them as the professions with higher status and job security. But, will such professions remain significant in the near to medium future, when large numbers of existing jobs are expected to be replaced by robots, and when new types of jobs and skills which are of greater value to national economies are required?

By 2024, the world will not suffer from a shortage of doctors, engineers or lawyers. It will however face shortage in the number of highly skilled individuals with advanced emotional intelligence and who are resilient, flexible and resourceful, with an understanding of how machinery works. Those who are able to communicate, solve problems, think critically, negotiate effectively, innovate and empathise will not be graduating from traditional schools, which offer a one-size-fits-all approach to knowledge. These talents will be the product of schools which adopt modern methods of education, allowing students to learn what they want, whenever they want, and to ultimately be creative in what they choose to do.

Are parents, particularly in the Arab world, ready to encourage their children to select paths which are not in line with the inherited beliefs? Are they ready to enrol their children in schools of the future? Will schools and universities be vigilant in adopting new skills and providing new, forward-thinking courses as part of their curricula? What is the role of government communication in addressing these challenges?

Key Session Highlights

• The Current Education System Found in Schools and Universities…A Panoramic ViewWhat challenges do traditional schools and universities face in the medium to long term? How will the future of the world, especially the Arab region, look if things remain the same?
• Preparing Future Generations for the New Job Market is a National Duty:What skills or specialities will be required in the future? What does the latest research regarding students enrolling in specialties of the future and gravitating towards new methods of education indicate? How can we promote community dialogue in order to understand the points of view of students and their parents? How can we launch an interactive platform that promotes the exchange of ideas, raise awareness on what constitutes good education, as well as come up with execution plans and divide roles and responsibilities?
• Building Partnerships between Various Stakeholders in the Education Sector to Unify Visions and Push towards the Future:How can partnerships between governments, parents and educational and training institutions be formed in a way which unifies visions and drives students towards skills and specialities of the future? What role can influencers play? How can educational institutions be supported in promoting their new courses, skills and specialties?
• The Media as a Key Player in Raising Awareness on the Education of the Future and its Specialities:What role does the media play as a key strategic partner in promoting outreach, awareness and supporting community dialogue on the future of education and the change of perception towards traditional jobs?
• Fostering International Cooperation to Promote the “Education for the Future” Agenda:How can government communication teams around the world collaborate, compare notes and share success stories as they prepare and set the stage for introducing the concept of “Education for the Future”?

Details

Governments are facing major challenges as they deal with the increasing number of machinery and technological devices, which sprang as part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and the impact that these devices will have on countries and economies. While technology increases productivity and efficiency and speeds up the process of problem solving through the use of Artificial Intelligence, robots, the Internet of Things, self-propelled vehicles, nanotechnology, and so on, governments are left with an inevitable dilemma - the disappearance of jobs. This phenomenon will increase the risk of further unemployment, growing economic and social inequality and eventually, poverty.

Around 47% of the jobs we know today will disappear over the next 30 years. Robots are starting to take over a number of sectors and tasks such as police chases, the security and surveillance of facilities, pizza deliveries, taxi driving, managing household chores, agriculture, and other automated tasks in which robots have replaced humans. This means human beings can only add value in areas where machines and technology fail. These areas are what we refer to as skills of the future (or skills of the 21st century). A recent study conducted by Deloitte and Forbes Insight stated that only 25% of company owners expressed confidence in their organisations’ preparedness in addressing the impact of technology on their workforces. More than one billion young people will enter the labour market over the next 15 years, with 75 million already unemployed, having no prospects of ever possessing the necessary skills needed for jobs of the future.

What is the role of government communication in educating both workers and employers on jobs of the future, and empowering them to become active contributors in combating developmental challenges?

Key Session Highlights

• Jobs of the Future…a Forward-Looking Vision: What are the latest global forecasts on jobs of the future? What is the possibility of carrying out local studies in every country to understand the future of its labour market, taking into account its economic and social status quo?
• Government Communication and Future Occupations: How can governments raise awareness on the occupations which future generations and economies will come to rely on (promoting 21st century skills such as multiple talents, emotional intelligence, flexibility, agility, machine science, communication, problem solving, cooperation, innovation and empathy)? And how can we attract graduates and their families to adopt these skills?
• The Role of Government Communication in Raising Awareness and Coordinating with the Private Sector: It is important to raise awareness about skills of the future and new job opportunities to private-sector entities ahead of the expected structural changes which will take place in the labour market. It is also important to educate them about the need to adopt flexible working styles and achieve both “meaning” and “value” at work, as well as launch training schemes tailored to the needs of our future generations.
• Building Partnerships and Coordinating Roles to Face a Common Challenge: How can government communication encourage individual initiatives and institutions which support the youth to raise awareness on the skills of the future and prepare the new generation and entrepreneurs for the changes which will occur in the job market? What are the challenges involved?
• A National Media Strategy to Combat Future Unemployment:What is the role of media in raising awareness on the challenges facing jobs of the future and encouraging the various segments of society to contribute towards the solution? How can the media support government campaigns in this field?

