Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Khaled El-Anany, Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, and together they explored ways to promote cooperation between ICESCO and Egypt in the field of preserving and safeguarding heritage.
During the meeting, held on Sunday, September
26, 2021, in Cairo, the two parties reviewed the latest developments regarding
the preparations for holding the International Conference on Combating Illicit Trafficking
of Cultural Property and its Restitution, scheduled to be held in Egypt. Both parties
reaffirmed the importance of setting a date for such a major event that would ensure
the wider participation of countries most affected by this phenomenon. Both Dr.
El-Anany and Dr. AlMalik highlighted the significance of the conference in
countering the illicit trafficking of cultural property and ensuring its
restitution to their original countries.
The meeting also underscored the
importance of cultural tourism, which would likely contribute to creating job
opportunities and provide revenues that could in turn be used in preserving and
safeguarding heritage. The meeting also discussed the inscription of more
Egyptian heritage sites on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List.
At the close of the meeting, ICESCO DG
presented Dr. El-Anany with the Certificate of Inscription of the Nilometer on
the Islamic World Heritage List, as part of some of Egypt’s historic sites and
cultural elements on the List.
Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic
World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr.Hala
Helmy El-Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development of the Arab
Republic of Egypt, discussed the prospects of joint cooperation between ICESCO
and the Ministry in the field of entrepreneurship, through the Rowad 2030
project, and programs of training and capacity-building for women and youth
with future skills.
During the meeting, held on Sunday, September 26, 2021,
Dr. AlMalik commended the efforts made by the Ministry of Planning in the field
of training and capacity-building of youth and the initiatives the Ministry
launched, stating that their success is not limited to Egypt only, but positively
affects several African countries. He expressed ICESCO’s readiness to cooperate
with the Ministry in the field of entrepreneurship and dissemination of its
culture in the Member States.
ICESCO DG stressed that the Organization’s vision and
work strategy attach great importance to the capacity-building of youth and women
and encourage them to become entrepreneurs. He added that “the Organization, in
cooperation with several donor institutions, has achieved great success in
supporting this field in many African countries and in spreading a culture of
innovation in the countries of the Islamic world.”
Dr. Hala Helmy El-Said reaffirmed the Ministry of
Planning’s keenness to build fruitful cooperation with ICESCO in several
fields, particularly entrepreneurship. She also noted that the Rowad 2030 project
revolves around stimulating and enriching the culture of innovation and
entrepreneurship as it offers specialized qualification programs in cooperation
with local and global major universities.
Dr. Helmy El-Said, equally, expressed her desire to transfer
the project’s experiences to the countries of the Islamic world, to implement
and launch the “One Million Entrepreneurs” campaign for the benefit
of the Organization’s Member States and to make it available in four languages:
Arabic, English, French, and sign language.
At the end of the meeting, the Egyptian Minister of
Planning presented the Ministry’s shield to ICESCO DG.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the
Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and
Dr. Ghada Abdel Bari, Secretary-General of the Egyptian National Commission for
Education, Science and Culture, paid a visit to the new administrative capital
of the Arab Republic of Egypt on Saturday, September 25, 2021, to examine the
facilities prepared to host ICESCO’s General Conference and the Executive
Council in December 2021.
ICESCO DG also inspected the halls and facilities of
the Conference venue and took stock of the arrangements made to host Member
States’ delegations and the Organization’s General Directorate.
In this connection, Dr. AlMalik commended the
preparations and high-level arrangements made to host the proceedings of the
Organization’s Executive Council, as well as the General Conference which Egypt
is hosting for the first time in the Organization’s history.
Dr. Salim AlMalik,
Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (ICESCO), visited the National Museum of the Egyptian Civilization
in the Fustat area in Cairo, where he listened to a presentation from museum officials about the collection
of Egyptian civilization from all ages, notably the Royal Mummies’ Hall, which
includes the mummies of twenty kings and queens from ancient Egypt.
During the visit to the museum,
which is part of the activities of his visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt, Dr.
AlMalik was accompanied by Dr. Ghada Abdelbary, Secretary-General of the
Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture.
