Regional Office – Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

About FS GCC

The global financial sector has changed significantly over the last two decades. Lessons from the global financial crisis point to the pressing need for an innovative and healthy financial sector architecture that not only adapts banking products and services to clients’ needs, but also enhances economic stability and secures the long-term and sustainable growth of the local economy more generally. Thanks to the outstanding economic growth, Dubai has emerged as the financial capital of United Arab Emirates and the Gulf Cooperation Council region.

Featuring both onshore and offshore markets, Dubai’s banking sector has become an integral part of the global financial services universe. Facilities range from conventional financial intermediation in a competitive domestic landscape to advanced specialist services housed in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the financial services free zone. At the same time, Dubai has also positioned itself as a global center for Islamic banking, a young and fast-developing market segment.

Since 2014, Frankfurt School has offered training services in Dubai. Frankfurt School has developed and conducted several training programs at various managerial levels: (i) Board of Directors (BoD), (ii) Top Management and (iii) Mid-Level Management. The training programs are delivered on a Bank-to-Bank basis and are tailored to the specific needs of a Client Bank. This training approach allows the training participants to learn from the expertise of the Dubai financial sector.

Flagship Projects

Executive and Non-Executive Management Education

Board of Directors (BoD) Members, Committees and Executive Management of modern banks are inundated with aspects of financial health. They have to monitor risks and results on one hand, but also adapt to changing environments and requirements on the other. Additionally, they have to constantly follow up on new laws and regulations that redefine the role of banks and keep up with economic, environmental and financially complex regulations. Recognising these requirements, Frankfurt School pioneered a comprehensive Competency Development Program for Bank Management at three levels: (i) BoD, (ii) Top Management and (iii) Mid-Level Management. We conduct training programmes based on the specific needs of each bank, which are defined by its strategy and current situational context. To achieve the greatest results and impact, we talk to our participants at the Board-to-Board and Manager-to-Manager levels.

BoD Education Program for Ethiopian Insurance Corporation

Established in 1976, the Ethiopian Insurance Corporation (EIC) is the oldest and largest insurance company in Ethiopia. With a market share of 60%, the EIC is an important player in the Ethiopian insurance market. One of the strategic objectives of the EIC is to create a platform for a long-life human resources (HR) education in all areas of technical and leadership competencies. Established in 1976, the Ethiopian Insurance Corporation (EIC) is the oldest and largest insurance company in Ethiopia. With a market share of 60%, the EIC is an important player in the Ethiopian insurance market. One of the strategic objectives of the EIC is to create a platform for a long-life human resources (HR) education in all areas of technical and leadership competencies.

The topics covered in the workshop included:

Strategic Management
Corporate Governance
Change Management
HRM and HRD
Fundamentals und Principles & Practices of Life and Non-Life Insurance
Key Performance Indicators in the Insurance Business
Review and Interpretation of Financial Statements and Solvency Requirements in the Insurance Business

BoD Education Program for Construction and Business Bank

Established in 1975 through the merger of the Imperial Savings and Home Ownership Association and Savings and Mortgage Corporation, Construction and Business Bank (CBB) was a state-owned Housing Finance Institute until 2017. The main goal of the Bank was to provide clients with housing and mortgage finance products. The reorganisation process initiated in 2015 by the Ethiopian Agency for Public Financial Institution consisted of different working sessions by the BoD and the top management of the CBB.

In 2014, Frankfurt School conducted a series of working sessions to discuss the current situation of the Bank and the challenges in the areas of the strategic management and portfolio management. The sessions were organised through workshops and practical sessions such as “Talk to a Practitioner,” where participants could exchange ideas and lessons learned with the practitioners from other countries.

In 2017, the CBB was merged with the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.

BoD HR Forum for Commercial Bank of Ethiopia

The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) is the largest commercial bank in Ethiopia. With nearly 30,000 employees, the Bank understands the importance of educating its employees at all levels: non-executive, executive management, as well as mid-level management and professionals.

In December 2015, Frankfurt School conducted a Strategic Workshop for the Bank’s Board of Directors members. During a 5-day session in Dubai, BoD members could discuss the current situation of the Bank, the results of a recent SWOT analysis, as well as the strategy of the Bank for the coming years. Within this workshop, the BoD Members and Top Managers of the Bank could develop a road map for the newly adjusted strategic plan of the Bank.

Education Program for Executive Management of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia

It is crucial for a large bank like CBE to educate its Top Management. The Bank plans to prepare successful leaders to transform the Bank, enhance value creation, create efficiencies and engage their employees to deliver better results. In February 2016, Frankfurt School conducted a leadership education program for 12 Top Managers of the Bank. The program was developed based on the results of the bank-wide Training Needs Assessment exercise conducted in 2015.

Participants learned new leadership techniques to manage their teams, including assertive communication, motivational methods, and coaching. The main takeaways of the programme included (i) tools and frameworks to align personal leadership with the purpose of the CBE and (ii) leadership strategies to drive organisational change and prepare for the future while maintaining team performance.

MBA in International Health Management (IHM)

Lebanon

Frankfurt School’s part-time MBA in International Healthcare Management is designed for working healthcare professionals (health care providers: physicians, surgeons, nurses, allied health, research positions in hospitals, etc. as well as those working in the health care industry: insurance, medtech, pharma, consulting, etc.). The part-time MBA provides them with a thorough understanding of the international healthcare business.

Tunisia

The programme aims to develop responsible healthcare leaders and to equip them with practical business skills, advanced entrepreneurial skills, leadership expertise and integrity in order to master the challenges in a globalized healthcare sector. It fosters enhanced awareness of healthcare issues, as well as trends and practices likely to influence the future. International study locations in Europe, America and Asia and a diverse student body ensure a truly international experience.

Within this program, the Module on “HR, Organization and Change Management” is delivered in Dubai. This module addresses the topics of HR Management and Organisational Development as the key elements of management and change in healthcare related businesses. In addition, the students learn about the unique features of the Dubai healthcare system.