Details

Over the past three decades, governments around the world have come to realise that one of the biggest challenges facing societies these days is mental health and low levels of happiness. According to a recent study conducted by the World Health Organisation, this could cost the world economy losses in productivity of around $1 billion a year. Some governments around the world, including the UAE government, have responded to this challenge by making happiness a developmental priority. They have created strategies, set up ministries and institutes, launched initiatives, added new indicators, written reports and designed courses in the most prestigious universities around the world in order to address this. Happiness has also become a strategic benchmark to measure the successes of government initiatives, policies, and services in all their forms. However, can either science or governments provide people happiness without their active participation in the process? Does improving their living conditions result in increased levels of happiness?

Scientists were puzzled by these questions until a number of studies revealed that only 10% of human happiness is governed by external circumstances, while the remaining 90% is controlled by people’s thoughts and their view of life amid their inherited beliefs and experiences. Sustainable happiness doesn’t solely come from the launch of government initiatives. A personal decision to take up the journey of self-discovery and questioning one’s beliefs to make the necessary changes is also a very important aspect of achieving happiness. Studies show that happiness requires constant investment in practices which bring about satisfaction. Such practices include gratitude, compassion, optimism, tenderness, physical exercise, and healthy eating habits. These practices are at the heart of human development science, a concept which has been spreading throughout the world and which has helped many people cope with the various challenges they are facing.

What role does government communication play in changing people’s perceptions around the sources of happiness, positivity, and re-examining their expectations? How can it create a culture of sustainable happiness based on a core belief that individuals are responsible for their own happiness through the understanding of their own inner challenges and obstacles, and drawing on their internal resources to find sustainable happiness?

Key Session Highlights

• Happiness and Mental Health as a Developmental Priority: What is the role of government communication in educating communities on the importance of happiness and mental health and the need to take the necessary steps to improve them? Do communities realise the impact of positivity on mental and physical health? Or the positive correlation between positivity, happiness and productivity? How can government communication encourage citizens to adhere to positive practices which have been scientifically proven to be effective amid an environment of constant change, volatility, pressure and negativity?
• Human Development Science... Key to Sustainable Happiness:Are partnerships between governments and human development sectors around the world an opportunity to create a happy generation capable of unleashing their full potential? How can government communication raise awareness on self-development in local communities? What challenges might they face?
• Physical Health as the Cornerstone of Mental Health:How does physical health impact human happiness? Can preventive and lifestyle changes end global health issues? How can government communication contribute to promoting a healthy lifestyle as part of a social culture? What is its role in ensuring the safety of individuals by providing reliable information on modern diets, slimming techniques, sports and dietary supplements?
• Adopting New Vocabulary for Media of the Future:What role does the media play in educating people on the importance of preserving mental health and achieving sustainable happiness now and in the future? How can we focus on positive messaging and make it part of the new media language, programmes and coverages? Can the media become a key partner to government communication teams and support their quest in instilling a culture of happiness and positivity?

Women have come a long way since the late eighteenth century, moving from being vulnerable recipients, with no protection from the law against misconduct by society and/ or employers, to becoming the focus of the international community and one of its biggest concerns since the 1970s.

Since then, numerous international forums and events focusing on achieving economic, social, human and emotional development for women have taken place. These platforms aim to resolve the challenges women face and to protect their rights and their role within societies in the Arab world and beyond.

However, despite global efforts to empower and support women over the last four decades, it is evident that women today still struggle to achieve equal rights to men in the various areas of development. This is mainly due to the cultural hindrances found in many parts of the world, with regards to the perception of women and their role within a society, and the limitations that women cannot overcome without personal, financial or social losses.

Given these limitations, one must question how women will be able to catch up on all the rapid changes imposed on them and on societies by both modern life and the fourth industrial revolution?

What is the role of government communication in supporting the efforts of the various institutions involved in empowering women and enabling them to become leaders in a changing future? What type of government communication campaigns and initiatives need to be launched in order to help overcome the anticipated difficulties and challenges that will be faced by women in the future? What type of partnerships are required for government communication departments to achieve this goal?

