Dubai: Sixteen high-level Emirati female managers are set to travel to Sweden on Sunday to take part in the second Women Leadership Exchange Programme (WLEP).

The trip to Klippan and Malmo from August 25 to September 1 is a bid to expose the participants to research on leadership, cross-cultural communication and sustainability.

Over the course of the programme women have a chance to engage with their Swedish counterparts to explore methods to facilitate innovation, foster engagement with new research and develop into an innovative leader.

The WLEP is organised by the Dubai Women Establishment (DWE), in collaboration with Women 4 Sustainable Growth and the MiL Institute.

Hessa Tahlak, Director of Development and Research at DWE, said: “The WLEP programme reflects Dubai Women Establishment’s ongoing efforts to boost the potential of the Emirati working woman through the exchange of knowledge and experience between high-level Swedish and Emirati women leaders and expand exchanges between organisations, think tanks and universities on gender equality and sustainable leadership practices.

‘Engaging agenda’

“Learning from the feedback and comments of last year’s participants, we have further developed this year’s programme to maximise the pursuit of cross-cultural collaborations to build the capacity of women professionals with the support of corporate and academic leaders in both countries. Our 2013 participants can look forward to an engaging agenda in Sweden which will excite and challenge them to improve themselves as well as expand their knowledge,” Hessa added.

The delegates, selected from various public and private organisations, have five to ten years of managerial experience. The programme is designed to provide UAE women leaders with the opportunity to represent their nation and also experience relationship-building and sustainable leadership techniques. The programme’s topics include the exploration of subjects such as leadership and organisation theories as well as discussions on sustainable and female leadership.

Delegates will also take part in a mind-mapping exercise to pinpoint their goals. In Malmo women will visit innovative business centres and organisations to gain further exposure to new and creative business and professional ideas.

There will be a follow-up session which be held between Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah from January 17 to 23.