Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Ms. Lolwah Al-Khater, Minister of State for International Cooperation in the State of Qatar, and together explored ways to promote cooperation between ICESCO and Qatar and enhance their joint programs in the fields of education, science and culture.
At the outset of the meeting, held on Wednesday, 17 May 2023, at the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Doha, Dr. AlMalik, commended Qatar’s unwavering support to several ICESCO initiatives and projects, notably the regional educational center in Chad and the Chair for the Alliance of Civilizations at the Qatar University, stressing the importance of capitalizing upon Qatar’s accomplishments in hosting the 2022 World Cup to foster educational and cultural progress.
ICESCO DG reviewed the Organization’s vision, strategic orientations and major ongoing programs, laying particular emphasis on those aimed at developing youth capacities, empowering women, advancing education, and promoting the role of sports in fostering development and peace, as well as anchoring principles of coexistence and civilizational dialogue.
The meeting touched upon cooperation between ICESCO and Qatar, particularly in the areas of supporting innovation, technology and girls’ education in Afghanistan, and the importance of inscribing Qatar’s historical sites and cultural elements on ICESCO’s lists of heritage in the Islamic world.
For her part, Ms. Al-Khater underlined Qatar’s keenness to foster cooperation with ICESCO through the joint implementation of a range of projects and initiatives.
Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Head of ICESCO’s Civilizational Dialogue Center and Mr. Salim Al Habsi, Program Manager at ICESCO’s General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences, attended the meeting.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Ms. Lolwah Al-Khater, Minister of State for International Cooperation in the State of Qatar, and together explored ways to promote cooperation between ICESCO and Qatar and enhance their joint programs in the fields of education, science and culture.
At the outset of the meeting, held on Wednesday, 17 May 2023, at the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Doha, Dr. AlMalik, commended Qatar’s unwavering support to several ICESCO initiatives and projects, notably the regional educational center in Chad and the Chair for the Alliance of Civilizations at the Qatar University, stressing the importance of capitalizing upon Qatar’s accomplishments in hosting the 2022 World Cup to foster educational and cultural progress.
ICESCO DG reviewed the Organization’s vision, strategic orientations and major ongoing programs, laying particular emphasis on those aimed at developing youth capacities, empowering women, advancing education, and promoting the role of sports in fostering development and peace, as well as anchoring principles of coexistence and civilizational dialogue.
The meeting touched upon cooperation between ICESCO and Qatar, particularly in the areas of supporting innovation, technology and girls’ education in Afghanistan, and the importance of inscribing Qatar’s historical sites and cultural elements on ICESCO’s lists of heritage in the Islamic world.
For her part, Ms. Al-Khater underlined Qatar’s keenness to foster cooperation with ICESCO through the joint implementation of a range of projects and initiatives.
Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Head of ICESCO’s Civilizational Dialogue Center and Mr. Salim Al Habsi, Program Manager at ICESCO’s General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences, attended the meeting.
The Center of Strategic Foresight of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in a workshop on economic modeling in the Arab countries, held by the Institute of National Planning, headquartered in Cairo, in cooperation with the Arab Planning Institute, with the participation of experts, academics and specialists from various fields, to exchange experiences and knowledge in the field of economic modeling, foresight issues, decision-making and long-term development strategies in the Arab countries.
The two-day workshop, which concluded its proceedings on Sunday (May 14, 2023), aimed to provide an intellectual and knowledge platform to discuss development plans and strategies in several fields, particularly economics, public policy, social sciences and development studies. In his intervention, Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of ICESCO Center of Strategic Foresight, highlighted the relationship between the areas of economic modeling and foresight, long-term development strategies and the challenges associated with foresight, which hinder the resilience of societies in crisis.
The representative of ICESCO reviewed the ability of societies today to anticipate, adapt and develop flexible mechanisms for collective success, pointing to the potential offered by strategic foresight in the field of economic modeling to enhance the resilience of societies, achieve sustainable growth, and guide Muslim countries to take effective economic decisions and develop adequate policies in the future.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Mohsen Yahya Talib Abu Bakr, President of the Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Yemen, and his high-level delegation, as part of their visit to the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, at ICESCO’s headquarters, in Rabat.
