Category: Director General

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met Dr. Said bin Mohammed al-Bar’ami, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Kingdom of Morocco, to discuss cooperation between ICESCO and the Sultanate in the fields of education, science and culture.

During the meeting, held on Thursday, October 14, 2021, at the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Rabat, Dr. Al-Malik expressed his deep appreciation for Oman’s valuable support to ICESCO. He also reviewed a set of projects and programs that ICESCO launched and implemented for the benefit of Member States, in general, and the Sultanate of Oman, in particular, as well as the future programs to be implemented in smart partnership with the competent authorities in the Sultanate of Oman.

For his part, Mr. Al-Bar’ami stressed the importance of the relationship with ICESCO, indicating the willingness of the Omani authorities to support ICESCO’s projects, particularly the forward-looking and civilizational ones.

The two parties agreed to implement an action plan that reflects the scale of the relationship between ICESCO and the Sultanate of Oman.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Sylver Aboubakar Minko Mi-Nseme, Ambassador of Gabon to Morocco. The two parties discussed the outcomes of Dr. AlMalik’s and ICESCO delegation’s official visit to Gabon on October 4-7, 2021, and the latest developments concerning joint programs and activities explored and agreed upon with senior Gabonese officials.

At the beginning of the meeting, held at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, the DG expressed his appreciation to the Gabonese Government for the warm reception during his visit to Gabon and the fruitful meetings with the Prime Minister and other Gabonese ministers, which culminated in an audience with the President of the Gabonese Republic, His Excellency Mr. Ali Bongo, at the Presidential Palace in Libreville.

Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed that the joint programs and activities discussed during the official visit will be shortly implemented, noting that a delegation of experts from the ICESCO Culture Sector will visit Gabon in a few days to organize a training workshop for heritage professionals on preparing nomination files for the inscription of heritage sites and cultural elements on heritage lists. He added that another delegation from ICESCO Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers will visit Gabon to agree on the establishment of a regional center for Arabic teaching in Gabon.

For his part, the Ambassador of Gabon in Rabat thanked ICESCO Director-General for his visit to Libreville, emphasizing that it marks a new beginning for cooperation between Gabon and ICESCO. This partnership received significant attention from officials who are keen to engage constructively with the Organization in various fields.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties stressed the importance of sustained communication between ICESCO and Gabonese stakeholders to identify their priorities and needs and devise programs and activities accordingly to achieve the intended outcomes of the partnership.

ICESCO Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers held a meeting with the Moroccan National Coalition for Arabic Language, to discuss prospects for cooperation in implementing an array of programmes and activities in the field of teaching Arabic for non-Arabic speakers.

During this meeting, held on Thursday, October 7, 2021, at ICESCO headquarters, in Rabat, the two parties discussed the importance of joint action in advancing the Arabic language and enhancing its global status. They also considered the implementation of various joint programmes, most notably international symposia and training workshops for Arabic language teachers, as well as the publication of specialized studies in the field of teaching Arabic for non-Arabic speakers.

The two parties agreed on a set of administrative procedures to jointly develop the action plans and prepare a draft memorandum of understanding.

The meeting brought together Dr. Majdi Haji Ibrahim, Head of ICESCO Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, and Dr. Youssef Ismaili, Expert at the Center; as well as Dr. Fouad Bou Ali, President of the Coalition, and Fatima Houssaini, Vice-President of the Coalition.

The Coalition is a non-governmental private coordination unit bringing together over 300 associations involved in the promotion of Arabic. The Coalition seeks to coordinate among stakeholders to highlight the role of Arabic in consolidating civilizational and religious identity.

His Excellency Mr. Ali Bongo, President of the Gabonese Republic received Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, at the Presidential Palace in Libreville, in the presence of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Education, the Chief of Cabinet, and several advisors in the Presidential Cabinet.

At the outset of the meeting, the Gabonese President welcomed ICESCO DG, commending the Organization’s keenness to build fruitful cooperation with the Gabonese Republic in its fields of competence as part of the Organization’s development and modernization.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the main programs and activities of the Organization in light of its new vision and strategy underpinned by greater communication with the Member States to identify their priorities and needs and devise programmes and implementation plans accordingly.

The DG noted that ICESCO launched and implemented various initiatives and programmes to support its Member States in facing the negative reverberations of the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in the African countries which receive special priority.

Dr. AlMalik then briefed the Gabonese President on the areas of cooperation between ICESCO and Gabon, which were explored during his meetings with the Prime Minister and other Gabonese ministers, as well as the programmes aimed at young people, girls and vulnerable groups.

The meeting also touched upon multiple cooperation proposals, such as the organization of Member States’ First Ladies Conference on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment, jointly between ICESCO, the Gabonese Ministry of Social Affairs, and Silvia Bongo Foundation, which is chaired by the First Lady of Gabon.

