Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Azzedine El Midaoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation in Morocco, on Thursday, 13 August 2026, to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the Organization and the Ministry in youth capacity building, education system development, and the integration and use of artificial intelligence technologies in Moroccan universities.

During the meeting, held at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to empowering youth and women and strengthening their leadership and creative capacities by attracting outstanding talent and developing a range of programs and projects to enhance their skills in education, science, and culture across its Member States. He also highlighted the far-reaching transformations the Organization has undergone in recent years, positioning it as an innovative institution recognized by one of the world’s leading international organizations in the field of innovation.

Dr. AlMalik commended the Ministry’s efforts to modernize the way universities and educational institutions operate in Morocco, stressing ICESCO’s readiness to work together on initiatives in higher education and scientific research.

For his part, Dr. El Midaoui underscored the importance of cooperation between government institutions and international organizations in promoting the use of modern technologies in higher education. He also emphasized the need to involve universities in modernizing education systems to keep pace with technological developments.

He further commended ICESCO’s efforts to support countries across the Islamic world in advancing their goals in science and innovation.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Head of the Director-General’s Office and Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector; Dr. Yergaliyev Kuanysh, Head of the Science and Environment Sector; and Dr. Issam Karimi, Expert in the same Sector.