The Royal Academy of Management (RAM) has been awarded the prestigious Learning for Impact Today and Tomorrow (LIFT) Certification by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) Global, one of the world’s most respected accreditation bodies for leadership and management development. Before reaching its fourth anniversary, RAM has thus become the first institution in the GCC region to receive the LIFT Certification. The certificate recognises RAM’s ability to design and deliver learning experiences that generate measurable, multi-level impact aligned with international benchmarks.
During a ceremony held at RAM’s premises, the international LIFT certification was presented to His Excellency Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal bin Saud Al Busaidi, Minister of Diwan of the Royal Court and Chairman of
RAM’s Board of Trustees, and His Excellency Dr Ali bin Qassim Al Lawati,
RAM’s President, by Dr Martin Moehrle, Director of Corporate Services at EFMD Global.
Earning the LIFT Certification places RAM within EFMD’s international community of learning and development excellence and strengthens its credibility at national, regional, and global levels. LIFT is EFMD’s flagship, externally validated certification dedicated to validating how organisations embed learning impact across the entire value chain, from strategic intent and programme design to delivery, evaluation, and sustained outcomes. Academically grounded and practitioner-focused, the certification provides independent, external validation of an organisation’s capacity to translate learning into lasting value for individuals, institutions, and society at large.
Steven Smith, EFMD’s LIFT Director, together with independent peer reviewers, identified RAM’s defining strengths, including a culture of purpose-driven learning designed to support the Oman’s Vision 2040 goals, the deep engagement of active participants and alumni as co-creators of value, a broad and demonstrated societal reach, and robust selection and talent identification processes that enhance long-term national capacity building.
Following the announcement, HE Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal bin Saud Al Busaidi, said, “Receiving this prestigious international certification marks a major milestone for both the nation and the Royal Academy of Management, which was established four years ago under the patronage of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to enhance the impact of national leaders across sectors driving Vision 2040. The LIFT certification highlights RAM’s distinctive role in shaping leadership through its world-class programmes, dialogues, and research, positioning leadership excellence as a key driver of the nation’s growth in line with His Majesty’s wise vision.”
HE Dr Ali bin Qassim Al Lawati said, “It is wonderful to be recognised by one of the world’s foremost accreditation bodies, an excellent achievement for RAM in its first four years. This certification is an independent validation of leadership impact, how learning translates into institutional performance, economic readiness, and societal value. It reflects our team’s dedication to enabling leaders who are equipped to navigate complexity, anticipate global transformations, and contribute meaningfully to Oman’s development.”
He added, “Since its establishment four years ago, RAM has aimed to serve as a national and regional hub for leadership excellence, strengthening Oman’s leadership ecosystem in line with Vision 2040. The certification process itself provided valuable insight, enabling us to further assess our impact, refine our approach, and strengthen our strategic direction.”
Dr Martin Moehrle, who presented the LIFT Certification to RAM on behalf of EFMD, said, “The EFMD recognises RAM’s strong commitment to creating leadership communities that make meaningful contributions at individual and societal levels, ensuring that learning has a lasting impact today and tomorrow. RAM has become a cornerstone of Oman’s national transformation agenda, building a self-sustaining leadership ecosystem of world-class Omani leaders who drive socio-economic transformation and sustainable growth. It engages learners through a participatory approach from selection to post-programme impact, with a model that is selective at entry, collaborative in learning, reflective in practice, and sustained through alumni networks, empowering participants to co-create value rather than passively receive training.”
“I also want to applaud the efforts of RAM’s LIFT Oversight Team and selected alumni, meticulously presenting examples of programmes and learners to illustrate the real impact of RAM’s initiatives and its alumni as a whole,” Dr Martin added.
RAM’s engagement with society is strongly aligned with Oman’s Vision 2040 and demonstrates a clear commitment to building leadership capacity for national change. Its programmes link objectives to tangible outcomes across youth, organisations, sectors, and society at large. Within just four years, RAM has evolved from local programmes to regional initiatives, gaining international recognition and establishing itself as a benchmark for developing highly effective leadership in Oman and the region. This milestone marks a turning point in RAM’s journey — reinforcing leadership excellence as a strategic national asset and positioning Oman as a regional reference point for leadership impact and institutional capability building.