Key Pillars:

• The role of social and educational organisations in achieving women’s active participation
• Addressing social perceptions of women’s role
• Enforcing positive change to advance women’s leadership
• Building on success: What the future holds

Keynote Address:

• Reem Binkaram, Director, Nama Women Advancement Establishment

The Innovation platform provides space for the youth to showcase their innovative projects through manual workshops and live demonstrations

Sharjah of Tomorrow…How Do You See It? Sharjah Events website, an initiative by Sharjah Government Media Bureau, will introduce an interactive map titled "Sharjah of Tomorrow…How Do You See It?". The map will serve as a link between the public and Sharjah’s various entities and institutions, informing the latter of any development proposals by the former aimed at enhancing Sharjah's position on the world map. In complementation of this initiative, Sharjah Events is launching a competition to encourage members of the community to come up with new ideas and innovations that would help improve the future of Sharjah through the use of modern technology to create creative electronic games.

"Sheikh Sultan Award for Celebrating the Spirit of Youth" is the first of its kind award in the region, launched by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah launched, with an aim to sharpen talents, hone daily skills and enhance the will of young people in the UAE by challenging various and multidisciplinary levels, including volunteering, adventure, skill and talent.

The award is open for youth, male and female, aged between 13 and 18 and from all nationalities residing in the UAE in its first edition, with the opportunity for accepting participants from around the world in the future.

The award focuses on the integration of academic knowledge, talent, will and skills through mental, physical and moral learning, with the aim of building a generation empowered with potentials that qualify them to meet the various requirements of life and serve society in the social, cultural and physical aspects by activating the efficient human principle in society.

The exhibition takes visitors on a semi-centennial journey that starts with the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s participation in the Osaka World Expo in 1970. The highlight of the UAE’s participation in 1970 was the speech of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as the then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, prior to the formation of the UAE. The journey also includes the milestone moment when, in 2013, Dubai won the right to host Expo 2020, and concludes with the UAE’s participation at the most recent World Expo in Milan in 2015.

The exhibition reflects the vision and determination of the founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to highlight the name of the UAE on the map of the world's leading destinations 50 years ago, while featuring the UAE's keenness to build bridges of understanding and cultural cooperation at the international level.

Conversations with media personalities

An interactive session featuring top media professionals to discuss key press and media issues

Key pillars:

• Media content…Professionalism and Positive Impact
• Arab Talk Shows and the extent to which their objectives are achieved

On the sidelines of IGCF, the Sharjah Youth Council is holding its 2nd Sharjah Youth Forum under the theme "Future Sharjah". The Forum aspires to dialogue with the youth on their creative ideas and future vision of Sharjah, under five main topics: education, health, employment, urban planning, and government services.

Sharjah Youth Forum seeks to build an effective communication bridge with the government by creating a new interactive platform that brings together Sharjah’s youth and decision-makers, with the aim of engaging youth and activating their role in various fields.

The panel will explore how to encourage students to study media and journalism

Key pillars:

• Future of journalism and media
• Reasons for students' reluctance to study journalism and media
• Required mechanism to encourage students to study journalism and media

The session discusses the importance of content in media and its role in shaping public’s perception

Key pillars:

• Content and its role in cognitive communication between individuals
• The art of choosing the right vocabulary in media
• The influence of media in society

This platform is an initiative launched by the International Government Communication Centre (IGCC) during the 8th edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2019) with the aim of providing knowledge and information on the various aspects of governmental communication based on research, studies, books, references and internationally documented best practices. The platform aspires to form a key reference for workers, researchers and students in the field, as well as a space for exchange of knowledge and research to ensure the development of the government communication system locally, regionally and globally.

The "Researchers" platform features several academic and knowledge activities, as well as a display of the IGCC’s latest publications, and of books on government communication issues and topics related to the IGCF theme.

Platform Key Objectives:

• To provide a free platform for media and communication students of UAE universities to discuss their master's theses and graduation projects on the various aspects of government communication
• To highlight graduation projects of students of the Government Communication and Social Media Professional Diploma.
• To host top academics and government communication experts at local and federal entities to discuss the different aspects of government communication and outline their institutional experience in this sector through research papers, studies and worksheets.

Initiative of Anti-Bullying Campaign "Be My Friend"

"The Mental Map of Innovation in the United Arab Emirates"

Smart consumer protection under technological applications

Applied social media networks in shaping the attitudes of the audience towards the higher education sector in the Arab world (Analytical and field study)

Smart Learning: The Imperatives of the Twenty-first Century

The Reality of Institutional Communication in Sharjah Government in Light of Communications’ Technology: A study of a number of governmental organizations in the Emirate of Sharjah

Sharjah Government Communication Forum Project

Shurooq Reads

Based on IGCF’s theme “Behavioural Change Towards Human Development”, this sideline session will present a number of creative ideas, skills, perspectives and experiences to the attending audience.

