Category: Director General

The pavilion of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), set at the Kazan Expo International Exhibition Center on the sidelines of the “Russia-Islamic World” International Economic Forum, continues to present its diverse program of meetings and seminars. Additionally, the Organization’s high-level delegation, led by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), continues to participate in sessions covering all activities held during this international event, which is organized by the Strategic Vision Group “Russia-Islamic World” and hosted by the Republic of Tatarstan over the period of May 14 – 19 , 2024.

ICESCO and the Ministry of Youth Affairs in the Republic of Tatarstan held a session on Thursday, May 16, 2024, under the theme: “Cultural Components and Traditional Values in Child Upbringing,” as part of the activities of the 10th Kazan Forum for Young Entrepreneurs from Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The Session was attended by Dr. AlMalik, Mr. Timur Suleymanov, Aide to the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, Mr. Rinat Sadykov, Minister of Youth Affairs, and Ms. Irada Ayupova, Minister of Culture. Rich discussions took place concerning the challenges faced by youth when making pivotal decisions in their lives, highlighting the shared role of modern technologies across various cultures in the upbringing of children and youth.

In addition to managing the meetings and seminars organized by ICESCO’s pavilion to highlight the Organization’s vision pillars and its strategic orientations, as well as the initiatives, programs, projects, and activities it implements to serve its member states and Muslim communities around the world. Moreover, ICESCO’s delegation members participated in various sessions to represent the Organization at all activities held on the sidelines of the Forum. Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor in the Science and Environment Sector, participated in several sessions that were held at the 10th Kazan Forum for Young Entrepreneurs from OIC Member States, attended by a number of young entrepreneurs hailing from Islamic world countries and owners of leading projects in innovative industries. Dr. Sharif showcased the Organization’s efforts in supporting youth in the fields of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Abdullah Al Mulhim, expert at ICESCO’s Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, participated in the sessions of the 8th Young Diplomats Forum for OIC Member States, focusing on Russia as one of the global centers for Islamic education. He presented ICESCO’s visionary approach to building the capacities of youth and training them for leadership towards peace and security.

The Second ICESCO Ministerial Conference on the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) kicked off today, Monday, May 13, 2024. The Conference is organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in collaboration with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in Baku, Azerbaijan. It aims to discuss the results of the 2022 PISA program, exchange experiences and best practices, and address challenges in the field, with the participation of over 40 representatives from relevant educational bodies in ICESCO Member States.

At the outset of the Conference, which is being held both in-person and via video conferencing over two days, Mr. Emin Amrullayev, Azerbaijani Minister of Education and Science, delivered a welcoming speech emphasizing the importance of the Conference’s topic in advancing educational systems and formulating effective policies, highlighting Azerbaijan’s efforts in enhancing the quality of education to align with international assessments.

In his address, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, reaffirmed that the Conference is a testament to the Organization’s steadfast commitment to supporting progress and excellence in educational fields in its Member States, and leading joint action to achieve the fourth goal of sustainable development (SDG 4), which aims to ensure an inclusive and equitable quality education and to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Furthermore, Dr. AlMalik noted that the PISA program, which aims at assessing students’ competencies in various fields including reading, writing, mathematics, and science, saw the participation of 81 countries in 2022, including 10 ICESCO Member States, and its results showed a significant decline in student performance, necessitating intensified efforts by decision-makers and specialized educational authorities.

In the context of emphasizing the role of educational system development in the prosperity and economic advancement of societies, Dr. Al Malik outlined ICESCO’s proposed solutions to the decline in students’ performance according to PISA assessments. The list of proposals starts with raising awareness of the Program’s importance in the Islamic world and establishing a strong network of educational assessment experts in the Member States to meaningfully participate in the Program’s development. He also highlighted the Organization’s keenness to prioritize the proposals and recommendations emanating from participants in the Conference.

For his part, Mr. Andreas Schleicher, Director for the Directorate of Education and Skills at OECD, touched upon the importance of teacher training and enhancing their skills, anchoring collaboration with parents and guardians in the learning process, and improving teaching quality in schools.

In the session dedicated to the skills of the future, Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of ICESCO’s Center for Foresight and Artificial Intelligence, highlighted that the world is experiencing a massive demographic surge that requires the deployment of foresight, modern technologies, and artificial intelligence in educational and scientific fields.

Meanwhile, Dr. Koumbou Boly Barry, Head of the Education Sector at ICESCO, highlighted the Organization’s efforts to contribute to building a better future through advancing education in the Islamic world.

The Conference’s working sessions addressed the results of the 2022 PISA program, discussed the future of the performance and skills of students in the assessments, and examined the development of teacher competence and educational practices.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met Ms. Mabrouka Toughi Othman, Libyan Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, to discuss cooperation between ICESCO and Libya in the cultural field and ways for its development, in light of the celebration of Benghazi as Culture Capital in Islamic World.

