Smart Dubai Announces Examples and Projects of Designing Cities Training Workshop for Happiness Champions in Denmark

Smart Dubai and its Training Program 'Designing Cities' - November 2018 in Denmark, Dubai's happy champion is organized - with the result that every company with more than 20 individual projects have been implemented, in addition of 3 city-level group projects helped to increse happiness boost in Dubai and have enhanced peoples wellbeing.

The project brought together 30 happiness champions from more than 25 government and semi-government agencies in Dubai. Participants worked on projects and services that use technology to meet the needs of Dubai's residents and visitors, and are designed to meet the needs of all, and enhance Dubai's efforts to lead the global on happiness.

Her Excellency, Director General of Smart Dubai, Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, underscored the importance of education for the successful implementation of the Happiness Agenda, which will help ensure greater happiness in the Emirates, in keeping with the vision of intelligent leadership to make Dubai the happiest city on earth.

The training programs we have organized for Dubai's Happiness Champions - first at the Disney Institute in Florida in 2017 and then in Denmark in 2018 - have resulted in incredibly positive results, allowing participants to explore best practices and services that help enhance the city experience, H.E. Dr Aisha said. "The training programs provided them with the opportunity to develop scientific research, the needs of researchers, and the ability to design sophisticated products and services to help spread happiness among Dubai's residents and visitors."

"We look forward to organizing additional training programs for our Happiness Champions in the future," concluded Dr. Aisha, who revealed that Smart Dubai is organizing a second designing cities training program to be held in Japan.

The Design Cities Training Program - Denmark, The result of projects developed by three groups of different entities to enhance the experience of people in Dubai. The first project was the Happiness Tunnel at Dubai Airport - Terminal 3 Arrivals, where many Happiness Champions worked as a team on this project; ; Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai Airports, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, Dubai Statistics Centre, Mohammed bin Rashid Housing Establishment, Telecommunications Regulation Authority, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, and the Community Development Authority.

Happiness Champions has formed a joint government team to improve the experience for travelers - nationals, residents and visitors at Dubai International Airport. Happiness Tunnel seeks to improve the airport services offered to them by engaging customers in the design and development of the experience. Furthermore, the team analyzed the traveler's ideas, analyzed the results, and developed them to identify opportunities for improvement.

The second group project, The Art of Offering Services for a Customer Journey, has been implemented by Happiness Champions in Etisalat, Dubai Courts, Financial Audit Authority, Dubai Police and DP World. They used design thinking and engaged customers to improve the customer experience. Drawing Inspired by the Danish success stories in service delivery, the group sought out smart solutions to help customers access services easily and seamlessly, spreading happiness among Dubai Emirates citizens and residents. They also focused on employing innovation and technology to designing services for happier customers.

The third group sought to improve the experience in project recruitment fairs. It has worked by Happiness Champions from the Dubai Government Human Resources Department, Dubai Municipality, Executive Council, Dubai Media Incorporated, Dubai Police and the Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority.

The project seeks to increase job seeker confidence in the job fair, and ensures that all companies benefit from filling vacancies with the best skills available in the labor market. The group has engaged high school and university graduates, as well as professionals working to change their current employment to identify their needs, and use them in the development of the program.

After meeting all the requirements of Denmark's Designing Cities training program, participating Happiness champions were awarded certificates of the Danish Design Center and the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design in conjunction with Smart Dubai, and as a result, each Happiness Champions awarded the title Happy Citizen Practitioner.

The Designing Cities program revolves around three key elements: Smart, Citizen, and Design. The project gave Happiness champions with the tried and tested approaches to creating flexible, innovative and effective teams within organizations, and to develop innovative services, tools and technologies that promote happiness in the community and draw inspiration from the Danish expertise in the field.