Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, the Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Mathias Cormann, the Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The two officials discussed ways to strengthen partnership and enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest, chief of which are education and its quality assessment, as well as the arrangements for jointly organizing the conference on the Program for International Student Assessment “PISA,” in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, held on Friday 10 November 2023, at the OECD Headquarters in Paris, in the presence of officials from the two organizations, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the strategic partnership and fruitful cooperation between ICESCO and OECD since the signing of the memorandum of understanding, in November 2020, aiming to develop the education sector and improve education systems in the Islamic world. He also praised the joint initiatives and activities, particularly the PISA conference, held at ICESCO Headquarters, in November 2022.

The meeting also discussed details for implementing future programs between the two organizations in the field of education. This includes the arrangements for holding the “PISA” conference at the beginning of 2024, in the Republic of Azerbaijan, to assess education systems in the Islamic world, promote knowledge exchange, improve education systems’ quality, and find solutions to common challenges.
They also discussed efforts to keep up global requirements and develop education policies in Africa, bridging the glaring gap in educational systems between ICESCO Member States, and assisting them in developing their education systems by enhancing skills, building youth capacities, and developing their cognitive skills.

Mr. Mathias Cormann commended ICESCO’s efforts in its areas of competence and its outstanding collaboration with OECD, reviewing its implemented initiatives with a group of ICESCO Member States in the field of human resource development and strategic planning.
In conclusion, Dr. AlMalik presented the OECD Secretary-General with the ICESCO shield and invited him to be the guest of honor at the next session of the Conference of Ministers of Education in the Islamic world.