The Executive Development Programme for Middle Management Officers (EDPMMO) is designed to develop future leaders for the public sector and equip them with knowledge through exposure to in-class and out-of-class activities to produce civil servants who are competent, forward-thinking and keen in acknowledging the needs of customers and government stakeholders.
This was said by Permanent Secretary (Civil Service Governance) at the Prime Minister’s Office Ajman bin Haji Meludin during the opening ceremony of the 35th EDPMMO yesterday.
The permanent secretary expressed hope that each participant will give their full commitment during the 13-week programme and hone their skills.
He also called on participants to cultivate a visionary mentality and to always seek effectiveness in meeting the targeted aspirations and goals.
The permanent secretary said in the current era of globalisation, the Sultanate is facing unprecedented challenges that could lead to unexpected outcomes.
Given that civil servants are the backbone of the government’s administration, he said they need to increase their efforts in implementing necessary changes and make improvement to keep up with current and future developments and demands.
These changes, according to the permanent secretary, “require civil servants to equip themselves with an array of knowledge and skills to help the nation achieve its aspirations, especially Brunei Vision 2035”.
He also believes that civil servants need to have the ability to make use of technology in carrying out their duties.
“The mastery of digital literacy will not only assist them in effectively perform and carry out tasks but also help to address any negative perceptions raised on multimedia platforms today. Addressing these perceptions is crucial in improving the public image of civil service and maintaining the trust with the people and government stakeholders, including foreign entities,” added Ajman.
“The emphasis on change management should be the approach of every government organisation in the country, where employees are encouraged to be more open-minded and not be bound by conventional systems or work processes,” he said.
He also reminded the participants on the importance of having a sense of urgency at all levels of public service. “Agility and speed in decision-making is crucial in ensuring excellent service delivery and the integrity of civil servants,” said the permanent secretary. – Rokiah Mahmud