During the meeting, held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Tripoli, on the sidelines of the closing session of the International Conference on Translation of Meanings of Holy Qu’ran, Dr. AlMalik stressed ICESCO’s keenness to ensure the success of the celebration of Benghazi as Culture Capital in Islamic World, in cooperation with all competent Libyan authorities, indicating that the Organization’s Programme for Culture Capitals in Islamic World aims at publicizing the ancient heritage and cultural capital of cities, and turning them into tourist destinations.

ICESCO DG commended the great development in relations between the Organization and Libya during the past period, and the country’s keenness to significantly strengthen cooperation with ICESCO over the coming period.

For her part, the Libyan Minister of Culture stressed the strong cooperation between all Libyan parties to ensure the success of the celebration of Benghazi, indicating that the Supreme Committee of the Celebration prepared a diverse program, in coordination with ICESCO, featuring many events and activities that highlight the cultural and civilizational history of the city.

Moreover, the meeting touched on the latest developments in the ongoing cooperation programs and activities between the two parties, and the future project proposals. The two parties agreed to strengthen coordination to organize the celebration.

The International Conference on Translation of Meanings of Holy Qur’an, which spanned three days, concluded its proceedings on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The Conference was organized by the Institute of the Holy Quran in Tripoli, Libya, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development in Libya, and with scientific sponsorship from the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).

At its close, the Conference announced the opening of a Center for the Translation of the Meanings of the Holy Qur’an, and issued a series of recommendations, chief among which was the call to establish an observatory for translating the meanings of the Holy Qu’ran.

The closing ceremony saw the attendance of a large number of distinguished officials, scholars, and researchers from Muslim and non-Muslim countries, including Ms. Mabrouka Toghi Othman, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development in Libya, and Mr. Nasr Al-Din Al-Fazani, Minister of Tourism and Traditional Industry in Libya.

In his speech at the ceremony, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), commended Mr. Mohamed al-Menfi, President of the Libyan Presidential Council, for agreeing, during their meeting prior to the Conference, to launch an initiative to establish and fund a center for the translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an. Dr. AlMalik then added that the Board of Directors of WICS in Libya had agreed to finance this project as part of its cooperation with ICESCO.

Moreover, Dr. AlMalik thanked Libya, its leadership, government, and people, as well as the Institute of the Holy Quran in Libya, for organizing this Conference, which serves the Holy Qu’ran by facilitating the understanding of its true meanings for All. The Director-General also emphasized the weight of this responsibility and the challenges it faces, calling in this regard for the establishment of a global institution that rallies the Islamic world and harnesses its significant collective capabilities and resources in service of the Book of Allah.

At the close of the conference, the speakers praised the meticulous organization of this momentous event and the recommendations that rose from it, which serve the dissemination of more accurate and clear translations of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an, helping non-Arabic speakers understand the Book of Allah correctly. Furthermore, they appreciated the roles of ICESCO and its initiatives in this regard, foremost among them being the “Read it to Understand it” initiative, which aims to confront the pathetic attempts made by some extremists to hurl offense at the Holy Qur’an by burning copies of it.

At the Ceremony’s conclusion, certificates of appreciation were presented to the participants, and ICESCO DG received a commemorative shield from the Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development of Libya.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Saleh Salim Al-Fakhri, Chairman of the Steering Committee of the World Islamic Call Society (WICS), held a meeting at the latter’s headquarters in Tripoli, Libya, to discuss ways to elevate cooperation to new heights, through the implementation of joint programs and projects across the Islamic world countries.

At the outset of the meeting on May 8, 2024, attended by the Board of Directors and Heads of Departments of WICS, Dr. AlMalik stressed ICESCO’s keenness to significantly enhance cooperation between the two sides in the forthcoming period, in order to serve the Islamic world in the fields of common interest. Furthermore, he reviewed key programs and projects implemented by ICESCO in its Member States under its new vision and strategic directions.

Dr. Al-Fakhri commended ICESCO’s contributions to education, science, and culture in its Member States and the broader Islamic world. He also expressed his desire to deepen cooperation with the Organization particularly through the implementation of quality programs.

Moreover, the meeting discussed the progress of programs, projects, and activities being implemented between the two sides. It was mutually agreed to enhance their cooperation by launching a series of programs and projects across Islamic world countries. These initiatives will be overseen by ICESCO, with funding managed by WICS. The establishment of the International Center for the Translation of the Meanings of the Holy Quran will mark the initial outcome of this cooperation.

It was also agreed upon that a delegation from WICS would visit the headquarters of ICESCO in Rabat, during the next month to discuss future cooperation projects and to draft new cooperation agreement

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Mansur Muhtar, Vice President of Operations at the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, held a meeting to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and the Bank. The goal of the meeting is to push the cooperation towards new horizons through the joint implementation of a number of initiatives, programs, and projects in areas of mutual interest, which will be included in a partnership agreement soon to be signed by both parties.

