The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the international virtual forum on December 5, organized by Sunan Kalijaga Islamic University (UIN) in Indonesia under the theme “The Future of Arabic Language in Indonesia: a look from both within and outside.” The videoconference marked the launch of the Ph.D. program at the Arabic Language Teaching and Teachers’ Qualification Department at the University.

The forum brought together the representative of the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs; UIN Rector; Dean of the Faculty of Education Sciences and Teachers’ Qualification; General President of the Federation of Arabic Language Teachers in Indonesia, and several experts in Arabic teaching to non-Arabic speakers from Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the Sudan.

Mr. Adel Bouraoui, Advisor to the Director-General (DG) on ICESCO’s External Centers and Academic Chairs on Arabic Language, represented ICESCO in the forum. In his address at the opening session, Mr. Bouraoui reaffirmed ICESCO’s willingness, under its new vision, to help the Islamic world’s universities interested in teaching the Arabic language. ICESCO’s Center of Arabic for non-Arabic Speakers will help universities strengthen the linkage between ICT-powered scientific research and the systems of the teaching of Arabic to non-Arabic speakers in all school stages, epitomized in the project of “ICESCO University Chairs on Teaching Arabic to non-Arabic Speakers”.

The enrolment in Arabic language courses has been on the rise in Indonesian universities and the number of Ph.D. programs in the field of Arabic language for non-Arabic speakers has increased.