The meeting also reviewed multiple initiatives, including the establishment of an Arabic language teaching center in the Gabonese Republic, and the implementation of a training program for Gabonese Imams, in cooperation with the Gabonese Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, and ICESCO’s partners, most notably the Muslim World League and Mohammadia League of Scholars.

The meeting was the culmination of the DG’s official visit to the Gabonese Republic, during which he met with senior officials and agreed upon developing cooperation ties between ICESCO and the Gabonese Republic in different fields through the joint implementation of practical programs and activities with the Gabonese competent parties.

The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, met Mr. Patrick Mouguiama-Daouda, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, Technology Transfer and National Education, President of the Gabonese National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, to explore the outcome of high-level bilateral meetings of Dr. AlMalik with senior Gabonese officials during his official visit to Libreville.

During the meeting, held on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, the two parties explored the mechanisms for implementing the mutually agreed upon partnership programs and activities, through cooperation and coordination between ICESCO and the Gabonese National Commission for Education, Science and Culture as the official focal point to follow up on this matter.

The two parties agreed to cooperate to counter the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the educational system in Gabon, establish a number of ICESCO research chairs in the Gabonese universities in the areas of social development and traditional knowledge promotion, consolidate and integrate the values of peace, coexistence and dialogue in educational curricula and encourage the use of technology and artificial intelligence applications in education.
At the end of the meeting, the Gabonese Minister presented to ICESCO DG the Encyclopedia of Traditional Medicinal Knowledge, as a model of scientific research efforts in this field.

The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, met the Gabonese Health Minister, Mr. Guy Patrick Obiang Ndong, to explore the prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Gabon in scientific research and support projects for doctors and researchers in the health and social sectors.

During the meeting, held today, October 6, 2021, at the headquarters of the Health Ministry, in Libreville, Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s key programs and activities in the health, humanitarian and social fields within the framework of its new vision and action plan.

The two parties agreed to organize a set of ICESCO’s medical, educational and cultural caravans in Gabon and grant research scholarships to Gabonese researchers in the health and social fields. They also agreed to cooperate in the development of scientific research and the use of artificial intelligence in the health sector and hold training sessions for Gabonese doctors on the fields of action, various applications, and technologies as well as the challenges and issues related to artificial intelligence.

For his part, the Gabonese Health Minister reaffirmed that the Ministry is keen on cooperating with ICESCO in programmes and projects related to the health and humanitarian field. He also commended the Organization’s role in this regard.

The meeting also brought together Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of ICESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector; and Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Adviser to ICESCO DG for Partnerships and International Cooperation.

The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, met the Minister of Economy of the Gabonese Republic, Ms. Nicole Jeanine Lady Roboti, to explore ways to develop cooperation between ICESCO and Gabon in supporting and financing projects for young and women entrepreneurs to achieve economic and social development.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Economy in Libreville, Dr. AlMalik commended the development of Gabon and the efforts of the Ministry of Economy in implementing successful development policies. ICESCO DG also reaffirmed that the Organization gives priority to the African Member States through implementing the necessary projects and programmes and recruiting experts and managers from the African Member States.

Dr. AlMalik pointed out that ICESCO is working diligently, within its new vision, to be a civilizational beacon and a house of expertise to promote artificial intelligence and advanced technologies in its Member States, adding that Africa will remain a top priority for ICESCO.

The Minister of Economy of Gabon expressed her happiness to cooperate with ICESCO and design development policies to improve the lives of Gabonese citizens through supporting projects aimed at building capacities and training women and youth on leadership, artificial intelligence and modern technology.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Mr. Michel Menga M’Essone, Minister of Culture and Arts in Gabon, explored prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Gabon in the field of culture and heritage.

The meeting held on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at the National Museum in Libreville, capital of Gabon, is part of the official visit of ICESCO DG to Gabon to explore ways to promote cooperation between the Organization and Gabon in the next period.

At the outset, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the major activities and programs that ICESCO carries out in the cultural field and addressed the Organization’s efforts to safeguard heritage in cooperation with the countries of the Islamic world. He added that the Islamic World Heritage Committee exerts serious efforts to inscribe historic sites and heritage elements on the Islamic World Heritage List, inviting Gabon to submit its nomination files for the countries’ tangible and intangible heritage.

