Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Chairman of the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, and President of ICESCO’s General Conference, and reviewed with him the latest developments of cooperation between ICESCO and Egypt in the Organization’s fields of action.

During the meeting, held on Saturday 16 July 2022 at the headquarters of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Cairo, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the main programs, projects and activities currently being implemented by ICESCO, in line with its vision and strategic orientations. He also reviewed several projects that are proposed for implementation in cooperation with Egyptian universities in 2022-2023, and the agreement on the International Professional Training Certification in Education (IPCT) project. This project includes professional development programs with standard specifications that are among the best and latest scientific trends and experiences in the field of education worldwide and delivers reliable professional certificates in the field of education.

ICESCO Director General commended Egypt’s pivotal role in the fields of education, science and culture, thanks to its prominent position in the field of creativity and culture, and praised the Egyptian higher education system as a center of intellectual, cultural and educational influence in the Islamic world.

He also commended the remarkable development of Egypt and its educational institutions under the leadership of H.E. President Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi, and the great efforts made by the parties in charge of the cultural sector in the programmes celebrating Cairo as the Islamic World Culture Capital.

For his part, Dr. Abdel Ghaffar praised ICESCO’s cultural and educational role, stressing his desire to strengthen cooperation with the Organization in its various fields of action, and Egypt’s willingness to provide all necessary means required to support the activities and programmes carried out by ICESCO.

The meeting also discussed the main programmes and activities due to being implemented in partnership between the Arab Republic of Egypt and ICESCO in 2022, particularly as part of the celebration of Cairo as the Islamic World Culture Capital and the official launch of the Year of Youth 2022-2023, under the auspices of His Excellency Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The two sides also discussed preparations to implement President Al-Sissi’s recommendation at ICESCO General Conference, held in December 2021 in Egypt to establish a fund for supporting talents in the Islamic world.

At the end of the meeting, both parties affirmed their commitment to sustain their action to consolidate the outstanding partnership between ICESCO and the Arab Republic of Egypt in all of the Organization’s fields of action. This will be done through the implementation of programmes and activities bearing tangible results which will be agreed upon in accordance with the priorities and needs of the competent Egyptian authorities in each field, and to maintain expert meetings to develop and follow up the implementation of these programmes.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Ashraf El-Azzazi, Head of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Missions at the Ministry, Dr. Reem Derbala, coordinator of the Professional Certification for Teachers Project, rapporteur of the Education Committee of the Egyptian National Commission and Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Director of Cabinet of the Director General of ICESCO.