PROJECT NAME: Innovations in professional Training in Egypt

This project aims to use the Systems thinking Paradigm to enhance management performance in Egypt by developing and applying four professional training programs that capture the main elements of this paradigm. The courses are: Systems Thinking, Systems Dynamics, Systems Management, and Decision Making.

Project Acronym: Innovations in professional Training in Egypt

Project Code Number: IB-JEP-3100-2003

Consortium Partners of the Project:

University of Sunderland, Sunderland (GB)

Suez Canal University, Ismailia (EG)

Brandenburgische Technische Universitat, Cottbus (DE)

Information Technology Institute, Giza, (EG)

Suez Canal Authority, Ismailia (EG)

Eligibility period: 3 Year (January 2005 – December 2007)

Contact Person for the project:

Name: Prof. Farouk Abdel –Kader Tel: 0101571104 Email : fmkader@uedcscu.com Website:www.uedcscu.com	Name:Dr Mohamed Salem Tel: 0101402233 Email : msalem@tedata.net.eg Website: www.iti.gov.eg
Name: Prof. Saad EL-Gibaly Tel: 0101213122 Email : gibaly@menanet.net Website: www.uedcscu.com	Name: Prof. Alfredo Moscardini Tel: +441915152763 alfredo.moscardini@sunderland.ac.uk

Mission, Vision and Objectives of the Project

Mission	To improve strategic decision making in the partner institutions in Egypt
Vision	To create an awareness of the importance of applying the Systems’ Paradigm to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of management performance in Egypt.
Objective	- To Develop two Centres for Training in Systems paradigm. – To develop four training programs in Systems paradigm and its managerial application. – To equip Egyptian trainers with the competencies needed to train public servants in using this approach. – To empower a sample of the top and middle management in both the Egyptian Civil service and the Suez Canal Authority in using the systems approach to enhance their decision making ability

Project Summary Details

Project Background and Needs Assessment:

The world of the 21^st century is a very different place to even ten years ago. We are seeing the beginning of a true global economy where all parts of the world are interconnected. Small events in distant countries can affect events in Egypt. Also because of the lack of certainty in the world, small events are just as likely to produce very large effects and threaten stability. These changes need the learning of new skills included in the systems thinking paradigm.

Based on the above mentioned identified needs four training programs will be developed and validated, namely Systems Thinking, Systems Dynamics, Systems Management, and Decision Making. They will be applied to the direct training of in- service managers. These programs will also be available on the project site for distance learning and continuing education in the frame work of Life Long Learning (LLL). An effort will be also made to offer these programs for credits leading to a diploma, and then an MBA in Systems Management. In this case the training programs will be adapted to fit a university format in terms of modules (15 weeks), a matter that may need more funding.

Project Methodology: The project is using methods and techniques appropriate to the needs assessment and program development; the most important of them are explained briefly below:

1- Commonality analysis, based on literature and experience review, was used to capture the generic competencies (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) needed by top and middle class mangers to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their performance. These competencies were organized around four systems Programs as mentioned above.

2- A series of tryout experiments have and will be used to tailor-make the four programs to the training needs of the Egyptian managers in the public sector. Representative samples from SCU, SCA, and mangers from different ministries.

Project Achievements:

1- Topics from the courses have been successfully trialled twice on representative samples of managers of civil servants and also of managers from Suez Canal Authority (SCA). All courses will be ready by September 2006

2- The electronic training labs are almost ready in SCU premises in the

new campus in Ismailia.

More details about Achievements

· It is worth mentioning that each of the four training programs are organized around four 2-day training courses as follows:

§ Program 1: Systems thinking

ü Course1: The evolution of Systems Thinking: Patterns, Paradigm

Shifts, Rational and Systems Weltanschauung

ü Course2: Problem Solving, Lateral Thinking, Creative thinking, and

Triz.

ü Course3: Soft Systems Thinking

ü Course4: Case Study (the case study represents a major capstone

application experience of interest to the managerial staff of

the public servants & SCA.)

§ Program 2: Systems Dynamics

ü Course1: Mental Models

ü Course2: Modeling

ü Course3: Advanced Modeling

ü Course4: Case Study (the case study represents a major capstone application experience of interest to the managerial staff of the public servants & SCA. employees)

§ Program 3: Systems Management

ü Course1: Cybernetics Principles

ü Course2: Viable Systems Model (VSM)

ü Course3: Managing change

ü Course4: Case Study (the case study represents a major capstone application experience of interest to the managerial staff of the public servants & SCA employees).

§ Program 4: Decision Making

ü Course1: Basics of Decision Support Systems

ü Course2: Multi criteria Decision Making

ü Coutse3: Net Works

ü Course4: Case Study (the case study represents a major capstone application experience of interest to the managerial staff of the public servants & SCA employees).

· It is also worth mentioning that the electronic Training Labs will include three major components, namely: Computer Labs, portable digital studio, and Internet video conference.

With my compliments,

Prof. Saad A. El-Gibaly, PhD

Member of the project management team & Director

University Education Center, SCU (UEDC/SCU