Key participants of this session will include five youths, five parents, five young adults and five persons with disabilities, as well as five communication experts and employees from various entities across the UAE.

These groups will work together to discuss five behavioural challenges that represent a priority in triggering the role of individuals in a country’s development process, as well as come up with five practical and implementable solutions to overcome these challenges.

Session Methodology:

• A brainstorming session on the behavioural challenges that prevent individuals of various ages and professional backgrounds from contributing towards the development of their country in an active and positive manner. (Examples of such behavioural challenges include inaction and negativity, addiction to electronic games, resorting to time-consuming social activities, selfishness and self-centredness, lack of positive impact by media channels, lack of proper and motivational government messages, and others). This will be followed by identifying five challenges to be considered as priority discussion points during the day.
• Five solutions per behavioural challenge will also be brainstormed. This will be followed by a vote to select the best and most impactful solution.
• The group will also discuss the implementation aspects for each selected solution as follows:
  • Important and effective communication channels for implementing the solution and for changing behaviours
  • The type of messaging that appeals to children, youth and university students and encourages them to consider changing any given behaviour
  • Suggested slogans
  • Innovative methods of communication that can be used to encourage community participation and responsiveness
  • The required changes and capacity building skills needed for government communication teams to be able to implement the proposed solutions
• A report summarising the challenges and proposed solutions to be prepared and shared with the media and audience.

The Launch of an Electronic Game about Behaviour Change-In collaboration with Sharjah Department of eGovernment and Sharjah Children “Sharjah 2071” Game:

An interactive edu-entertainment platform designed to take children on an exciting journey utilizing the latest in gamification technology. The child constructs a virtual character that is animated through the child’s own body movement. Travelling through multiple challenges, the character’s performance and scenarios are impacted by the child’s ability to choose positive values and constructive behaviors. Choosing healthy food options, recycling correctly, and opting to learn the skills needed to survive carefully constructed science-based future scenarios translate into higher scores. At the end, a completion certificate is issued, while the virtual character is saved so that the adventure can be resumed through the app later. The game will be launched at the 8th International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2019) in collaboration with the Sharjah Department of e-government.

This is an integrated knowledge, training and educational space, involving three stages necessary for successful training. It hosts three "trainers" specialised in development and success.

The trainee goes through three different stages of comprehensive development, each featuring motivational workshops on human development. The journey of development begins with the trainee’s registration of his/her information through a smart screen, which then enables him/her to register for the workshops. The trainee moves from the first workshop to the second to the third within a specific period of time. Each workshop, lasting from 45 to 60 minutes, is of a different nature and moderated by a different trainer, allowing the trainee to learn something new in each workshop. At the end of his/her development journey, the trainee receives three certificates from three different trainers, in a matter of three hours only.

General topic:

• Media success stories of Sheikha Mohammed, presenter at Sharjah Radio, and Maryam Yaqoub, presenter at Al Oula Radio

Key Pillars:

• An overview of Dubai Education Zone’s ambitious programme to develop student media talent
• The importance of the programme being supported and patronised by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, for participating students
• Enabling students to rediscover themselves and improve their self-confidence, especially those who dream of becoming stars in the space of media
• Discussing field training given to the two students as part of the programme, and how it opened the door for them to succeed in their media career

Expo 2020 Dubai is hosting this interactive session on its Volunteers Programme and Expo Live. Both flagship initiatives are at the core of Expo 2020’s success and delivery plan.

Expo 2020 is looking to recruit 30,000 volunteers from all over the UAE to help deliver a successful event – many of which are young people. They will be an integral part of Expo 2020’s operations and one of the keys to its success. The Expo Volunteers programme is open to all UAE citizens and residents, including university students, graduates, homemakers, employees, retirees, and people of determination. This initiative gives people of all ages the opportunity to give back to the community.

Expo Live is an innovation and partnership programme launched by Expo 2020 Dubai. Expo Live funds, accelerates and promotes creative solutions that improve lives while preserving our world. With an allocation of USD 100 million, Expo Live will harness the convening power of a World Expo to demonstrate how innovations coming from all places and people can advance the pace of progress and inspire a more inclusive and prosperous future. The Expo Live University Innovation Programme incentivises creative thinking, problem-solving and collaboration between university students to solve problems worth solving. It awards grants so that innovative and ingenious concepts, relevant to the UAE and the region, can be accelerated to validation and prototyping.