During the visit, ICESCO DG
expressed his admiration for the museum’s large collection of Egyptian Civilization
treasures from different ages. The
museum is the first of its kind in Egypt and the Arab world as it contains
fifty thousand artifacts that reflect the stages of the development of Egyptian
civilization, in addition to a presentation of the achievements of Egyptians in
various fields of life.
At the kind invitation of Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Chairman of the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), attended the meeting of the Supreme Council of Egyptian Universities, hosted at the University of Helwan, on Saturday, September 25, 2021.
Dr. Abdel Ghaffar started the meeting with an address, wherein he welcomed ICESCO DG and highlighted the potential areas of cooperation between the Egyptian universities, ICESCO and the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), explaining that Dr. AlMalik, FUIW Secretary-General, has a vision that will ensure a fresh start for the Federation. Afterward, Dr. Maged Negm, President of Helwan University, welcomed ICESCO DG and the heads of the participating Egyptian universities. Dr. Ghada Abdelbary, Secretary-General of the Egyptian National Commission, gave a presentation on ICESCO and the cooperation programs with Egypt, including the organization General Conference and Executive Council of ICESCO next December.
At the beginning of his address, Dr. AlMalik expressed his happiness to attend the meeting of the Supreme Council of Universities in the Arab Republic of Egypt, which is the hub of knowledge and scientific and cultural heritage, stressing that it is ripe time to modernize higher education and its structures. He underscored that “the 21st Century University must be in line with various changes to overcome the current challenges as digitization has brought about a profound transformation in learning and working methods, the mentalities of young people and students, and the environment and professions of today and tomorrow.”
Besides, Dr. Al-Malik called on the Egyptian universities that are not members of the FUIW to join the Federation to expand the scope of cooperation between universities in the Islamic World, especially on matters relevant to artificial intelligence, open science, remote education, and review of curricula to keep up with current changes.
In appreciation of his efforts to develop ICESCO and the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World, Dr. Abdel Ghaffar presented Dr. Al Malik with the shield of the Supreme Council of Universities. Dr. Negm also handed Dr. Al Malik the shield of Helwan University respectively in appreciation of his visit to the University and his participation in the meeting of the Supreme Council of Universities.
After the meeting, ICESCO DG toured the Arts and Culture Complex at Helwan University, which includes more than 2,000 various pieces of art. Dr. Ashraf Reda, CEO of the Complex, reviewed the history, establishment and collection of the Complex.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held a working session with Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, President of the National Commission for Education, Science and Culture of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and together explored the latest developments on promoting cooperation and the ongoing preparation for Egypt’s hosting of the Organization’s General Conference and Executive Council in December 2021.
During the meeting held, today, Saturday, September 25, 2021, in Cairo, in the presence of Dr. Ghada Abdel Bari, Secretary-General of the Egyptian National Commission, the two parties discussed the key programs and activities to be implemented in 2021-2022 in Egypt in cooperation between ICESCO and said Commission.
Moreover, the meeting discussed the latest preparations for ICESCO General Conference, to be held next December in Egypt for the first time in the history of the Organization. The Conference will see the participation of international personalities who will take part in the different activities to be held on the sidelines of the Conference.
The two parties also explored cooperation between Egyptian universities and the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), within the framework of the Federation’s new strategy and development plan.
Dr. Salim
M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), is taking part in the meeting of the
Supreme Council of Universities, in the Arab Republic of Egypt, at the
invitation of Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and
Scientific Research, Chairman of the Egyptian National Commission for
Education, Science and Culture.
ICESCO DG participates
in this meeting in his capacity as Secretary-General of the Federation of the
Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW). The meeting which is due to be held
on Saturday, September 25, 2021, at the Arts and Culture Complex, Helwan
University in Cairo, will focus on sharing expertise between the Egyptian
universities and the FUIW and inviting non-member Egyptian universities to join
the Federation.
