The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the International University of Rabat (UIR) signed a framework agreement for partnership in higher education and scientific research. The agreement seeks to advance higher education in the Islamic world countries, support innovation in cutting-edgetechnology, the transfer of technology to needy countries, and the promotion of cooperation between universities and research centers in various countries.

The agreement was signed for ICESCO by its Director General, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, and for the UIR, its President, Dr. Noureddine Mouaddib. The signing ceremony was held at the headquarters of the University in the presence Mr. Mohamed Khalfaoui, Secretary General of the Sector of Higher Education and Scientific Research at the Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Kingdom of Morocco; Mr. Jamal Eddine El Aloua, Acting Secretary General of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, and a number of officials from both sides.

In his address at the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed that the COVID-19 pandemic has proved that it is imperative to advocate and support innovation, creativity and AI applications and bolster scientific researchefforts. In this regard, he highlighted that ICESCO views innovation as a realistic solution to Islamic world countries to get back on the road toa science and innovation-based civilization which hadcontributed its rich innovations to humanity for a long time.

He also reiterated ICESCO’s commitment to be the first to cooperate and coordinate with other parties and hoped that the partnership agreement between ICESCO and the UIR will be a starting point for similar partnerships and agreements with other universities, in support of innovation and scientific research in the Islamic world.

For his part, Mr. Khalfaoui lauded the cooperation between ICESCO and the University in anti-COVID-19 efforts and thanked ICESCO for its support in favor of advancing education, culture and scientific research. Similarly, Mr. El Aloua pointed out that this partnership will contribute to the transfer of technology between the Islamic world countries. The President of the UIR, Dr. Noureddine Mouaddib, underscored that the world is in face of great challenges and that cooperation is the only way to overcome them. He then expressed his satisfaction with the signing of this partnership with ICESCO which has supported the efforts of the University since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Following the signing of the agreement, ICESCO Director General and UIR President inaugurated the project on the production of protective masks against the novel Coronavirus and ventilation devices, which is being implemented as part of ICESCO’s Scholarships for Technology Development. The project aims to ensure large-scale production of materials and equipment necessary for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the Islamic world, namely in Africa, and the transfer of relevant technology.

For the record, this project is the latest of similar projects funded by ICESCO in many countries, including Uganda, Mali, Senegal, Kazakhstan, the Gambia, and Guinea. ICESCO will support similar projects in other countries in the future.