Monday, January 29, 2024, marked the launch of the first edition of specialized training sessions organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) at the Ecole Normale Supérieure (Higher School of Teachers) in Martil, Kingdom of Morocco. The training sessions, titled, “Promoting Scientific Research through Strengthening Scientific and Pedagogical Competencies of Ph.D. Students, Youth Researchers, and Professors,” are organized in collaboration with Mohammed V University in Rabat and Abdelmalek Essaâdi University in Tétouan, with the participation of several Moroccan and international experts.

The three-day, masterclass-style specialized training sessions, conducted both in-person and through videoconference, are part of the activities of ICESCO’s Open Education Chair “For Equitable Access to Comprehensive and Quality Education,” hosted by Mohammed V University in Rabat. This initiative aligns with ICESCO’s efforts to develop scientific research in its Member States in the fields of open education, open educational resources, open educational practices, open science, copyright, authorship, licenses, open data, and personal data protection.

During the opening of this first edition, which is expected to benefit all Moroccan universities throughout the years 2024-2025, Dr. Khalid Berrada, Director of Higher Education and Pedagogical Development at the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation of Morocco, Director of ICESCO’s Open Education Chair, commended the effective role of the Organization’s Chair in supporting the national plan to accelerate the transformation of higher education, scientific research and innovation in the Kingdom of Morocco. On his part, Professor Zouhaire Lamrani, Director of the École Normale Supérieure in Martil, highlighted the importance of these training sessions and their contribution to enhancing the scientific and educational skills of Ph.D. students and newly appointed professors.

Mr. Aziz El Hajir, Program Director at ICESCO’s Education Sector, highlighted the significance of ICESCO’s specialized scientific chairs in the various fields of education, and their role in enhancing the function of universities in the Islamic world and beyond and further developing applied educational research. Mr. El Hajir also lauded the Chairs’ positive impacts on bringing together higher education and modern technology, including supporting excellence and innovation through the integration of modern technology, open educational resources, and the use of artificial intelligence and its relevant services, in accordance with international standards, and in line with current scientific developments.