At the outset of the meeting, held on Monday (May 8, 2023), in the presence of Ambassador Ezzedin Al-Asbahi, Ambassador of Yemen to Morocco, Dr. AlMalik stressed the great interest that ICESCO attaches to cooperation with the Republic of Yemen, especially in the fields related to youth capacity-building and enhancing their leadership and entrepreneurship skills, pointing out to the major programs that ICESCO intends to implement in Yemen, in cooperation with several donors and coordination with the Yemeni authorities concerned, most notably the project on countering girls’ school dropout and enhancing the educational system in Yemen.
For his part, Mr. Mohsen Yahya appreciated the partnership between ICESCO and Yemen, particularly amid the current situation in Yemen, commending the Organization’s great role in supporting its Member States in the fields of education, science and culture, in line with the priorities and needs of each country.
After the meeting, Dr. AlMalik took Mr. Abu Bakr and his delegation on a tour of the pavilions and sections of the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, during which they listened to detailed explanations about the exhibition and the modern display technologies, which narrate and document in detail the biography of our Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him.
During the tour, the delegation learned about the initiative of ICESCO, the Muslim World League and the Mohammadia League of Scholars to organize the exhibition, in Rabat, as its first edition outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
On Thursday (May 4, 2023), the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hosted the second edition of the program “International Thinkers Guests of ICESCO,” through a large intellectual meeting organized by ICESCO International Think Tank for Thought, Literature, Heritage and Arts, and ICESCO Chair at the Euro-Mediterranean University, in Fez, Kingdom of Morocco. The event witnessed rich discussions about the relationship between culture and the development of societies and the relevant impact of technological developments.
The meeting, which saw the presence of Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, included a lecture by Ms. Youma Fall, Minister Adviser to the President of the Republic of Senegal, in Charge of Culture, on the role of culture in achieving sustainable development and the efforts of African countries in this field. Dr. Caroline Moricot, Professor of Sociology at the University of Paris I – Pantheon-Sorbonne, gave the second lecture on the importance of integrating artificial intelligence in the cultural field to answer questions related to the future of generations.
In his intervention, Dr. Mohammed Zine El Abidine, Head of ICESCO Culture and Communication Sector, reaffirmed that the Organization seeks, in the context of the current global transformations, to promote culture and keep up with these transformations. He also reviewed the major programs and activities of ICESCO in the cultural field, most notably ICESCO Creative Portal, ICESCO Roads for the Future, and ICESCO International Chairs Network for Thought, Heritage, Literature and Arts.
In his introduction, Dr. Abderrahman Tenkoul, Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the Euro-Mediterranean University, in Fez, highlighted the biographies of each speaker and their scientific achievements, noting the keenness of ICESCO to hold such intellectual meetings that discuss major issues and explore the future.
Ms. Youma Fall’s lecture focused on the centrality of the role of culture in contributing to the development of societies as part of human sciences that combine the creativity of society members, pointing to the need to promote diversity in order to valorize culture, artistic and creative innovations, and involve young people.
She also indicated that most African countries are striving to consolidate the values of cultural diversity, identity and coexistence given their role in solving differences and rejecting violence and intolerance, adding that thanks to cultural reform, countries can produce strong human capital and address many economic and social challenges.
For her part, Dr. Caroline Moricot highlighted in her lecture the emerging fields of social sciences in their relationship to the technological revolution, stressing that machines cannot be a substitute for humans and that the rapid development of artificial intelligence urges us to reconsider the concepts of creativity, culturally and socially.
She referred to some of her works and books in this field, which tackled the concept of robots, the development of space conquest, and the sciences and skills associated with the sociology of machines.
Afterward, a group of academics and researchers in the cultural field enriched the panel discussion.
At the end of the meeting, ICESCO Director-General presented a memorial shield to Ms. Youma Fall and Dr. Caroline Moricot in recognition of their efforts and contributions to the cultural field.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Ibrahim Adam El Dukhiri, Director-General of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, and together discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two organizations in areas of common interest and the terms of the cooperation agreement due to be signed between the two parties.