The Innovation platform provides space for the youth to showcase their innovative projects through manual workshops and live demonstrations.

Sharjah of Tomorrow…How Do You See It?

Sharjah Events website, an initiative by Sharjah Government Media Bureau, will introduce an interactive map titled "Sharjah of Tomorrow…How Do You See It?" The map will serve as a link between the public and Sharjah’s various entities and institutions, informing the latter of any development proposals by the former aimed at enhancing Sharjah's position on the world map. In complementation of this initiative, Sharjah Events is launching a competition to encourage members of the community to come up with new ideas and innovations that would help improve the future of Sharjah through the use of modern technology to create creative electronic games

"Sheikh Sultan Award for Celebrating the Spirit of Youth" is the first of its kind award in the region, launched by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah launched, with an aim to sharpen talents, hone daily skills and enhance the will of young people in the UAE by challenging various and multidisciplinary levels, including volunteering, adventure, skill and talent.

The award is open for youth, male and female, aged between 13 and 18 and from all nationalities residing in the UAE in its first edition, with the opportunity for accepting participants from around the world in the future.

The award focuses on the integration of academic knowledge, talent, will and skills through mental, physical and moral learning, with the aim of building a generation empowered with potentials that qualify them to meet the various requirements of life and serve society in the social, cultural and physical aspects by activating the efficient human principle in society.

The exhibition takes visitors on a semi-centennial journey that starts with the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s participation in the Osaka World Expo in 1970. The highlight of the UAE’s participation in 1970 was the speech of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as the then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, prior to the formation of the UAE. The journey also includes the milestone moment when, in 2013, Dubai won the right to host Expo 2020, and concludes with the UAE’s participation at the most recent World Expo in Milan in 2015.

The exhibition reflects the vision and determination of the founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to highlight the name of the UAE on the map of the world's leading destinations 50 years ago, while featuring the UAE's keenness to build bridges of understanding and cultural cooperation at the international level.

On the sidelines of IGCF, the Sharjah Youth Council is holding its 2nd Sharjah Youth Forum under the theme "Future Sharjah". The Forum aspires to dialogue with the youth on their creative ideas and future vision of Sharjah, under five main topics: education, health, employment, urban planning, and government services.

Sharjah Youth Forum seeks to build an effective communication bridge with the government by creating a new interactive platform that brings together Sharjah’s youth and decision-makers, with the aim of engaging youth and activating their role in various fields.

The session will discuss the significance of analysis of media information and its impact on human behaviour, as well as the role of technology in the analysis process, whether for traditional or new media.

Key Pillars:

• Use of modern technology to follow public psychological trends
• Media Psychology
• Influence of the social media audience

In this interactive session, the trainer will be discussing the profound transformation that the digital channel continues to go through and how this is impacting communication, marketing and service delivery efforts by government organisations. The facilitator will be going over the latest relevant digital trends, along with the opportunities and threats they pose to both individuals and organisations. This presentation will help audience see the value of taking more of a strategic, forward-thinking approach towards the way they communicate and deliver services online.

Key topics:

• The latest global digital behaviour statistics
• The top current and evolving trends impacting government communication practices
• Stories and examples of effective initiatives
• Embracing free public data and using it to generate actionable communication insights
• The power of micro-influencers and niche communities in an overcrowded online world
• Tips for communicating effectively in a cluttered digital landscape full of disinformation

In this session, participants will discuss the role of children's channels in shaping young generations. They will also address the impact of these channels on children personalities, whether positive or negative, specially that they are considered an important source that shapes cultures, values and behaviours.

Key pillars:

• Responsibilities and challenges of children’s media
• Children's channels between education and entertainment
• How media shapes a child’s personality

Notable examples of spreading Tolerance, Dialogue, and Peaceful coexistence

Zayed in the eyes of history

Cooperation between Government Corporations & Universities to Develop Curricula

Usage of governmental digital platforms to promote positive behavioral values "Sharjah Education Council: Case Study"

The Role of Governmental Communication in achieving Audience Interaction: A case Study on Governmental Institutions

Values ​​of tolerance in UAE official social media governments’ accounts “ instagram “ as a model

My Creative Child

Ammarnaha

Communication Strategies used in managing the organization's reputation: Dubai Police case study

The role of social marketing in rationalization of consumption awareness : A Study on Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority

Best Practices in Government Communication- Sharjah Book Authority

Best Practices in Social Responsibility- Friends of Cancer Patients

Best Government Website - Directorate of Town Planning and Survey

Best Youth Initiative in Government Communication- Ahmed Khalfan AlKindi and Faisal Mohammed Alnaqbi

A presentation about GCA “Best Youth Initiative in Government Communication” Category

Based on IGCF’s theme “Behavioural Change Towards Human Development”, this sideline session will present a number of creative ideas, skills, perspectives and experiences to the attending audience.

