Training future leaders
From Left: Professor Ian McLoughlin, High Commissioner Masud Uddin Chowdhury, Professor Stephanie Fahey, Mrs Nazreen Akhter, Professor Owen Hughes, Dr Quamrul Alam and Associate Professor Ken Coghill
Monash University’s Department of Management is helping mid-level public servants from Bangladesh respond to the challenges facing the country as the Bangladesh government works towards improving the physical and knowledge infrastructure of the country.
The Bangladesh government, recognising that the country has a severe shortage of skilled and experienced leaders in the public sector who can formulate, implement and assess public policies, is working with Monash University to correct this problem.
Over the next three weeks, 25 mid-level public servants from Bangladesh will be involved in strategic workshops with experts from both Monash University and industry covering new managerial practices, governance tools and partnership models that have benefited Australia and other developed countries.
Co-ordinator Quamrul Alam said the program had been developed by the Department of Management and the Bangladesh government to enhance the economic and social development of the country.
“The training program has been designed to equip senior public servants with a sound knowledge of good governance practices, crisis management, management of public/private partnerships, building issues and project management,” Mr Alam said.
As well as attending a series of lectures, participants will visit selected regional and metropolitan councils, selected public sector organisations and regulatory institutions to observe first hand how Australian policy implementers have managed change.
“On their return to Bangladesh, the knowledge and skills they have developed through the course will assist them in implementing the government’s priority programs and act as catalysts for change.”
“We expect that they will take on the role of mentors in their respective positions, to guide their staff with advice and by example,” Mr Alam said.
A follow-up workshop, to be held early next year in Dhaka, will review the public servants’ progress, as well as finding solutions to any obstacles that have risen.
The current project is a direct outcome of ongoing collaborative research projects between the Monash researchers and the Bangladesh government on eGovernment and leadership and has received funding through AusAID.