During the meeting, held on Wednesday (May 3, 2023), at ICESCO Headquarters, in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s keenness, within the framework of its open vision and strategic orientations, to conclude smart partnerships with various parties for the benefit of its Member States and Muslim communities around the world, pointing to the importance of using modern technology to achieve agricultural development and address climate change challenges.
“The organization strives to contribute to the development of scientific research and innovation in many fields, including the agricultural sector and water resources management in the Member States,” he added.
For his part, the Director General of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development commended the roles played by ICESCO to serve its Member States, expressing his happiness with the fruitful cooperation between the two organizations, which has already begun through joint activities with several Member States of the two organizations.
The meeting also discussed the arrangements for signing the cooperation agreement, which experts from the two parties are currently finalizing.
Under the royal patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication in the Kingdom of Morocco and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) concluded the activities of Rabat Celebration as Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022, in an outstanding ceremony held at the Mohammed V Theater in the Moroccan capital after a year of distinguished activities.
The ceremony took place on Monday, May 1, 2023, with the presence of high-profile Moroccan government officials, ambassadors accredited to the Kingdom, public figures, writers, thinkers, artists and the general public.
The ceremony, organized by the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, in coordination with ICESCO, kicked off with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by the national anthem of the Kingdom of Morocco.
In his address, Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, stated that after a year of distinguished cultural and artistic activities, the closing of Rabat Celebration as Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022, is an occasion to highlight the efforts aimed at making Rabat a metropolis at the international level.
He commended the great cooperation between the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication and ICESCO, which resulted in the organization of several activities as part of the celebration of Rabat as Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022, as well as the inscription of 27 Moroccan heritage elements on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage Lists.
The Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication concluded his address by expressing his gratitude to all parties who contributed to the success of this celebration, congratulating the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on ICESCO’s declaring Nouakchott as Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2023.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director General, began his address by commending the beautiful and calm city of Rabat, describing it as a cultivated city, where its history is a book, its present is a word and its future is sciences surpassing horizons as millions of radiant stars shining with tales of heritage and science.
He noted that Rabat did not only win the honor of the title of Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022, but also the hosting of the International Museum and Exhibition of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization at ICESCO Headquarters, which was inaugurated by His Royal Highness Prince Moulay El Hassan, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Morocco, may God protect him, and was visited by nearly one-and-a-half million visitors in five months. As a result, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, approved the extension of this great scientific event for another six months.
ICESCO Director General reviewed several key activities held during the celebration of Rabat as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World, which amounted to 260 activities, and announced that the city of Marrakech will be the Culture Capital of the Islamic World for 2024.
He expressed his thanks and gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, may God assist him, and to His Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Moulay El Hassan, and to the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, and all Moroccan ministries, institutions, bodies, associations and individuals, who did not hesitate to contribute to this celebration.
After Dr. AlMalik concluded his address with some poetic verses that he composed in appreciation and honor of the peaceful city of Rabat, a documentary film was screened documenting the key stages of Rabat Celebration as Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022, as well as the most important activities that were organized over the year.
After that, an art show entitled: The Journey of the Poet Abu Al-Hassan Al-Shushtari began with the participation of the artists Samira Al-Qadri, Said Belkadi, Karima Skalli, and Bahaa Ronda who performed some of his poems and muwashshahs, accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra conducted by the artist Samir Tamim, and the Andalusian Music Choir conducted by Mr. Amin Al-Dubbi, with the participation of the artist Rachid Zeroual, and the musician Mustafa Matar from Lebanon.
Dr. Salim Al-Malik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group. The two parties discussed a number of issues of common interest, namely expanding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2030) to embrace broader areas and keep pace with the changes taking place in the world.
During the meeting, held on Thursday (April 20, 2023) in New York, with the presence of Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of the Science and Technology Sector at ICESCO, Dr. Mohamed Sharif, Advisor in the Sector, and assistants to the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the most prominent programs and projects implemented by ICESCO geared at supporting women and entrepreneurship, building youth capacities, and training them in leadership for peace and security.
He also reviewed the Organization’s participation in the World Climate Summit, which was held in Sharm el-Sheikh, as well as its active participation in the United Nations Education Transformation Summit in New York.