Dr. AlMalik opened the meeting, held on Monday, April 29, 2024, in Riyadh, by congratulating the IsDB Group and its Chairman, Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, on the success of the Bank’s golden jubilee celebration, marking 50 years since its establishment, as well as the success of the Bank’s annual meetings, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between April 27 and 30, 2024. He praised the workshops organized during these meetings, and the distinguished speakers and participants throughout the sessions.

Dr. AlMalik reviewed the key elements of the Organization’s new vision and its strategic directions, as well as its initiatives, programs, and activities being implemented during the Meeting, which was attended by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector at ICESCO, Dr. Dinara Guliyeva, Expert at the same sector, and Mr. Salah Jelassi, Director of Partnerships, Global Advocacy, and Resource Mobilization at the IsDB Group, along with several officials from the Bank’s team.

Moreover, the Meeting discussed proposals for practical programs and projects for cooperation between ICESCO and the Bank to meet the needs of Islamic world countries in the fields of education, science, culture, as well as social and economic development, with a focus on vulnerable groups. The discussions also touched upon preparing the new generations to adapt to the changes happening in today’s world and future-proofing their professional skills.

For his part, Dr. Mansur Muhtar commended ICESCO for the significant roles it plays in serving the Islamic world in its areas of expertise, and for implementing programs and projects together with its international partners. IsDB Vice-President of Operations also reaffirmed his institution’s keenness to upgrade cooperation with the Organization.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed upon continued coordination, in addition to holding expert meetings to devise an action plan for joint cooperation between ICESCO and the Bank over the upcoming period. Furthermore, emphasis was placed on the importance of ICESCO’s participation in the Bank’s annual meetings, and the attendance of representatives from the Bank at conferences and activities carried out by the Organization.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan and President of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29). They discussed ways to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and Azerbaijan to ensure the success of COP29, which Azerbaijan will host in the capital Baku in November 2024.

During the Meeting, held today, Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, in Baku, on the sidelines of the 6th edition of the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, organized by ICESCO in collaboration with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and several international organizations, both sides expressed their commitment to contribute to the excellence of COP29, which is of great importance in light of the world’s climate changes that require intensified international efforts to develop strategies to address the risks threatening natural resources and food security.

ICESCO DG emphasized the importance of youth participation in this major international event, explaining that the Organization can collaborate to ensure greater attendance of Islamic world countries at COP29, as well as representatives of ICESCO’s partner bodies and institutions worldwide, to enrich the Conference’s discussions and scientific sessions.

The Meeting also discussed ICESCO’s participation in the Conference and the provision of a special pavilion for the Organization in the blue zone, reserved for accredited participants, world leaders, media, and observers, to contribute to enhancing ICESCO’s presence and promoting its environmental work.

The Azerbaijani minister, for his part, affirmed his country’s keenness, as well as that of the authorities responsible for COP29, to facilitate all logistical and technical procedures for ICESCO’s participation in this event.

At the closing of the meeting, it was agreed to continue coordinating between the two teams formed at ICESCO and the ministry to follow up on the arrangements for participation in COP29 and the activities to be implemented by the Organization at the Conference.

Attending the Meeting from ICESCO’s side were Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Hesham El-Askary, Advisor to the DG.

The Sixth World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue kicked off in Baku, Azerbaijan, with the participation of His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and high-level representatives from 110 countries. The Forum, co-organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), UNESCO, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is themed ” Dialogue for Peace and Global Security: Cooperation and Interconnectivity.”

In his opening remarks, H.E. President Aliyev commended the international organizations involved in organizing the Forum, highlighting the contributions of the distinguished participants in developing new methodologies to address major issues in the international agenda. H.E. President Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan has always been a crossroads of cultures throughout history thanks to its strategic location between the East and West, which added to the Azerbaijani society’s cultural richness and ethnic diversity, and its commitment to tolerance, coexistence, respect, and partnership.

In his address, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of ICESCO, emphasized the Organization’s openness to all in light of its forward-looking vision and strategic orientations in an international and regional context that calls for practical solutions to resolve conflicts through strengthening the foundations of culture and dialogue and urging regional and international research centers to adopt reliable standards in issuing information and analysis on which policies are based. Dr. AlMalik added that the state of peace and degree of security are two reliable standards that reassure people to look forward to a better future.

Dr. AlMalik commended the efforts of the Republic of Azerbaijan, its President, government, and people and expressed his gratitude to H.E. President Aliyev for his efforts to promote dialogue among nations. Dr. AlMalik stressed the importance of the Forum in a world that is still regressing at the level of security and coexistence. Dr. AlMalik reviewed statistics showing that 2023 recorded the highest rates of deteriorating security and escalating conflicts internationally, with 183 armed conflicts, a 28% increase in violent incidents, 800 million people below the poverty line, a decline in the number of teachers, and 459 armed groups whose activities provoke humanitarian concerns, with 195 million people living under their full or partial control.