This
meeting is part of the visit of ICESCO DG to Cairo, which will last from 24
until 27 September 2021, during which he will meet several senior Egyptian
officials to explore the prospects of cooperation between the two parties, the
activities ICESCO suggested to implement in Egypt in 2021-2022, and the preparations
for the General Conference and the Executive Council of the Organization that the
Arab Republic of Egypt will host on December 6-9, 2021.
The Headquarters of
the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO),
in Rabat, witnessed, on Thursday, September 23, 2021, the closing ceremony of the
ICESCO Program for Leadership Training in Peace and Security (LTIPS) for women
and youth. The meeting announced the code of engagement of ICESCO Youth Ambassadors
for Peace, and distributed certificates to members of the cohort from more than
20 countries, who are now official peace ambassadors of ICESCO.
The closing ceremony
of LTIPS, implemented in partnership with UNESCO Maghreb Office, the Conference
of Education Ministers of French-speaking Countries (CONFEMEN), the Conference
of Ministers of Youth and Sports of French-speaking Countries (CONFEJES), and
Luanda Conference brought together officials and ambassadors from various countries
and the representatives of a group of international organizations and bodies
both at ICESCO headquarters, in Rabat, and via videoconference.
In his opening
address, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), stressed that
peace is an essential component of the Islamic civilization, which is a
prerequisite for building a prosperous society. He underscored that “it is not
possible to build and form an active human capital capable of handling challenges
without peace and security.”
Dr. AlMalik also pointed
out that ICESCO has become a leading Organization in building peace and
security through building its multiple partnerships, and its strategy based on
integrating peace issues in the fields of education, noting that ICESCO’s LTIPS
aims to focus on the essential role of youth and women as builders of peace and
security in their communities.
Mr. Tun Musa bin
Hitam, former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, highlighted the importance of women
and youth training programs to form peace ambassadors who contribute to
building peaceful and secure societies, calling for cooperation between all
parties to alleviate the suffering of displaced people in conflict areas.
In a speech delivered
on his behalf by Dr. Mustapha Messaoudi, Secretary-General of the Ministry, Mr.
Othman El Ferdaous, Moroccan Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, commended
ICESCO’s initiative to train women and youth leaders as active parties in
building peace and citizenship. Dr. Faisal bin Muaammar, Secretary-General
of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and
Intercultural Dialogue (KAICED), called for intensifying cooperation to
implement similar training programs that promote a culture of peace and
security.
Mr. ElHadj As Sy,
Chairman of the Board of Kofi Annan Foundation, congratulated ICESCO on the
success of its training program, calling for concerted efforts to combat
violence. Dr. Abdel Rahmane Baba-Moussa, Secretary-General of CONFEMEN,
stressed the importance of improving the quality of education as an essential
way to build safe societies. Mr. Modibo Traoré, Deputy Secretary-General of CONFEJES,
indicated that the conference programs aim to consolidate the principles of
peace and social cohesion through sports activities.
Mr. Salah Khaled,
Director of UNESCO’s Regional Office for Central Africa, commended the ICESCO’s
program aimed at promoting peace and security through training youth and women.
Afterward, the code
of engagement of ICESCO Youth Ambassadors for Peace was read out in the three
languages of the Organization, which stipulates the commitment of the young
ambassadors to take the necessary measures to spread peace and security while
addressing all forms of violence and extremism, focusing on women and youth in
building peace, and refraining from promoting any political agenda or taking any political stance that would undermine the
efforts and missions of ICESCO and its partners.
During the ceremony, four
members of the 2021 cohort of the ICESCO training program received the Peace
Leadership Support Award, and 30 cohort members from more than 20 countries received
certificates of participation to officially become ICESCO Ambassadors for Peace.
At the close of the
ceremony, the winners of the Peace Leadership Support Award presented their
projects. Besides, the participants discovered the future stages of ICESCO’s
LTIPS program.
The
Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational Scientific and Cultural
Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, received the Ambassador of the
Italian Republic to Morocco, Mr. Armando Barucco. The meeting explored
prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Italy in the fields of education,
science and culture.
