Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received yesterday at the headquarters of the Organization in Rabat, Mr. Azzeddine El Midawi, President of Ibn Tofail University of Kenitra, Head of the Conference of Presidents of Moroccan universities.
 
Several directors of sectors and advisers to the DG attended the meeting.
 
The two parties examined the prospects for cooperation between the two parties and other Moroccan universities in the fields of education, science, and culture.
 
Dr. AlMalik reviewed the main directions of ICESCO’s new vision, which emphasizes the pioneering role of universities in achieving the development of societies and accelerating the economic growth of countries. He also reiterated the Organization’s long-term desire to support avant-garde programs in Moroccan universities and those of the Islamic world in general, to fast-track partnership, cooperation, and integration between parties.  He also underscored the development of communication mechanisms and university academic networking.
 
The DG presented an overview of some related initiatives, including ICESCO’s young future leaders in the Islamic world initiative. The Organization welcomed at its headquarters elite academics to whom ICESCO offered great opportunities to deepen their training and acquire various experiences in international institutional work. ICESCO based the initiative on an open-door policy with non-Member States, international organizations, and civil society institutions. The measure will allow these young students to assume leadership roles in their country in the future.
 
The President of Ibn Tofail University praised ICESCO’s distinguished work, in particular its efforts to reach out to universities and students of Morocco and other countries of the Islamic world.
 
The meeting dealt with various fields of cooperation, including developing the ICESCO Chair at Ibn Tofail University in the field of culture, arts, and civilization, scheduled for November 2020. The goal is to strengthen the partnership between the Organization and the university and to be in line with the ICESCO University Chairs Development Program.
 
Ms. Sanaa El Ghawati, professor at the Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences at Ibn Tofail University, attended the meeting Ms. El Ghawati is a candidate for the presidency of the ICESCO chair at the University.