The Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA), in collaboration with IBM, the leading American multinational information technology (IT) company, has successfully launched a new set of Artificial Intelligence (AI) training workshops that have been specifically developed and created for Abu Dhabi government employees. The workshops, which are part of the ADDA’s ongoing AI-focused initiative, looks towards increasing key awareness on the benefits and advantages being offered by AI, while also helping improve the decision-making skills of local government employees, especially in the efforts to further develop all sectors of the emirate.
In line with this, local government departments can nominate eligible employees to take part in the workshops starting in this June. The training agenda covered timely and important topics in AI, including business management and technical aspects of modern technologies. The launch of the new training sessions is a successful follow-up to the partnership between ADDA and IBM, which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last year for the creation of an AI Centre of Excellence in Abu Dhabi.
The training workshops will be offered in batches, the first batch was started with 13 government entities including Abu Dhabi Executive office; Department of Education and Knowledge; Department of Health; Abu Dhabi Housing Authority; Department of Community Development; Department of Culture and Tourism; Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation; Abu Dhabi Environment Agency; Al Ain Municipality; Al Ain Zoo; Social Care and Minors Affairs Foundation; Presidential Flight and Statistics Centre − Abu Dhabi (SCAD).
According to ADDA senior officials, AI has rapidly positioned itself as one of the latest technological advances that has helped in further accelerating the implementation of digital transformation in the UAE capital. In line with this, ADDA has sought to address the challenge of making local government employees more aware of this development by creating specially tailored training programs. The move falls in line with the Authority commitment to play a strategic role in the development of Abu Dhabi's potential across economic, social and environmental dimensions through innovation and digital technologies.
H.E Dr. Rauda Al Saadi, Director General, ADDA, said, “We are proud to announce the launching of our new AI-focused training programs, which we are implementing in partnership with IBM. This initiative has been strategically developed to help give our local government employees a better understanding of AI and the benefits and advantages it offers to us, especially in our efforts towards digital transformation. With this new training program, ADDA will be able to live up to its commitment of playing a central role in the improvement and enhancement of the talents and skills of the national workforce--ushering in a new generation of highly skilled and qualified UAE nationals in essential areas of technology and innovation.”
“The collaborative efforts between ADDA and IBM is aimed towards helping us implement the emirate's digital transformation agenda. We are confident that our partnership with IBM will continue to play a significant part in the move to support, provide and implement innovative technologies and solutions--reinforcing our continuing move to drive innovation, improve operational efficiencies and the development of much-needed skills to make better, informed, capital decisions,” concluded Al Saadi.