In the spirit of strengthening business relations between the UK and Abu Dhabi, the Emirates’ capital and the London School of Economics (LSE) have collaborated for the enhancement of business education.
The agreement between Abu Dhabi’s Department of Planning and Economy (DPE) and LSE sets the groundwork for future business education and training for the emirate’s public policy sector. With a longstanding record of training business communities in rapidly developing regions of the world, LSE Enterprise will guide Abu Dhabi in business and economic planning in both the public and private sectors.
Upon signature of the MoU that solidified this partnership, DPE Undersecretary Mohammed Omar Abdullah said, “Abu Dhabi is undergoing profound changes right now and the pace of economic development is accelerating. This agreement supports our leaders to make better informed decisions about complex and sensitive matters that affect everyone who lives here.”
LSE Enterprise’s Chief Executive Officer and memorandum co-signer Simon Flemington opined that the most appealing aspect of Abu Dhabi is “without a doubt the scale of ambition for the emirate as mapped out in the DPE’s strategic plan for the economy.” This plan includes increasing economic education and research and a possible Abu Dhabi School of Economics.
The renowned British school has an established reputation in the UAE with its involvement in the International Institute for Technology and Management (IITM) in Dubai. Degree programs at IITM were designed by LSE and students have opportunities for exchange programs. It has also forged ties with the Emirates Foundation to for the creation of a Center for Middle Eastern Studies. Flemington also noted LSE’s public sector executive programs in Spain, Kazakhstan, Libya, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Bosnia and Tanzania.
LSE’s expertise in business training is expected to introduce innovation and open a world of educational resources for Abu Dhabi. Flemington stated as the main objective of this new educational link “to fully support the requirements and requests of the DPE for assistance in development of people and research activities within the department and more broadly.”
