Innovative companies in the Middle East have a key role to play in developing the next generation of business leaders, says a study.

The new EU part-funded study will be discussed at an open lecture at The British University in Dubai on Monday.

The results of the study is seen as particularly relevant for fast-developing economies like Dubai.

BUiD will also use the occasion to publicly launch its new, high quality Masters programme in Human Resource Management, which will admit its first students in October 2007.

One of the key issues under examination will be the existing models for training and development, with a focus on how best these can contribute to leadership development.

In current thinking, workplace learning is increasingly being seen as a useful tool for enabling enable employees to learn from experience through such practices as networking, coaching and action learning.

Leadership development, on the other hand, typically occurs through specially-designed formal programmes held in particular locations. The delivery is often through education and training institutions, and considerable assessment and evaluation data is usually available.

The new study analyses some of the potential and processes for developing leaders through workplace learning. Professor Ashly H Pinnington, Aberdeen Business School, The Robert Gordon University and head (designate) of the HRM programme at BUiD, one of the experts involved in the study, will be the main speaker at the event.

“A major part of The British University in Dubai’s role, as the region’s first research-based postgraduate university, is to contribute to the development of a new generation of corporate and public sector leaders. Professor Pinnington’s lecture should provide an interesting addition to our body of knowledge within this area,” said Dr Abdullah Al Shamsi, university vice-chancellor, of The British University in Dubai.

“The British University in Dubai is set to build on our reputation is this field of human resources with the launch of our new Human Resource Management Masters Programme. Our aim is to add to the body of work that has grown around the working environment within the Middle East,” added Dr Al Shamsi.

A major part of the public lecture will be discussion and opportunity for reflection on guiding principles for leadership development in the UAE economy.

The free public lecture, “Evaluating Leadership Development,” will take place at 6:00 pm at the BUiD Auditorium, Block 17, Knowledge Village, Dubai. –TradeArabia News Service