The Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government previously known as Dubai School of Government is a research and teaching institution in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which focuses on public policy in the Arab world. The school was established in 2005 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai. The founding Executive Dean was Yassar Jarrar. According to the school’s , it “aims to promote good governance through enhancing the region’s capacity for effective public policy.” The school works to achieve its mission through a four-pronged approach, including applied research in public policy and management, academic programs in public policy and public administration, executive education programs, and knowledge forums for scholars and policy makers.
Applied research
The school conducts applied research in public policy and management, focusing on areas such as organizational development, public sector management, gender and public policy, e-government, education, economics, labor and demographics and disability policy. Research is conducted with an eye to academic rigor and to policy relevance for the Arab world. DSG has a series of , consisting primarily of policy briefs, working papers and reports.
Academic programs
On December 16, 2009, the school graduated its first cohort of 32 students in an intensive, one-year program. Designed for mid-level public sector professionals, the MPA program trains students in the theory and techniques of public sector management, and to help them better understand the political and social context in which public policies are designed and implemented and public services are provided. The MPA was conducted "in coordination with" the Harvard Kennedy School’s Faculty Advisory Committee, although there was little contact between the two schools and the formal affiliation ended in 2011. The MPA degree is awarded by DSG, not by Harvard University. DSG offers an in partnership with the at the . All DSG academic programs are accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The school conducts customized and open through its faculty and in affiliation with the Kennedy School of Government at and the at the Executive education clients have included organizations within the Dubai Government, as well as governments throughout the Arab world. In May 2008, the school signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide academic and training programs for Egyptian government officials. A similar agreement was reached in July 2008 with the Government of Syria, and discussions are ongoing with officials in other governments throughout the Arab world.
Public affairs
The school provides a platform for public dialogue and knowledge exchange by convening conferences, lectures, seminars and policy forums. DSG's Distinguished Speakers Series has featured guests such as Lee Kuan Yew, Klaus Schwab, Lawrence Summers, John Chambers, David Ellwood, Joseph Nye, Francis Fukuyama, Suad Joseph, Kishore Mahbubani and Bob Graham. Conferences have included: , and . The school hosts a , which brings together academics and researchers, serving as a focal point for the identification of research interests.
The Dubai Initiative
The Dubai School of Government had an affiliation with the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, that ended by 2011. This joint partnership, known as the , included funding, coordinating and facilitating fellowships, internships, faculty and graduate research grants, working papers, multi-year research initiatives, conferences, symposia, public lectures, policy workshops, faculty workshops, case studies and customized executive education programs.