Key participants of this session will include five youths, five parents, five young adults and five persons with disabilities, as well as five communication experts and employees from various entities across the UAE.

These groups will work together to discuss five behavioural challenges that represent a priority in triggering the role of individuals in a country’s development process, as well as come up with five practical and implementable solutions to overcome these challenges.

Session Methodology:

• A brainstorming session on the behavioural challenges that prevent individuals of various ages and professional backgrounds from contributing towards the development of their country in an active and positive manner.
• (Examples of such behavioural challenges include inaction and negativity, addiction to electronic games, resorting to time-consuming social activities, selfishness and self-centredness, lack of positive impact by media channels, lack of proper and motivational government messages, and others). This will be followed by identifying five challenges to be considered as priority discussion points during the day.
• Five solutions per behavioural challenge will also be brainstormed. This will be followed by a vote to select the best and most impactful solution.
• The group will also discuss the implementation aspects for each selected solution as follows:
  • Important and effective communication channels for implementing the solution and for changing behaviours
  • The type of messaging that appeals to children, youth and university students and encourages them to consider changing any given behaviour
  • Suggested slogans
  • Innovative methods of communication that can be used to encourage community participation and responsiveness
  • The required changes and capacity building skills needed for government communication teams to be able to implement the proposed solutions
• A report summarising the challenges and proposed solutions to be prepared and shared with the media and audience.

The Launch of an Electronic Game about Behaviour Change-In collaboration with Sharjah Department of eGovernment and Sharjah Children

“Sharjah 2071” Game:

An interactive edu-entertainment platform designed to take children on an exciting journey utilizing the latest in gamification technology. The child constructs a virtual character that is animated through the child’s own body movement. Travelling through multiple challenges, the character’s performance and scenarios are impacted by the child’s ability to choose positive values and constructive behaviors. Choosing healthy food options, recycling correctly, and opting to learn the skills needed to survive carefully constructed science-based future scenarios translate into higher scores. At the end, a completion certificate is issued, while the virtual character is saved so that the adventure can be resumed through the app later. The game will be launched at the 8th International Government Communication Forum (IGCF 2019) in collaboration with the Sharjah Department of e-government.

This is an integrated knowledge, training and educational space, involving three stages necessary for successful training. It hosts three "trainers" specialised in development and success.

The trainee goes through three different stages of comprehensive development, each featuring motivational workshops on human development. The journey of development begins with the trainee’s registration of his/her information through a smart screen, which then enables him/her to register for the workshops. The trainee moves from the first workshop to the second to the third within a specific period of time. Each workshop, lasting from 45 to 60 minutes, is of a different nature and moderated by a different trainer, allowing the trainee to learn something new in each workshop. At the end of his/her development journey, the trainee receives three certificates from three different trainers, in a matter of three hours only.

In raising their children, families focus on traditional and inherited values, such as honesty, integrity, cooperation and love of giving. However, thanks to the evolution of the social structure, changing lifestyles and increasing challenges on more than one level, these values no longer suffice. There is a need today to integrate several modern values into family education, such as preserving the environment and natural resources, controlling consumption, adhering to public order, innovation and creativity at work, changing the perception of education and the role of an individual in creating positive change in the environment.

This session highlights the important role of government communication in introducing parents/guardians and academic institutions to practices, ethics and behaviours that need to be instilled in children, adolescents and youth. The session also addresses the importance of launching government communication awareness campaigns about practices required for the current stage and in proposing effective platforms for coordination between families and academic institutions.

Therefore, the International Government Communication Forum brings together parents, children, academics and specialists in social behaviour to shed light on how to improve individual behaviour to meet the needs of modern society.

Key pillars:

• Developing the concept of family education: Societies’ needs have evolved, and so have the concepts of development. In light of these variables, what are the new behaviours and values that families need to instil in the consciousness of their children? How can families be educated about these behaviours?
• Towards an academic social platform: How can we achieve consistency between behavioural development campaigns and family education values? How can a clash between an educational institution and the family, in particular, be avoided? What ways can we foster coordination between the family and academic institutions? How can government communication advance its speech and tools in order to affect positive impact in society’s consciousness?
• Facilitating families’ access to social behaviour sciencesIn light of the openness to different cultures and identities, where social media convey ideas, information and cultures from across the world to children, adolescents and youth, dealing with individual behaviour has become more complicated. This requires the assistance of specialists and experts in achieving a deeper understanding of individuals’ psyche and directing them towards good practices and behaviours. How can families gain access to the opinions of experts and behavioural scientists? What is the role of academic institutions in educating parents on the basics of positive influence in their Children’ behaviours? What is the role of media institutions in this regard? How can government communication contribute to all of the above?

