With the participation of a host of deans, professors, and doctoral researchers, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) launched the first session of its series of “Doctoral Research Symposia: ICESCO Strategies for New and Sustainable Cultural Policies in the Islamic World,” in partnership with the Euro-Mediterranean University in the Kingdom of Morocco. The series aims to exchange sound proposals and draw on the Organization’s expertise to develop more effective strategies in the fields of cultural industries and creative economies.

During the launch, held at the University’s headquarters on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of ICESCO’s Culture Sector, stressed the need to review cultural strategies in the Islamic world, pointing to the lack of accurate indicators to measure cultural growth and performance in the Member States.

He explained that this work will support ICESCO’s efforts in this field by conducting studies and research aimed at addressing the shortcomings observed in cultural management within the Islamic world, especially when compared to the tangible progress made by cultural policies in the West and Asia.

The series of symposia came to fruition thanks to the close cooperation efforts between the Organization’s Culture Sector and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Euro-Mediterranean University of Fez (UEMF), within the framework of the ICESCO Chair for Arts, Sciences, and Civilizations hosted by the university.