Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), attended the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Organization and Cambridge University Press & Assessment (a department of the University of Cambridge) on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat. The agreement aims to strengthen educational systems in ICESCO Member States through the development and implementation of a range of activities and programs in the fields of education, green education, and modern technology.

The MoU was signed on behalf of ICESCO by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General, and on behalf of the University of Cambridge by Professor Bhaskar Vira, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Environmental Sustainability, at the University of Cambridge, in the presence of several ICESCO officials and members of the university delegation.

The memorandum provides for the development of joint programs aimed at strengthening educational systems in ICESCO Member States and their outcomes, building the capacities of staff working in government institutions and education specialists, cooperating in the implementation of initiatives to develop green education curricula, contributing to the alignment of national curricula and the promotion of educational practices in accordance with international standards, as well as exchanging knowledge to foster innovation in education and consolidating constructive dialogue with countries of the Islamic world.

Following the signing ceremony, the two sides held an expanded meeting during which Dr. AlMalik affirmed that the technical expertise of the University of Cambridge, combined with ICESCO’s in-depth knowledge of the needs and priorities of its Member States, would contribute to the development of a number of programs and projects with tangible impact in the fields of education, science, culture, and innovation.

The Director-General reviewed ICESCO’s strategic plan for the Education Sector, which is based on the principles of inclusiveness and integration, noting that the Organization adopts an open approach aimed at building partnerships with institutions, universities, and research centers from within and beyond the Islamic world.

For his part, Professor Vira emphasized the importance of exchanging expertise between the two sides to develop education and promote innovation so that educational systems can keep pace with the challenges of the modern era, particularly in light of the changes the world is witnessing across various fields.

The two sides agreed to explore ways and mechanisms to establish a joint scholarship program between ICESCO and the University of Cambridge for the benefit of students from the Organization’s Member States, in addition to conducting a case study on ICESCO’s success story as an innovative organization in its fields of action.

The meeting was attended on behalf of ICESCO by Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Head of the Translation and Publishing Center; Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Head of the Director-General’s Office and Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector; Dr. Adel Smeda, Supervisor of the Science and Environment Sector; Dr. Waqas Afridi, expert in the Education Sector; and Ms. Faizah Alaoui, expert at the Foresight and Artificial Intelligence Center.