Expo 2020 Dubai is hosting this interactive session on its Volunteers Programme and Expo Live. Both flagship initiatives are at the core of Expo 2020’s success and delivery plan.

Expo 2020 is looking to recruit 30,000 volunteers from all over the UAE to help deliver a successful event – many of which are young people. They will be an integral part of Expo 2020’s operations and one of the keys to its success. The Expo Volunteers programme is open to all UAE citizens and residents, including university students, graduates, homemakers, employees, retirees, and people of determination. This initiative gives people of all ages the opportunity to give back to the community.

Expo Live is an innovation and partnership programme launched by Expo 2020 Dubai. Expo Live funds, accelerates and promotes creative solutions that improve lives while preserving our world. With an allocation of USD 100 million, Expo Live will harness the convening power of a World Expo to demonstrate how innovations coming from all places and people can advance the pace of progress and inspire a more inclusive and prosperous future. The Expo Live University Innovation Programme incentivises creative thinking, problem-solving and collaboration between university students to solve problems worth solving. It awards grants so that innovative and ingenious concepts, relevant to the UAE and the region, can be accelerated to validation and prototyping.

The session will showcase the role of social experiments in media and the use of these experiments as tools which contribute to enhancing and instilling values in humans.

Key pillars:

• Role of social experiments in instilling positive values
• Visual content and behaviour formation
• Human influence and making a difference

The session, held in collaboration with Harvard Business Review Arabic, discusses the mechanisms for achieving effective corporate communication using behavioural psychology.

Key pillars:

• Behavioural psychology and its impact on corporate communication
• Modern technologies and effective practices to optimise positive communication within corporations
• Positive impact on the public

In light of the central issues of the 8th International Government Communication Forum (IGCF), themed "Behavioural Change Towards Human Development", and in partnership with the Arab Government Communication Network, Sharjah Government Communication Network and UAE’s Government Communication Experts Network, SGMB organises this session on the sidelines of IGCF for the exchange of ideas, expertise and creative thinking to develop innovative proposals and solutions to the challenges discussed by this year’s IGCF.

Key Pillars:

• Incorporating behavioural change departments into the organisational structures of government communication teams in the Arab world: required changes, expected challenges and proactive solutions
• Addressing priority government communication issues in terms of human development: discussing ideas for communication campaigns and initiatives at the Arab region level to address the challenges of future education, job disappearance, change in future labour market structure and nature of jobs, and focus on mental and positive health as a developmental necessity, among others.

The forum's output:

• A summary of the challenges and solutions and a brief report in the form of recommendations and proposals for IGCF

Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Rubu’ Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators, will be convening young representatives of Sharjah’s children and youth organisations and select UAE officials for a special session at the International Government Communication Forum 2019, to explore ways to intensify the youth’s role in participatory development.

The session will shed light on the centrality of the UAE’s youth in the nation’s cultural, societal and developmental journey, and seek to learn from the young participants their aspirations and interests.

Communications as a Means of Policy Delivery

Key Topics:

• Communication for policy delivery: The interactive dialogue will discuss the role of behaviour change in government communication, as well as how to design and commission projects in order to deliver policy goals.
• Beyond broadcast: The session will look into how governments can move from one-way communication to two-way citizen engagement through active listening and citizen engagement.
• Fake news: The session will highlight how to respond when under attack, and crucially – what not to do.

Facilitators

• Sean Larkins, CEO, Kantar Public Consulting
• Joseph Hayek, Associate Director, Kantar Public Consulting

“Applying Behavioural Insights to Government Communications”-Facilitated by the Behavioural Insights Team, UK

Trainers:

• Evie Monnington-Taylor, Senior Advisor, Behavioural Insight Team, UK
• Kevonte M. Mitchell, Advisor, Behavioural Insight Team, UK
• Ariel Bothen, Advisor, Behavioural Insight Team, UK

About the workshop:

This two-day Policy School workshop will introduce participants to the key concepts in behavioural science and give them an opportunity to think about how they could be used in their work. They will be learning about key behavioural science principles, developing an understanding of how to conduct RCTs (randomised controlled trials), as well as other useful evaluation techniques.

