The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the International University of Rabat (IUR) in the Kingdom of Morocco, launched on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, a program for Piloting the Introduction of ICESCO’S Peace 360º Approach in Academia, which aims to strengthen educational programs in the field of peacebuilding and security in ICESCO’s Member States, through an approach based on a comprehensive and multidisciplinary methodology. The program will be implemented within the framework of the IUR’s Master program in Conflict Resolution and Governance of Peace.

The Program opening ceremony, held at the IUR headquarters and via videoconference, saw the participation of several experts and researchers in the fields related to building security and peace.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), started the ceremony with a speech in which he highlighted the importance of the Programme, which was launched within the framework of the celebration of Rabat as the 2022 Culture Capital in the Islamic world in achieving peace and security, confirming that the concept of peace is not only related to the absence of war, but also to the establishment of institutions and policies to promote a culture of peace and security in societies.

He noted that this initiative represents ICESCO’s new vision, which seeks, through the promotion of peace, to contribute to the development of human capital in the Islamic world, stressing the role of universities in understanding new phenomena and overcoming the challenges facing our societies.

For his part, Dr. Abdelaziz Benjouad, IUR Vice President, highlighted the importance of cooperation and partnership between ICESCO and the University to achieve peace and security and strengthen sustainable development goals.

Ms. Ramata Almami Mbay, Director of ICESCO’s Human and Social Sciences Sector, stressed that the Organization aims, through this program, to train young leaders who can contribute constructively to building sustainable peace, reviewing ICESCO’s initiatives in cooperation with a number of parties in the field of civilizational dialogue and countering hate speech and extremism.

In a prerecorded message, Dr. Abdel Rahamane Baba-Moussa, Secretary-General of the Conference of Ministers of Education of French-Speaking Countries (CONFEMEN), stressed the need to invoke the educational aspects in developing policies and plans aimed at building peace and promoting coexistence, cultural dialogue and mutual respect.

In her speech, Ms. Amira Al-Fadil, Head of ICESCO’s Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, emphasized that the Program constitutes the start of a strategic project for the Organization with the participation of many students at several levels of studies and in different countries.

Mr. Nebil DABUR, Director General of Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), congratulated ICESCO for launching the Program, stressing that the absence of peace is a real challenge facing the countries of the Islamic world.

During the ceremony, Dr. Alioune Sall, Executive Director of African Futures Institute delivered an introductory lecture on the topic of peace and human development, highlighting the importance of peace in achieving development, providing favorable conditions for development, fostering hope and confidence in the future and encouraging investment.

In conclusion, Prof. Julien DURAND DE SANCTIS, Director of IUR Master in Governance of Peace, expressed his happiness with the cooperation between ICESCO and the University, stressing the importance of studies related to conflict and peacebuilding begins with the ability to study and understand violence.