The University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School and Gartner have announced plans to jointly host the CIO Academy, a prestigious and unique management development programme, for the second consecutive year.

The CIO Academy programme has become established over several years at the University of Oxford, helping many IT leaders to maximize the contribution of technology.

With the success of the first CIO Academy in the region in September 2009, University of Oxford and Gartner are looking forward to returning the programme to the region from September 26 to 29.

“Delivering this programme in the Gulf in 2009 was an exciting yet natural step for the University. Last year’s session was well received, and our contacts at many prominent organizations in the region encouraged us to bring the programme back for a second year” said Prof Michael Earl, pro-Vice-Chancellor, (Development and External Affairs), University of Oxford.

The Abu Dhabi programme will again have a particular focus on business and technology leadership.

“The CIOs who joined us last year said the three things that stood out about their experience at CIO Academy were the quality of the speakers, the chance to meet fellow CIOs from within the region, and the relevance of the curriculum to their careers” said Roger Kemp, group vice president, Executive Programs, Gartner.

Removed from the tactical concerns of the workplace, participants develop broader perspectives on strategic management, and how to deliver value to their organization.

They return with a renewed perspective and a tailored action plan for leadership success.  Close interaction with outstanding faculty, and an exclusive group of senior level IT executives results in highly personal, pragmatic learning for all attendees.

“CIO Academy is an excellent experience with relevance to real-world matters. The wide range of participants adds value to the program, and will benefit all participants for some time to come” said Dr Sabri Hamed Al Azazi, Abu Dhabi Municipality and past participant in CIO Academy.

“CIO Academy supports the UAE Vision 2021 to develop a knowledge-based, highly productive and competitive economy, driven by entrepreneurs in a business-friendly environment,' said Myles Bird, regional manager, Gartner.

CIO Academy is open to both nationals and expatriates providing a platform for their development through executive education and personal on-site tuition. We are delighted to see CIO Academy back again in 2010”, he added.-TradeArabia News Service