Presents
Leadership Training Program 2026 Under the theme Leading Institutional Transformation with AI Tools
A Scientific Research Retreat · 5 days at ICESCO, Sharjah
Five days that leave you with new leadership skills, a research paper published in your name, and an accredited, verifiable certificate.
One program — four reasons to join
Whether you are a student building your future, an employee aiming for promotion, a leader driving change or an organization investing in its people — the program offers you something different.
A leadership program — in the spirit of a research retreat
Leadership Training Program 2026 blends the energy of a leadership camp with the rigor of scientific research, delivered as a scientific research retreat. Five days away from routine, moving between lectures, workshops, simulations, active discussions and direct meetings with H.E. leaders and experts — while your team turns a real challenge into a published research paper.
The program covers leading transformation with AI, policy design, results-based management, governance, risk & compliance, and international benchmarking. It is designed for anyone who wants to lead change in their organization or career: senior students, employees aiming to grow or get promoted, managers and leaders, and organizations investing in their people.
Learn moreWhy this program? Three gaps we close
Decisions without diagnosis
Many initiatives rest on undocumented assumptions. Here, every solution starts with a precise, evidence-based diagnosis supported by AI tools.
Training without provable impact
Instead of an attendance certificate, you leave with verifiable outputs: a DOI-published paper, pre- and post-test results, and a complete work portfolio.
Knowledge detached from reality
All week you work on a live institutional challenge or a real case study presented at the program — so you leave with an applied solution, not generic knowledge.
How you learn at the program
Activities range from lectures and workshops to meetings with H.E. leaders and experts, active discussions, simulations, research workshops and research clinics — with diverse case studies presented to learn from and work on.
Focused lectures
Concise input from academics and practitioners that leads straight into application.
Hands-on workshops
Every session ends with a written output: a model, an indicator framework or a benchmark table.
Meetings with H.E. leaders & experts
Direct conversations with decision-makers and leaders — ask, challenge and learn from their experience.
Active discussions
Guided debates among participants from different sectors and backgrounds.
Simulations & role-play
Live leadership scenarios and decisions under pressure, rehearsed with your team.
Case studies
Diverse regional and international cases presented at the program to analyze and work on.
Research workshops
Building the group research paper step by step with AI tools.
Research clinics
Individual and team mentoring to review the paper and unblock progress daily.
Five days — from problem to graduation
Mon – Thu: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM · Fri: 9:00 – 11:30 AM
- 1Monday · 9 Nov
From problem to evidence
Team formation, pre-test, choosing a challenge or case study, and turning it into a research question and evidence map.
- 2Tuesday · 10 Nov
From evidence to indicator
Results chains and logic models, dissecting international indices, and building a measurable indicator framework.
- 3Wednesday · 11 Nov
From indicator to decision
Weighing alternatives, governance, risk & compliance, monitoring & evaluation, and data analysis with AI tools.
- 4Thursday · 12 Nov
From decision to standing
From numbers to narrative and soft power, finalizing the paper, peer review and the post-test.
- 5Friday · 13 Nov
Presentation & graduation
Papers presented to the scientific committee, followed by the closing ceremony, certificates and the Professional Excellence Medal.
The detailed agenda is being finalized and will be published here soon.
Four integrated modules on one leadership track — with governance, risk & compliance at the core
Sessions from the four modules are spread across the week so that each builds on the previous one, and all of them converge in the group research paper.
Single-module registration is not available; the program is one experience with one fee covering all four modules.
Eight documented outcomes in five days
The program doesn’t end with an attendance certificate — it ends with documented outputs that can be verified and cited.
A peer-reviewed published paper
A group paper, peer-reviewed and published in the Center’s proceedings with a DOI, with full text deposited in the digital library.
A verifiable completion certificate
One completion certificate with an online verification number employers and promotion committees can check instantly.
Up to 20 accredited hours
Accredited training hours, counted toward CPD and recorded on the certificate.
Institutional impact report
For organizations sending a team: a report comparing pre- and post-test results and tracking progress quantitatively.
A permanent researcher ID
A research identifier in your name at the Center, linking your future scholarly work.
Alumni network membership
Membership of the program alumni network with Center benefits for one year.
Professional Excellence Medal
Outstanding papers are nominated against published criteria; the medal is awarded at the closing ceremony.
Annual volume publication
Top papers are selected as chapters in the program’s annual volume with an ISBN.
