On Thursday (May 4, 2023), the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hosted the second edition of the program “International Thinkers Guests of ICESCO,” through a large intellectual meeting organized by ICESCO International Think Tank for Thought, Literature, Heritage and Arts, and ICESCO Chair at the Euro-Mediterranean University, in Fez, Kingdom of Morocco. The event witnessed rich discussions about the relationship between culture and the development of societies and the relevant impact of technological developments.

The meeting, which saw the presence of Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, included a lecture by Ms. Youma Fall, Minister Adviser to the President of the Republic of Senegal, in Charge of Culture, on the role of culture in achieving sustainable development and the efforts of African countries in this field. Dr. Caroline Moricot, Professor of Sociology at the University of Paris I – Pantheon-Sorbonne, gave the second lecture on the importance of integrating artificial intelligence in the cultural field to answer questions related to the future of generations.

In his intervention, Dr. Mohammed Zine El Abidine, Head of ICESCO Culture and Communication Sector, reaffirmed that the Organization seeks, in the context of the current global transformations, to promote culture and keep up with these transformations. He also reviewed the major programs and activities of ICESCO in the cultural field, most notably ICESCO Creative Portal, ICESCO Roads for the Future, and ICESCO International Chairs Network for Thought, Heritage, Literature and Arts.

In his introduction, Dr. Abderrahman Tenkoul, Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the Euro-Mediterranean University, in Fez, highlighted the biographies of each speaker and their scientific achievements, noting the keenness of ICESCO to hold such intellectual meetings that discuss major issues and explore the future.

Ms. Youma Fall’s lecture focused on the centrality of the role of culture in contributing to the development of societies as part of human sciences that combine the creativity of society members, pointing to the need to promote diversity in order to valorize culture, artistic and creative innovations, and involve young people.

She also indicated that most African countries are striving to consolidate the values of cultural diversity, identity and coexistence given their role in solving differences and rejecting violence and intolerance, adding that thanks to cultural reform, countries can produce strong human capital and address many economic and social challenges.

For her part, Dr. Caroline Moricot highlighted in her lecture the emerging fields of social sciences in their relationship to the technological revolution, stressing that machines cannot be a substitute for humans and that the rapid development of artificial intelligence urges us to reconsider the concepts of creativity, culturally and socially.

She referred to some of her works and books in this field, which tackled the concept of robots, the development of space conquest, and the sciences and skills associated with the sociology of machines.

Afterward, a group of academics and researchers in the cultural field enriched the panel discussion.

At the end of the meeting, ICESCO Director-General presented a memorial shield to Ms. Youma Fall and Dr. Caroline Moricot in recognition of their efforts and contributions to the cultural field.