Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on Monday, 24 November 2025, on the sidelines of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), held in Doha. The two parties discussed ways to expand cooperation in the fields of higher education, scientific research, and capacity-building.

At the outset of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik expressed his deep appreciation to Mr. Nurbek and commended his country’s roles in promoting cooperation in educational and scientific fields at the Islamic and global levels, reviewing a number of ICESCO’s relevant programs and initiatives implemented in Member States, especially educational empowerment and teacher training programs. He also extended an official invitation to Mr. Nurbek to visit ICESCO headquarters in Rabat to learn more about the Organization’s future initiatives and programs.

For his part, the Minister shed light on the new higher education system in Kazakhstan and its success in attracting a number of world-class universities and enhancing the attractiveness of the Kazakh academic system. He pointed out that the Kazakh government provides 500 scholarships annually to young men and women from around the world. He expressed his country’s interest in collaborating with ICESCO to serve as a platform and trusted partner for selecting students to benefit from these scholarships. He also affirmed his Ministry’s keenness to strengthen its partnership with the Organization and develop joint programs that serve innovation, scientific research, and capacity-building in Member States.

The two parties agreed to launch a new program through which ICESCO will host a group of young Kazakhs, including bachelor’s and master’s students and researchers, to receive training and work within the Organization.