Learn from H.E. leaders and experts
Leaders, academics and experts from government and academic institutions deliver the program and engage directly with participants.
H.E. Dr. Abdulla Bin Mohammed Belhaif Al NuaimiChancellorEmirates Scholar Center for Research & Studies
H.E. Salim Omar SalimDirector of the Regional OfficeIslamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) in Sharjah
Prof. Firas HabbalPresidentEmirates Scholar Center for Research & Studies
Dr. Fawaz HabbalDirector GeneralEmirates Scholar Center for Research & Studies
Dr. Yousif Al AliBoard of Trustees MemberEmirates Scholar Center for Research and Studies
Mr. Rami KamelCISOAjman Police GHQ
Dr. Noura AlkarbiBoard of Trustees MemberChair of the Research Outreach Department, Sharjah University
Dr. Shaikha AlkarbiHead of Education Section and Assistant Professor of Applied SociologyMohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities
Dr. Rashed KarkainCEOSustainable Development Research and Training Institute
Dr. Hasna Al-KarbiResearch Officer, Emirati Identity CenterMohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities
Dr. Suleiman HamdanSchool Improvement AdvisorSharjah Private Education Authority
Dr. Dalia MabroukDirector of Research & Knowledge DepartmentEmirates Scholar Center for Research and Studies
Ms. Maitha AlkaabiNational Expert on Foreign AffairsNational Experts ProgramGraduation and the Professional Excellence Medal
The program concludes on Friday 13 November with papers presented to the scientific committee, followed by the closing ceremony where completion certificates are awarded and the authors of the best papers receive the Program Medal for Professional Excellence, under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Abdulla Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
- The Professional Excellence Medal for the best papers, judged on methodological rigor, applicability and presentation quality.
- A signed completion certificate with an online verification number.
- Nomination of top papers for the program’s annual volume.
One fee for the complete program
Single-program registration is not available; the program is one integrated experience with one fee.
The fee includes
- All four modules and every program and research-retreat activity.
- Up to 20 accredited training hours.
- Workbook, templates and databases.
- Pre- and post-tests and the full assessment path.
- Peer review, DOI publication and a researcher ID.
- Completion certificate, closing ceremony and alumni network membership.
The final fee, including applicable taxes, is shown at checkout in the Center’s official booking system.
For organizations
Nominate a team to work on one of your own challenges, with a documented impact report and consolidated coordination and invoicing.
- A dedicated working group for your team.
- A research paper on your challenge, published with a DOI.
- An impact report comparing pre- and post-tests.
At ICESCO in Sharjah
The program is held at the Regional Office of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Sharjah.
- When
- 9 – 13 November 2026
- Where
- ICESCO Regional Office, Sharjah
- Delivery language
- Arabic
Everything you need to know
What is Leadership Training Program 2026?
A five-day interactive leadership training program delivered as a scientific research retreat, presented by Emirates Scholar Center for Research & Studies and ICESCO under the theme “Leading Institutional Transformation with AI Tools”. It covers governance, risk and compliance across its modules and combines lectures, workshops, simulations and meetings with H.E. leaders and experts, and ends with a research paper published with a DOI.
When and where does it take place?
From 9 to 13 November 2026 at the ICESCO Regional Office in Sharjah. Monday to Thursday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, and Friday 9:00 – 11:30 AM.
Who is it for? Is it only for leaders?
No. The program is designed for senior students and recent graduates, employees who want to develop their skills or earn a promotion, managers and leaders, and organizations nominating teams of their staff.
What is the fee and what does it include?
AED 3,800 per participant for the complete program, covering all four modules, materials, the assessment path, peer review and DOI publication, the completion certificate, the closing ceremony and one year of alumni network membership. The final fee including applicable taxes is shown at checkout.
Can I register for just one program?
No. The program is a single unit with one fee; the four modules are interlinked, each building on the previous one, and the group research paper requires completing all of them.
How many training hours?
Up to 20 accredited training hours, recorded on the completion certificate with an online verification number.
Does the program cover governance, risk and compliance?
Yes. Governance, risk and compliance are built into all four modules: data and AI governance, organizational governance and decision rights, risk registers, internal control and compliance monitoring, and international governance indicators — informed by ISO 31000, ISO 37000 and the COSO framework.
Seats are limited to 30 participants
Reserve your place at Leadership Training Program 2026 — 9 to 13 November at ICESCO, Sharjah.