Under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Dr Kamil Fahd Mahmoud Al Said, Secretary General in the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, the Royal Academy of Management (RAM) has concluded the Executive Leadership Programme for Heads of Departments (HoDs). The programme is part of RAM’s ongoing efforts to empower national talent within public administration, enhance leadership capabilities, and foster a culture of institutional innovation, contributing to improved government efficiency and effectiveness across the nation.
The programme enrolled 30 participants, comprising heads of departments and their equivalents from across the public sector. It offered a comprehensive executive learning experience through five core learning modules covering growth mindset development, motivational leadership, creative thinking, executive innovation, government financial planning. Equipping participants with advanced leadership, management, and analytical skills, many of them described it as a transformative experience that reinforced their leadership capabilities and professional readiness.
Dr Ali bin Qasim Al Lawati, RAM’s President, said, “Representing a core pillar of our philosophy in contributing to building an integrated, high-performing public administration, the Executive Leadership Programme for Heads of Departments embodies an approach that goes beyond developing traditional leadership skills. It strategically strengthens capabilities that maximise sustainable value across public entities by equipping leaders with foresight tools that enhance future readiness, ensure institutional resilience, and strengthen the ability to swiftly adapt to rapid global transformations.”
Dr Al Lawati added, “Equipping heads of departments across the public sector with a sustainable economic mindset and executive innovation capabilities represents a long-term investment in enhancing government performance. By empowering leaders who can drive change and translate national priorities into measurable outcomes, the programme contributes to comprehensive development and supports the sustainable transition towards a resilient, competitive, knowledge-based economy, in line with Oman Vision 2040.”
Providing a platform for participants to present a portfolio of high-impact initiatives aimed at enhancing institutional performance, the programme concluded with the Field Leadership Experience Exhibition. Organised in collaboration with the Oman Investment Authority (OIA) and other entities, the event was attended by senior officials, including Munir bin Ali bin Nasser Al Muniri, Deputy President of OIA for Operations, and Mulham bin Bashir bin Abdullah Al Jarf, Deputy President of OIA for Investment. Participants showcased projects that translated executive innovation, financial planning, and change management into practical solutions to real-world challenging, demonstrating their ability to enhance institutional performance, government efficiency, and the quality of public services.
“Focusing on equipping participants with practical tools and applied knowledge to lead teams effectively and respond to institutional change with agility and confidence, the Executive Leadership Programme for Heads of Departments represents a significant milestone in leadership development pathways. It successfully integrated theoretical and applied learning within an interactive environment that encouraged the exchange of expertise and strengthened leadership practices across government institutions.” said Dr Fathiya bint Abdullah Al Rashdi, RAM’s Vice-President for Programme Affairs.
One of the participants, Dr Muna Hussain Alawi Muqaibal, Head of the Preparatory Studies Center at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Salalah, said, “The programme offered an immersive learning journey that enhanced strategic thinking by linking academic frameworks with practical application, particularly through practical experiences in the field and hands-on, applied projects, resulting in a tangible shift in my leadership practices.”
Another participant, Bishara Al-Mahruqi, Head of the Oman Medical Journal at the Oman Medical Specialty Board, added, “The programme provided a enriching field-based leadership experience that enhanced my planning, coordination, and communication skills, strengthened results-driven,
team-oriented leadership, and underlined the importance of institutional agility and modern operating models in improving performance and output quality.”
Through the design and delivery of specialised executive learning programmes that build national capabilities, enhance government performance, and support Oman’s sustainable development objectives, RAM continues to prioritise leadership development in the public sector as a strategic focus
