Aldar Properties, the leading integrated property development company, has commissioned the Inspirational Development Group (IDG) to run a special management development programme for Aldar's UAE graduate and scholarship students.

IDG, a leading UK provider of development programmes, has a partnering agreement with the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst allowing it to provide a multitude of management development courses on the campus of the academy.

Under the agreement signed with Aldar, some 20 to 30 scholarship students and 15 graduate development programme participants will benefit this year from a multitude of programmes aimed at developing their leadership skills.

Ronald Stephen Barrott, CEO, and Aldar Properties, said: "Developing nationals and giving them access to state-of-the-art educational knowledge is a top priority for Aldar and an integral part of its social responsibility.

We do hope this programme will contribute in the most effective way to the process of building the future business leaders for Abu Dhabi, a process that stands at the core of Aldar strategy."

Scholarship students will meet annually at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Their programme will focus on experiential leadership.

Members of the Graduate Development Programme will spend their second year at Sandhurst and their first and third in the UAE.

"For the graduates, it is a modular built into their 3-year programme aimed at providing graduates with a tool box and motivation to succeed in the work place, manage their careers and develop management and leadership capabilities which will fast track their career growth," said Abdalla Zamzam, chief economic and administration officer, Aldar Properties.

Tim McEwan, lead consultant from IDG said: "We are very pleased to have this opportunity to work with Aldar and their Graduate and Scholarship intake.

"They are the future of the company and indeed the nation. We are very privileged to have the partnering agreement with the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst which we have had since 2001.

"Sandhurst provides a unique learning environment and many transferable leadership skills – it's not about shouting orders but about knowing your people and understanding what makes them tick, communicating clearly and effectively and developing a sense of selfless commitment to something larger than ourselves. 

"We look forward to working with the Aldar Graduates and watching them grow as leaders and individuals."

Aldar announced in June that it was offering ten sponsorships for outstanding students to pursue their studies abroad, in coordination with the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.

Aldar announced in May that it was sponsoring the chair, Dean of Business Studies, at the Higher Colleges of Technology HCT.

Under the agreement, Aldar will sponsor five UAE nationals in HCT's real estate management programme.

Aldar has already announced a host of other educational initiatives in association with world-renowned academic and professional institutions.

These include the Leadership Excellence Applied Diploma (Lead) programme, launched in partnership with Cambridge University and Knowledge Horizon, and the RICS qualification programme, in conjunction with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. - TradeArabia News Service