The objective of this Policy School is for participants to understand the BIT methodology by developing a potential project within their policy area. This ‘learning-by-doing’ approach: (1) allows participants to discover for themselves potential barriers to behaviour change which they had not previously considered; (2) promotes innovative thinking because brainstorming ideas with participants from other policy areas brings a fresh perspective to their policy problem; and (3) gives participants practice in assessing the feasibility and evaluability of new ideas before they are implemented

Key Pillars:

• What are Behavioural Insights?
• Key lessons from behavioural science for government communications
• Introduction to BIT’s project methodology TEST: Target, Explore, Solution, Test
• Target: Defining the problem
• Explore: Understanding the context
• Solution: Developing intervention/ solution ideas
• Trial: Testing the impact of the intervention
• Group presentations and discussion

Enex Media and Photojournalists

The ENEX News Hub Experience is interactive and supported by dedicated teams. Each topic/area features a 30-minute presentation by a speaker, followed by a 30-minute ‘communications experience’. These three different sessions will rotate throughout the day, keeping the space dynamic and inspiring.

• FAKE NEWS – KEEP CALM & VERIFYThe circulation of fake news on social media platforms and broadcast and digital outlets is one of the most dangerous trends in media today. Often campaigns of misinformation are deliberately targeted to disrupt the democratic process or to promote distortions of reality. How can governments, news organisations and individuals guard against this threat?
• MOJO -MOBILE JOURNALISMMobile journalism (MOJO) has emerged as a vital new form of media storytelling where reporters or citizens can use their own phones or devices to gather, edit and distribute news. Such are the advances in consumer electronic technology and software that anyone and everyone can be a professional and launch their own channels of content – or can they?
• AR AND VR –AR YOU READY?Augmented and Virtual reality formats are set to revolutionise the way we experience visual media. Pokemon Go has built a multi-billion-dollar industry on the back of AR technologies that are consumer-friendly and exciting to engage with. How will AR and VR be used in mass media and what are the possibilities for the future?

“Applying Behavioural Insights to Government Communications”-Facilitated by the Behavioural Insights Team, UK

Trainers:

• Evie Monnington-Taylor, Senior Advisor, Behavioural Insight Team, UK
• Kevonte M. Mitchell, Advisor, Behavioural Insight Team, UK
• Ariel Bothen, Advisor, Behavioural Insight Team, UK

About the workshop:

This two-day Policy School workshop will introduce participants to the key concepts in behavioural science and give them an opportunity to think about how they could be used in their work. They will be learning about key behavioural science principles, developing an understanding of how to conduct RCTs (randomised controlled trials), as well as other useful evaluation techniques.

The objective of this Policy School is for participants to understand the BIT methodology by developing a potential project within their policy area. This ‘learning-by-doing’ approach: (1) allows participants to discover for themselves potential barriers to behaviour change which they had not previously considered; (2) promotes innovative thinking because brainstorming ideas with participants from other policy areas brings a fresh perspective to their policy problem; and (3) gives participants practice in assessing the feasibility and evaluability of new ideas before they are implemented

Key Pillars:

• What are Behavioural Insights?
• Key lessons from behavioural science for government communications
• Introduction to BIT’s project methodology TEST: Target, Explore, Solution, Test
• Target: Defining the problem
• Explore: Understanding the context
• Solution: Developing intervention/ solution ideas
• Trial: Testing the impact of the intervention
• Group presentations and discussion

Enex Media and Photojournalists

The ENEX News Hub Experience is interactive and supported by dedicated teams. Each topic/area features a 30-minute presentation by a speaker, followed by a 30-minute ‘communications experience’. These three different sessions will rotate throughout the day, keeping the space dynamic and inspiring.

• FAKE NEWS – KEEP CALM & VERIFYThe circulation of fake news on social media platforms and broadcast and digital outlets is one of the most dangerous trends in media today. Often campaigns of misinformation are deliberately targeted to disrupt the democratic process or to promote distortions of reality. How can governments, news organisations and individuals guard against this threat?
• MOJO -MOBILE JOURNALISMMobile journalism (MOJO) has emerged as a vital new form of media storytelling where reporters or citizens can use their own phones or devices to gather, edit and distribute news. Such are the advances in consumer electronic technology and software that anyone and everyone can be a professional and launch their own channels of content – or can they?
• AR AND VR –AR YOU READY?Augmented and Virtual reality formats are set to revolutionise the way we experience visual media. Pokemon Go has built a multi-billion-dollar industry on the back of AR technologies that are consumer-friendly and exciting to engage with. How will AR and VR be used in mass media and what are the possibilities for the future?