Furthermore, Dr. AlMalik lauded the outcomes of the “Baku Process” and the several events being held in Baku, expressing pride in the distinguished partnership between the Organization and Azerbaijan, to be reinforced by the upcoming activities of celebrating Shusha as the Culture Capital of the Islamic World for 2024. Dr. AlMalik reviewed a set of ICESCO programs in this regard and stated that the two sides have identical views of the cultural and civilizational scenes as they have the same aspirations and understanding of global dialogue.

For his part, Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, called for joint efforts to achieve peace and stability globally and for greater solidarity and complementarity among civilizations and cultures to resolve conflicts. Mr. Moratinos stressed the need to intensify dialogue to stop wars and affirmed that the alliance of civilizations is a crucial step in preserving human dignity and a moral duty that guarantees the protection of human rights.

Following the opening session, the Forum’s three-day working sessions began with the participation of a high-level delegation from ICESCO, including Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnership and International Cooperation Sector, Ambassador Khalid Fath Al-Rahman, Director of the Civilizational Dialogue Center, Dr. Weber Ndoro, Director of the Center of Heritage in the Islamic World, Dr. Hesham El-Askary, Advisor to DG, and Musallim Afandiyev, Expert in the Partnership and International Cooperation Sector.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) held a meeting to discuss the outputs of the Knowledge Index Report of 2023, as well as initiatives to improve Muslim countries’ rankings in the upcoming Index reports.

The meeting was held on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat and saw the participation of a number of ICESCO’s experts and heads of sectors and departments, in addition to a host of Member States’ representatives who took part in the meeting via videoconference. The meeting discussed the Knowledge Index data in the Islamic world and explored ways to improve the region’s performance in the annually issued Index.

In his address at the meeting, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), highlighted the Organization’s close cooperation ties with the Foundation and the UNDP, a cooperation focused on exploring effective ways to improve the rankings of ICESCO Member States in the Knowledge Index. The DG also stated that this meeting aims to define the indicators in the Member States and work closely to identify strengths and weaknesses to contribute to their improvement and development.

Dr. Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF), gave an overview of the Foundation’s goals and mission to support knowledge in the Arab and Islamic worlds, highlighting key initiatives implemented by the Foundation and its international partners to anticipate the future of knowledge and develop future skills.

He also emphasized the centrality of this meeting in the process of introducing some ICESCO Member States to the Knowledge Index, and supporting other countries to rank higher in this Index, given its significance in their economic and developmental progress.

Moreover, the meeting featured a presentation by Dr. Hani Turki, Director of the Knowledge Project at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), who discussed the Knowledge Index in ICESCO’s Member States for 2023. His presentation focused on the States’ achievements, the strengths and weaknesses of their data, the clear gap among them in this regard, and issues related to data collection and availability in some countries.

Afterwards, the parties discussed the report findings, the methods used to process and verify them, as well as the role of National Commissions in pooling efforts to control the quality of data sent to international institutions and organizations, and ensure their accuracy and the use of proper tools to assess data and derive diagnostic and analytical studies.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Ms. Hanan Hanzaz, Special Representative of the DG of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for the Arab Region, to explore ways of developing cooperation between the two organizations in areas of common interest.

At the outset of the meeting, held on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at ICESCO’s headquarters, in Rabat, Ms. Hanan Hanzaz conveyed the greetings of Mr. Gerd Müller, UNIDO DG, as well as his invitation to Dr. AlMalik to visit the Organization’s headquarters, in Vienna, to hold a bilateral meeting at the earliest convenience, and attend the upcoming UNIDO General Conference, due to be held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in 2025.

For his part, ICESCO DG welcomed the invitation to visit UNIDO’s headquarters, stressing his keenness to develop and enhance cooperation between the two parties through practical and impactful programs and projects, the results of which will be presented during the UNIDO General Conference, in Riyadh, in 2025.

Dr. AlMalik pointed out that ICESCO has been developed and modernized during the past five years through its new vision, strategic orientations, organizational structure and working mechanisms, adding that the Organization adopts an open cooperation approach with international organizations to promote the integration of roles in such a way as to serve Member States. He also reviewed the key initiatives, programs and projects that ICESCO has implemented in its areas of competence.

The meeting touched on future cooperation proposals, especially on vocational education and training, building the capacities of youth and women to acquire the necessary skills for tomorrow’s professions, and supporting entrepreneurship, innovation and artificial intelligence.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to continue coordination and hold expert meetings to develop joint cooperation programs, which will be included in an agreement to be signed by the two Organizations based on a specific implementation program.