Dubai Press Club, in partnership with Mohammed bin Rashid Media College, will launch the 'Influencers Diploma' program, the first of its kind in the region, to explore new forms of relationships that can arise between influencers and followers, and to evaluate interactive impacts. This platform enables us to develop new dimensions for the work of these platforms, as well as to accommodate their future trends and develop the capabilities of Arab social media leaders, within an integrated academic curriculum recognized by the UAE Ministry of Education.

The program, announced last October, is part of the club's efforts to capitalize on the growing role of social media platforms in shaping the future of media work in the region, contributing to the development of influencers' capabilities across these platforms, and enhancing their positive and effective participation through a full range of relevant academic courses. By examining the reality and impact of social media, and analyzing their future trends to keep pace with the rapid changes that they witness.

The spread is greater

The President of the Dubai Press Club, Mona Ghanem Al-Marri, stressed that the “Influential Diploma” was designed in line with Dubai's permanent approach to support innovators in various fields, and to hone their skills to benefit from their talents, insights and ideas in the service of issues that concern the Arab community. Direct positive use of social media platforms in media work across the region, especially with the increasing spread and influence among Arab youth.

She added that «the program was carefully designed in line with the strategy of the Arab social media pioneers club, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, three years ago, to be a new platform through which to maximize the role and contribution of communication pioneers And their participation in promoting Arab development opportunities at various levels. ”

She continued, “With the honoring of creators and influencers, at the Arab Social Leaders Summit, the largest platform for honoring Arab creators on social media, we found that we still need a specialized program that enables us to use their creativity positively and tangibly contribute to the advancement of our Arab societies. Forward, confront negative thoughts and motivate society, especially young people, to work and be creative in all areas. ”

She expressed her appreciation for the fruitful cooperation with the Mohammed bin Rashid School for Media in designing and launching this program, as the first academic curriculum for social media pioneers in the MENA region, for her academic experience that interacts with current society issues with a sophisticated media perspective in line with the requirements of the times.

The first of its kind

Ali Jaber, Dean of the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Media, said: “The Influential Diploma is the first academic program of its kind in the region, dedicated to developing the capabilities of social media leaders, and providing them with advanced academic knowledge and knowledge, in light of the growing importance of social media networks. Its role in various aspects of life, which requires the establishment of reliable knowledge platforms that accurately monitor the characteristics of these platforms and developments, to find out the best ways to maximize the use of them in the service of people, and provide the leaders of these networks with academic knowledge that support them in their role as influencers hundreds "Thousands, sometimes even millions of followers."

Jaber added that «the academic curriculum of the diploma was developed by a group of professors in the disciplines of media, strategic communication, journalism, media innovation and content, so as to cover the various aspects of the world of social networking, and to provide participants through six academic curricula integrated vision on the nature of these platforms, and the relationship “They have the distinctive characteristics of each, so that they can sharpen their ability to communicate effectively and expand their influence.”

He pointed out that the launch of a program at this level is an important step that reflects the strategy of the college, aspiring to provide possible ways of academic support for influencers, in recognition of their active role, in cooperation with the Dubai Press Club and the Arab Social Leaders Club, pointing out the importance of the growing social media networks, which witnessed The past five years have seen a significant increase in the number of users to more than 30 times, reflecting the steady impact of these platforms in all sectors and areas, depending on their ability to spread across borders.

The Influencers' Diploma provides participants with comprehensive knowledge of many areas that affect their work, such as the rules of strategic communication that enable them to respond optimally to different situations in the economic, social and political spheres, express their opinions and ideas that will contribute to the development of society. The basic rules for the development of innovative content, and how to keep up with the rapid changes and developments in these platforms.

The diploma, which is recognized by the UAE Ministry of Education, includes six courses, spanning eight months, with the participation of 100 influencers divided into groups of 20 each.

Value system

The Influencers' Diploma attaches great importance to the study of many concepts, such as the system of social values ​​and social responsibility, and ways to highlight national identity, and to fight false and fabricated news, through methods and ideas based on persuasion and refuting lies in a scientific way.

• 6 courses, spanning eight months, including the Diploma.