Director General of the Institute of Public Administration (BIPA) HE Dr. Raed Mohammed bin Shams stressed that following up the implementation of government projects included in the government action program for the period 2015-2018, requires the redesign of government project management program offered by the Institute to ensure achieving the objectives of the government action program, this came during signing a memorandum of understanding between BIPA and the Project Management Institute – Arabian Gulf PMI branch.
Dr. bin Shams stated that the training of officials in the government project directorate falls within BIPA's responsibilities for the preparation and training of personnel at various levels in the state ministries and institutions by providing a range of programs i.e. training, development, research, consultancy, evaluation and personal guidance.
In regard to the importance of government project management; Dr. bin Shams said that the program will contribute significantly to the achievement of competitiveness and increase productivity for the performance of the projects of government ministries and institutions, adding that the Institute seeks through this program to bring an added value to the government that ensures guiding the course of performance of these projects to become more efficient and qualitative, stressing that the government is seeking to add the excellence value to its projects by adhering to global standards of excellence, adding that it leads us to provide the necessary training programs to train employees and leaders who are specialists in following-up and implementing the functioning of projects in the government.
Bin Shams added that BIPA will discuss, under the memorandum of understanding, granting the institute official credibility by the PMI in accordance with the international standards, as well as the endorsement of all training programs that mutual cooperation will take place in their design between BIPA and PMI, including government projects management program provided by BIPA in its different levels.
PMI, which was founded in the United States in 1969, is considered one of the most prominent international institutions which aims at the development of project management skill globally, by providing a range of services for the management of projects, most notably the development of standards, research, education, publication, hosting conferences and workshops, and the Institute offers many scientific programs and certificates in the field of project management.
The memorandum of understanding includes a number of areas of cooperation between the two parties, most notably the design and implementation of training programs for professionals in the field of project management, organization of joint scientific symposia and seminars in the topics of mutual interest, cooperation in the field of studies, research and consultancy concerning topics of interest to both parties, as well as the exchange of experts, consultants and trainers in all that matters to project management. In addition to the cooperation in transferring and dissemination of knowledge in the field of project management, through mutual field visits between project managers in Bahrain and abroad.
The memorandum of Understanding also includes developing and adopting an integrated mechanism to link the project managers in the Kingdom of Bahrain through professional development channels at the local and global level, by participating in the professional events and gatherings, and the establishment of “communities of experience” shared between the two parties, and all other areas of expertise that meet the need for joint action between both parties.