ICESCO DG pointed out the Organization’s action in the field of modern technologies, and the importance of including them in education and in SDGs, in which technology is not adequately present.
The meeting also touched upon the importance of including culture in SDGs.
The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations invited ICESCO to participate in the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development Goals, due to be held in September 2023 in New York.
The two sides also discussed ways to support and promote education, science and culture in Afghanistan, which was recently visited by the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.
At the end of the meeting, Dr. Al-Malik invited Ms. Amina Mohammed to visit ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, and the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, whose first edition outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is being hosted by the Organization, in partnership with the Muslim World League and Muhammadia League of Scholars. ICESCO DG presented her with a commemorative shield bearing the Organization’s logo.
Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and his accompanying delegation, held a series of high-level meetings in Colorado, USA, in conjunction with their participation in the 38th Space Symposium, organized by the US Space Foundation.
The Director-General held talks with senior officials at several American and international institutions on ways to promote cooperation between the Organization and these institutions in areas of common interest.
Dr. AlMalik met with Ms. Diane Primavera, Lieutenant Governor of Colorado State, where they discussed prospects of cooperation in providing training opportunities and scholarships at Colorado-based universities for students and researchers from ICESCO Member States, in addition to cooperating in several programs and projects in the fields of education and science.
The Director-General also held a meeting with Mr. David Thomas, Executive Director of the MILO Space Science Institute, in the presence of Mr. Lon Levin, Chairman of the Institute’s Advisory Board.
The two parties discussed prospects of cooperation between the Organization and the Institute, through setting up an educational digital platform for space sciences, creating capacity building programs for workers in the field, promoting student exchange, and organizing a conference on university innovation.
Likewise, the ICESCO delegation met with Mr. Lars Hoffmann, Vice President of the Aviation and Defense Company “Blue Origin,” and together discussed the mechanisms for building partnership relations to provide training opportunities for young people from the Islamic world in the fields of modern technology, industry and aviation.
The delegation also held a meeting with Dr. Pascale Ehrenfreund, President of the International Space University in France, and together discussed cooperation prospects between ICESCO and the University in promoting scientific research in the field of space sciences and its applications, through the establishment of an ICESCO chair at the International Space University, and signing an agreement on providing scholarships for students and researchers from ICESCO Member States.
Lastly, the delegation, headed by Dr. AlMalik, met with Mr. Rod Drury, Vice President of Lockheed Martin for Space, where they discussed ways to promote cooperation in raising awareness of the need to invest in the field of space science in the ICESCO Member States, jointly organizing a number of conferences and seminars on modern technology, providing training opportunities for young people from the Islamic countries, and co-establishing the ICESCO Center for Space Sciences.
The meetings were attended by Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of the Science and Technology Sector, and Dr. Muhammed Sharif, Advisor at the Sector.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW) launched the third edition of the Open Education Development Program in FUIW Member Universities. The program session, which was held on April 19, 2023, in-person at ICESCO headquarters and via videoconference, is aimed at enhancing the capabilities of over 120 research professors from 40 universities in 22 countries in designing open educational resources and using them to carry out teaching activities.
In a video-recorded address, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG) and FUIW Secretary-General, underscored the importance of promoting awareness and training in the field of open education by harnessing the current technological revolution which offers tremendous opportunities in the fields of education and learning.
He emphasized that ICESCO is committed to facilitating accessible education through the integration of advanced technology to benefit both students and faculty members. This commitment aims to achieve high-quality education and foster a knowledge-based economy in member states in light of the recent advancements in artificial intelligence and the widespread adoption of the Internet.
Faculty members and researchers from universities and institutes of higher education in Togo, Yemen, Pakistan, Maldives, Libya, Palestine, Tunisia, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Azerbaijan, Mauritania, Nigeria, Algeria, Brunei Darussalam, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Sierra Leone, and Morocco are taking part in this program session.
Participants will benefit from a three-month online training facilitated by international experts in the field of open education. This training is designed to enhance their skills and promote the implementation of best practices in universities, as well as facilitate cooperation with international institutions to leverage their expertise and resources. Upon completion of the program session, participants will receive training certificates to acknowledge their achievements.
