Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is set to host the meetings of the 44th session of the Executive Council of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and the second consultative meeting of the Organization from 16 to 18 January 2024. These meetings, organized by ICESCO and hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, will see the participation of delegations from the Organization’s Member States, as well as representatives from major regional and international organizations and bodies.

The ICESCO Executive Council agenda includes an inaugural session featuring speeches by Dr. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, President of the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science, and Culture, and President of ICESCO General Conference; Dr. Dawas Tayseer Dawas, Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, Chairman of ICESCO’s Executive Council; Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General; Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Bulahid, Secretary-General of the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science; Additionally, guests of honor Mr. Sergio Mujica, Secretary-General of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and Dr. Nicholas Peter, President of the International Space University in France, will also deliver speeches.

Moreover, the agenda will involve the award ceremony of the ICESCO prize for girls’ and women’s literacy to the 2023 edition winners. The prize is awarded to civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations working towards achieving women’s and girls’ literacy. It will also include a presentation on the Cultural Indicators for Islamic world countries, the signing of agreements between ICESCO and several international organizations and institutions, and working sessions to review reports on ICESCO’s achievements and activities of 2023, the Organization’s action plan and budget for 2024-2025, progress made in drafting the Islamic World Charter for Artificial Intelligence and the Metaverse, in addition to the periodic reports on the Organization’s work.

The second consultative meeting of ICESCO will precede the Executive Council session under the theme: “From Quality to Excellence: ICESCO’s New Strategy.” This meeting, which brings together the Organization’s General Directorate and representatives of the National Commissions for Education, Science, and Culture, aims to identify the priorities and needs of Member States, and devise action plans and programs that align with these priorities and needs. The Meeting will include a presentation on the challenges and opportunities facing the Islamic world, brainstorming sessions and idea generation with several themes, including “Let’s Shape ICESCO’s Future Together: The ICESCO You Want,” “Innovation in ICESCO’s Strategy,” “Major Global Events Affecting Member States,” “Building Scenarios and Formulating Common Strategic Directions for the Future of the Islamic World,” and “Inter-generational Dialogue.”