For his part, the Gabonese Minister hailed the roles the Organization plays in the cultural sector and reaffirmed the Ministry’s keenness to build solid cooperation with ICESCO, describing the DG’s visit as the first step towards strengthening these relations.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed on a Ministry delegation’s visit to ICESCO’s headquarters to meet with the officials and experts of the Sector of Culture and Communication to explore the arrangements for implementing several initiatives and programs in Gabon. These include training Gabonese officials and professionals on preparing nomination files for heritage inscription, organizing workshops and symposia in Gabon under the supervision of ICESCO’s experts, virtually displaying the collections of the National Museum of Gabon on “ICESCO Digital Home”, and co-organizing specialized conferences and forums.

Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Director of the Sector of Social and Human Sciences, and Dr. Ahmad Said Bah, Advisor to ICESCO DG for Partnerships and International Cooperation, attended the meeting.

Following the meeting, ICESCO DG toured the National Museum of Gabon and took note of its collections, artifacts and heritage halls, especially the natural heritage of the world-renowned medicinal plants.

The headquarters of Baku State University, in Azerbaijan, hosted the training workshop that the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) holds, in cooperation with Baku State University and Azerbaijan’s National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, to introduce young people to Instrumentation and reverse engineering tools.

The workshop consists of multiple theoretical and applied trainings introducing the participants to hardware components and the use of their various sensor systems, microcontrollers, and data processing methods. During the opening ceremony, held on Monday, October 4, 2021, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), participated with a video speech. He emphasized the importance of this theoretical and practical training workshop in building the skills of young people, stressing the need for investment in human capital through training sessions aimed at training people on the use, repair and maintenance of modern scientific tools.

The DG also noted that the modernization of research centers is vital to respond to the economic needs of the Islamic world.

“ICESCO, in light of its new vision, will spare no effort in supporting the development of the scientific research sector in its Member States given that the countries with advanced research laboratories and highly qualified human capital are resilient to crises and disasters as witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic” underlined Dr. AlMalik.

For his part, Mr. Elchin Babayev, President of Baku State University, commended the successful strategic partnership between ICESCO and Azerbaijan, stressing his keenness to enhance prospects for cooperation in areas of scientific research, innovation and technology, and the dissemination of knowledge.

In his address, Mr. Vasif Eyvazzade, Secretary-General of Azerbaijan’s National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, commended the outstanding partnership between ICESCO and Azerbaijan in the Organization’s fields of competence, stressing the importance of the jointly implemented programs in trainings and capacity building for young people.

In his speech at the opening session of the four-day workshop, Dr. Fouad El Ayni, Expert at ICESCO’s Science and Technology Sector, reaffirmed the importance of the training workshop in building capacities and optimizing the performance of research centers, stressing the Organization’s unfailing willingness to help countries of the Islamic World better leverage modern technologies to achieve sustainable development goals.

In recognition of teachers’ crucial position and roles and in a bid to highlight their noble mission, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) celebrates World Teachers’ Day, a suitable occasion for highlighting their achievements and putting forth forward-looking visions to promote their roles, not only to develop the educational process and ensure its quality but also to improve societies and build great human civilizations.

The fourth development goal is undoubtedly a key goal that seeks to ensure equitable and inclusive quality education for all. However, such an objective cannot be attained without the pivotal role of qualified teachers who can shape creative and innovative minds. The vital role of teachers glaringly materialized during the COVID-19 pandemic as they fought to mitigate the impact of the health crisis on the educational process. Against this backdrop, competent parties must empower teachers, provide them with adequate professional qualification and training, accord due attention to their well-being, and offer incentives as well as material, moral and psychological support.

Anticipating the future of education in the post-COVID-19 context foretells that schools will inevitably change, and they will be replaced by digital schools of the future. This change compels us to invest in teacher training to build their skills and capacities to keep pace with technological and educational advancements. The teacher of the future needs skills to deal with crises, proactive future thinking, critical and creative thinking, teamwork, learning, evaluation, follow-up, remote communication using modern technologies and AI applications.

On World Teachers’ Day, ICESCO reiterates its call for guaranteeing the right to education and achieving quality, equitable and inclusive education for all, by focusing on marginalized groups, especially girls and women, who are at the heart of ICESCO’s concerns and the motive for proclaiming 2021 as the Year of Women. It is high time for all governments and competent parties to shoulder their responsibilities and assumes their roles towards teachers, through providing training opportunities, ensuring their safety and good health, and improving their working, living and social conditions. All these measures would most likely encourage teachers to give more, work harder and contribute more effectively to the promotion of educational systems.

Hence, ICESCO calls for more investment in modern technologies, employing artificial intelligence applications in the educational process, and attaching great importance to training teachers to use them. In conjunction with this celebration, the Organization launched the ICESCO Prize for Open Digital Educational Resources in Service of the Continuity of the Educational Process, which aims to secure the continuity of educational services by capitalizing on ICTs, encourage educational innovation and competitiveness, and highlight the competencies and creative abilities of various educators.