Al-Farabi Kazakh National University has awarded an honorary doctorate to Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in recognition of his efforts and initiatives in the fields of education, culture, and science, as well as his role in reviving Islamic heritage and highlighting the contributions of scholars of Islamic civilization to the advancement of human knowledge.
With this distinction, Dr. AlMalik becomes the first Arab to receive an honorary doctorate from the University, which has previously bestowed this distinction upon several heads of state, scholars, and intellectuals in recognition of their outstanding contributions to humanity.

Following the honorary doctorate award ceremony, Dr. AlMalik delivered a lecture attended by the University Rector, several members of its Academic Council and faculty, and a large audience of master’s and doctorate students. His lecture explored the intellectual legacy of Abu Nasr Al-Farabi and the insights it offers into the relationship between knowledge and virtue, while underscoring the fundamental responsibility of education in shaping individuals and building the future.

Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed that this recognition from a university bearing Al-Farabi’s name, in the very land where he was born, was a source of profound pride and renewed responsibility towards a legacy that has illuminated human thought for more than eleven centuries. He also commended the University’s role in ensuring the continued relevance of this legacy through scientific research and the education of future generations.

He noted that honoring the scholars of Islamic civilization derives its true value from transforming their ideas into a source of inspiration for researchers and turning their achievements into a driving force for knowledge production and addressing contemporary challenges. In this regard, he highlighted ICESCO’s mission to connect scientific heritage with new horizons of innovation and to consolidate human values throughout the development process.

Dr. AlMalik concluded by emphasizing that the best way to honor Al-Farabi’s legacy is to educate generations who draw from his wisdom the courage to think and embrace their responsibility to contribute to human civilization. He stressed that the greatest contribution a university can make to the future is to nurture individuals who put their knowledge at the service of humanity.