At the
outset of the meeting, held on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, at the Organization’s
headquarters in Rabat, ICESCO DG expressed his gratitude and appreciation to
the Italian government for the good organization of the G20 Interfaith Forum
2021, held in Bologna. The Ambassador, in his turn, stated that one of the
reasons for his visit to ICESCO is to thank Dr. AlMalik for his distinguished
participation in the Forum’s activities.
ICESCO DG reviewed the main axes of the
Organization’s vision and action strategy, stressing that ICESCO adopted an
open-door policy to all countries, international organizations, and bodies to forge
partnerships for the benefit of its Member States and Muslim communities around
the world. He also highlighted the Organization’s interest in civilizational dialogue
and its effort in anchoring the values of coexistence and peace and training
and building capacities for youth and women.
Dr.
AlMalik stated that safeguarding heritage and restoring cultural artifacts are
among the fields that have broad prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and
Italy. The latter is known for its ancient civilization, invaluable heritage
treasures, and distinguished expertise especially in utilizing modern technologies.
The
Italian ambassador to Rabat commended the roles of ICESCO, stressing his
keenness to build fruitful cooperation between the Organization and Italy, home
to a large Muslim community consisting of Muslim immigrants and others born
there. He also stated that Italy is currently working on the establishment of
an Islamic library in Palermo, which will be one of the largest Islamic
libraries in Europe.
The
meeting brought together several ICESCO’s heads of sector and department, who
gave presentations on the ongoing programs and projects of their sectors and
departments.
The participants in the International Webinar
on international assessments and their role in improving the quality of
education stressed the importance of these international assessments and tests
for drawing lessons to improve education systems and support the relevant policies
and initiatives in the Islamic world.
The webinar
that the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(ICESCO) and the Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC), in Saudi
Arabia, held via videoconference, on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, under the
title “How International Large-Scale Assessments from the Past 20 Years can
Inform Policy and Practice: Global Lessons to Improve Education Quality,”
witnessed the participation of high-profile education officials from many
countries, as well as international experts in education and international
assessments.
In his address
at the opening session, Dr. Khalid Bin Abdullah Al-Sabti, Chairman of ETEC
Board of Directors, indicated that education has become the key factor in the economy,
adding that modern technology requires the positive interaction of individuals and
further national projects to develop high-quality educational systems to
prepare young people for the labor market.
Dr.
Al-Sabti noted the importance of the “Human Capacity Development
Program” that Saudi Arabia has launched for developing an educational base
for all citizens, providing lifelong learning opportunities, and meeting the
future labor requirements. He underlined that “cross-country comparisons are
among the advantages of international assessment studies. They can serve as
incentives to enhance education quality and achieve better results.”
In his address,
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), stressed that education
plays a pivotal role in building the future and constitutes the driving force
for progress and security in societies, and cohesion among individuals. He
added that international assessments are essential tools for evaluating
education systems and a key indicator for assessing students’ skills and performance
in basic subjects. Dr. AlMalik also underscored that “ICESCO is keen on ensuring
the participation of the largest number of countries in the Islamic world in
international assessments taking into account that the Organization intends to
conduct studies on the international assessment data of each Member State to
ensure better education.”
ICESCO DG pointed
out the need to reconsider educational systems from a forward-looking
perspective to develop educational policies and programs in line with
international standards of quality and excellence, and adopt technology and
artificial intelligence in schools of the future to contribute to the
sustainable development in Muslim countries.
The first session
touched upon how international student assessments like PISA and TIMSS can
inform policy and practice to improve education quality: key learning from
international assessments over the last 20 years. The second session reviewed
the international models from Portugal, Chile, Estonia, and Poland to present evidence
from countries that have improved in terms of their performance in
international assessments, to understand how they have utilized the data that
they collect from international assessments for evidence-based policymaking.
In the
third session, the participants explored the participation of ICESCO Member
States in international assessments to determine the common factors that affect
students’ achievement and performance scores, through examples from Saudi
Arabia, Malaysia, Azerbaijan, and Morocco. The closing session discussed the
future roadmap for developing educational policy and improving the quality of
education based on the results of international assessments.
