Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received a delegation from Arizona State University (ASU), headed by Amb. Maen Rashid Areikat, Advisor to the University President for the Middle East and North Africa, where they discussed ways to promote cooperation between the Organization and the University in areas of common interest.

The meeting was held on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, in the presence of David Thomas, Executive Director of the Milo Space Science Institute at ASU, and Prof. Brian MacCraith, Senior Advisor to the President of the University. During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik commended the cooperation between the Organization and the Milo Institute, within the framework of the agreement signed between the two parties in November 2022.

He also reviewed the main areas of focus of ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, which both adopt openness and cooperation with all parties for the benefit of the Member States and Muslim communities around the world, highlighting the initiatives, programs and projects the Organization is currently implementing in its areas of competence.

Moreover, the Director General stressed the Organization’s keenness to cooperate with universities, stating that it intends to create 100 scientific chairs at prestigious universities around the world by 2025. He further explained that a number of these chairs have already been established, some of which specialize in artificial intelligence, space science and other areas of modern technology.

For his part, Amb. Areikat commended ICESCO’s role in contributing to the efforts of capitalizing on modern technology to develop the fields of education, science and culture, stressing the University’s keenness to cooperate with the Organization in many programs.

The two parties discussed proposals for cooperation, especially in the fields of innovation, artificial intelligence, youth capacity building and scholarships. They also agreed to form a joint working team to prepare executive plans for several programs and projects, soon to be the subject of a cooperation agreement between ICESCO and Arizona State University.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of the Science and Environment Sector, and Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Sector Advisor.