Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council, to discuss prospects for cooperation between the two parties in developing technical and vocational education and training, implementing advanced training programs for Palestinian students, and expanding the refugee program targeting girls’ education to include conflict-affected countries.

During the meeting, held on Monday, 20 May 2025, in London on the sidelines of the 21st session of the Education World Forum (EWF), both sides expressed their aspiration to build a strategic partnership through the implementation of a wide range of innovative programs and initiatives in the educational field for the benefit of ICESCO Member States.

Dr. AlMalik invited Mr. McDonald to visit ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat to gain a closer understanding of the Organization’s working mechanisms and its most prominent initiatives and programs across Islamic world countries, and to explore the possibility of jointly implementing several of these key activities.

In attendance from ICESCO were Ms. Haddy Jatou Sey, Head of the Education Sector, along with sector experts Ms. Faizah Alaoui and Mr. Waqas Afridi. Representing the British Council were Ms. Maddalaine Ansell, Director of Education, and Ms. Alexandra Balafrej, the Council’s representative in Morocco.