First outside the US and first of its kind in the region, the Award seeks to recognise excellent contributions among Quality professionals in the UAE

Award has the patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of International Co-operation and Development

Dubai, 6 July 2015

The Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai and the American Society for Quality (ASQ) - a not-for-profit organisation of Quality professionals with a global presence in 135 countries- has launched its first Quality Professional Award in the UAE during the Dubai Quality Award ceremony graced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The Award has been instituted to celebrate and recognise outstanding efforts and contributions from individuals and professionals working in the quality field across all sectors of the UAE economy.  

The Award, the first of its kind in the country, is based on the principles of fairness, transparency, objectivity, independence with high standards and performance.

Mohammed Bushanain, Executive Director of the Business Excellence Centre (BEC) in DED, said the ASQ Professional Award will support Dubai's efforts to take the quality drive to the next level. "Over the last two decades, the Dubai Quality Award has created a template for the pursuit of Quality and Excellence locally and regionally. The Department of Economic Development is keen to enable organisations and enterprises in the UAE to compare their quality standards with the best in the world."

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Sunil Thawani, ASQ Member of the Board of Directors, 2016-2017 and ASQ Country Counselor - UAE said: "To celebrate the sustained commitment of visionary leaders of UAE, to quality and excellence and the UAE's 20 years of journey towards excellence, the American Society for Quality, the global voice of Quality, has established ASQ Quality Professionals Award for UAE. In 69 years of ASQ's history, this is the first time ASQ's Board of Directors approved establishing an award outside of Americas."

All interested Quality professionals get the chance to apply or nominate peers or colleagues on the Award's website (www.asquae-award.org), where they will need to fill-in an e-application detailing experience and academic background in addition to special initiatives or improvement projects carried out.

The applications will undergo three levels of independent assessments, the first level to be conducted by the Award's Manager and the next by the assessment team. The third level is completed by a highly experienced Jury comprising Mr. Sunil Thawani; Dr.  Shawqi Hamdan Sajwani, a jury member in Dubai Government Excellence Programme, and Mr. Graham (Joe) Clayton, a renowned Quality professional with experience in large private and government operations in the UAE over the last 30 years, in addition to being an assessor at the inaugural Dubai Quality Award.

"The Award has a clearly defined process and criteria, taking into account applicants' qualifications relevant to Quality, self-development initiatives & continuous learning efforts, publications, papers presented at conventions, volunteer work pertaining to quality, professional memberships in addition to merits and recognitions received," Mr. Thawani commented. "I welcome the Quality community in UAE to participate and gain well-deserved recognition for their contributions, achievements and success."

ASQ has a global presence with nearly 75,000 members worldwide. Its primary aim is to make quality a global priority, an organisational imperative, and a personal ethic, while it becomes the community for everyone seeking quality concepts, technology, or tools to improve themselves and their world. ASQ has about 650 members in UAE - individuals and organisations such as Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, RTA, AMMROC among others.

-Ends-

About Department of Economic Development (DED):
The Department of Economic Development (DED) is the government body entrusted to set and drive the economic agenda of the emirate of Dubai, UAE. DED supports the structural transformation of Dubai into a diversified, innovative service-based economy that aims to improve the business environment and accelerate productivity growth.

DED and its agencies develop economic plans and policies, identify and support the growth of strategic sectors, and provide services to domestic and international investors and businesses.

For further information, please contact:
Faisal Shamsudheen                                                                                                           
Government Communication Division, Department of Economic Development                                    
Tel: (971 4) 361 3070
Email: faisal.pathiasseri@dubaided.gov.ae

For more information on the ASQ Professional Award 2015, please contact:
Mr. Sunil Thawani
ASQ Fellow & Country Counsellor - UAE
thawanis@hotmail.com

© Press Release 2015