Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received a high-level delegation from Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University (PMU) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, headed by the University President, Dr. Issa Al Ansari. The meeting resulted in an agreement to build a strategic partnership between the two sides in the fields of knowledge, artificial intelligence, space sciences and their applications, as well as in promoting the standing of the Arabic language globally.

During the meeting, held on Monday, 8 September 2025, at ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat, in the presence of several leaders and heads of sectors and centers at the Organization, Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s vision and new strategic directions, which focus on innovation, capacity-building, fostering a culture of foresight, and leveraging artificial intelligence in the fields of education, science, and culture.

ICESCO’s leaders delivered a presentation on the most prominent initiatives and programs launched in recent years to support Member States and enhance the Organization’s standing internationally.

Dr. Al Ansari underscored the University’s notable achievements in education, scientific research, and innovation, highlighting pioneering projects carried out both locally and internationally that have established it as one of the region’s foremost universities.

The meeting discussed a set of proposed joint cooperation projects, including: an international conference on artificial intelligence and its ethics; ICESCO’s training workshop on designing an educational satellite (CanSat) at PMU in its next session; ICESCO’s participation in the Maarifa Program launched by PMU, which focuses on publishing and translating valuable books; as well as foresight studies serving the future of the Islamic world.

To support cooperation, Dr. Al Ansari announced the allocation of scholarships for students from Islamic countries to study at PMU, to be coordinated through ICESCO.

For his part, Dr. AlMalik expressed appreciation for this gracious initiative and the promising opportunities it offers for complementarity between the two sides, affirming that the partnership between ICESCO and PMU will soon be reflected in the form of joint projects and qualitative initiatives that will benefit the Islamic world.