Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, President of the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND), Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Open University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, along with his accompanying delegation. The two parties discussed prospects of cooperation between ICESCO, AGFUND, and the University in areas of common interest.

The Meeting, held on Monday 16 October 2023, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, explored prospects of cooperation between ICESCO and AGFUND in areas such as women empowerment, enhancing early childhood education, and building the capacities of youth in peace and security. Discussions also focused on the mechanisms of cooperation between ICESCO and the Arab Open University in the fields of open education, blended learning, and youth capacity development.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the Organization’s efforts and the updates it underwent in the context of its vision and strategic orientations. The Director-General also provided an overview of ICESCO’s Federation of Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), and shed light on its objectives and initiatives, including the “My Thesis in 1000 Words Award,” aimed at enhancing students’ communication skills and encouraging them to improve their scientific theses’ presentation skills. He stated that the Organization is working to provide scholarships for students and organize conferences and seminars in the fields of education and scientific research.

Similarly, Dr. AlMalik stressed that ICESCO attaches great importance to the development of open education programs in Member States’ universities. This includes the establishment of the ICESCO Chair for Open Education at Mohammed V University in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, in addition to the development program for open education at the FUIW Member Universities, to build the capacities of professors in designing and utilizing open educational resources in their educational activities.

For his part, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud commended ICESCO’s efforts in the field and presented the objectives of AGFUND and its Arab Open University, which adopts teaching techniques based on blended learning to reach all categories, especially the disadvantaged ones by promoting open resources.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to continue working on strengthening cooperation and partnership between ICESCO, AGFUND, and the Arab Open University in the coming period to launch joint programs, especially in the field of youth support, educational system development, and the adoption of open education initiatives and practices in the Islamic world.

Shortly after the meeting, Dr. AlMalik accompanied His Royal Highness and his accompanying delegation on a tour of the International Exhibition and Museum for the Seerah and Islamic Civilization, currently housed at ICESCO Headquarters, as part of the strategic partnership between the Organization, the Islamic World League, and the Mohammedia League of Scholars. The delegation received detailed explanations about the Exhibition and Museum sections, which utilize modern presentation techniques to narrate and document, in detail, the Seerah of our noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.