Category: Director General

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received today (Thursday, February 17th, 2022) at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Ambassador Yasser Mostafa Othman, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Kingdom of Morocco, and discussed ways and means of strengthening the outstanding cooperation relations between ICESCO and Egypt in the fields of education, science and culture.

At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik reiterated his thanks to H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi for sponsoring and inaugurating ICESCO’s 14th General Conference, hosted by Egypt on 8-9 December 2021, and for his initiative to grant 100 scholarships to students from the Islamic world in Egyptian universities. He also thanked the Egyptian government, represented by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Chairman of the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, as well as all the officials of the Commission, for the good organization of ICESCO’s Executive Council and General Conference in Cairo, and for the generous hospitality extended to the delegations participating in these two events.

The Director-General also congratulated Egypt’s Ambassador on the beginning of his mandate in the Kingdom of Morocco, wishing him every success.

Dr. AlMalik reviewed the main programs implemented by the Organization, within the framework of its new vision and strategic orientations based on openness and cooperation with all stakeholders for the benefit of Member States and Muslim communities worldwide. He underscored ICESCO’s interest in promoting the culture of foresight, promoting the values of peace, civilizational dialogue and coexistence, and strengthening the capacities of women and youth. He also urged Member States to invest in space sciences and sustain the efforts geared to benefit from the capabilities offered by modern technologies and artificial intelligence applications, with a view to achieving sustainable development.

The meeting touched also upon the main cooperation programmes between ICESCO and Egypt in the Organization’s fields of action, notably the celebration of Cairo as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022, which was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cairo’s celebration this year coincides with the celebration of the Moroccan capital Rabat as Culture Capital, and is part of the development of ICESCO’s program of Culture Capitals in the Islamic World, which offers opportunities for exchange and organization of joint activities between the two capitals.

For his part, the Egyptian Ambassador affirmed his country’s strong support for ICESCO and its Director-General, in recognition of the pioneering role played by the Organization in presenting the correct image of Islam, which reflects the greatness and evolution of this noble religion, particularly through science, culture, arts and literature. He also stressed the desire of the Egyptian government to maintain constructive cooperation with ICESCO.

Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General (DG )of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, today, Wednesday, February 16, 2022, Mrs. Saulekul Sailaukyzy, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Morocco, who presented her credentials as a permanent representative for her country to ICESCO.

The meeting explored aspects of cooperation between ICESCO and Kazakhstan in the Organization’s field of action and reviewed the key programs that were implemented recently in cooperation between the two sides, such as youth training program on setting up and developing start-ups in the field of technology and innovation and the agreement with the Space Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan to cooperate in the field of publicizing science space culture for new generations.

The two sides discussed several future proposals for cooperation between ICESCO and Kazakhstan, especially training workers in the field of safeguarding heritage and how to prepare files for inscribing historical sites and cultural elements on heritage lists. The meeting also touched upon coordination between Kazakhstan which this year celebrated as Cultural Capitals in the Islamic World to participate in the activities of these festivities and introduce the Kazakh culture.

At the conclusion of the meeting, ICESCO DG reaffirmed the Organization’s eagerness to develop its cooperation with Kazakhstan, within the framework of the Organization’s new vision and strategy, which adopts an approach of communication with Member States competent authorities to identify their priorities and needs and design appropriate programs and activities for each country.

For her part, Ambassador Saulekul Sailaukyzy confirmed that she will develop this cooperation, as a permanent delegate of Kazakhstan to ICESCO, commending the roles ICESCO plays in its fields of competence.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Mr. Michael Cutts, Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, discussed prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Australia in the fields of education, science and culture.

During this meeting, held on Wednesday (February 16, 2022), at ICESCO headquarters, in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s new vision and action strategy, which seek to promote cooperation and partnerships with all parties, including non-Member States, to serve the Organization’s Member States and Muslims communities around the world. “ICESCO has adopted a new Charter of Observer States to ensure further cooperation and exchange experiences with the Member States in the Organization’s areas of competence,” underlined Dr. AlMalik.

ICESCO Director-General reviewed some of the future initiatives, programs and activities of ICESCO within the framework of its strategic orientations, explaining the Organization’s pursuit to contribute to inclusive and quality education for all, promote the culture of foresight, consolidate the values ​​of peace, coexistence and civilizational dialogue, build the capacities of women and youth, support the efforts of Member States in the fields of technology and innovation, urging them to invest in space sciences and artificial intelligence to benefit from technological applications for achieving sustainable development.

The meeting discussed a set of cooperation proposals in many fields, including education, to provide scholarships for students from Muslim countries, especially in space sciences and artificial intelligence, promote civilizational dialogue, preserve the environment, and provide humanitarian aid to the neediest Member States.

For his part, the Australian Ambassador expressed his happiness at visiting ICESCO headquarters, praising the Organization’s outstanding achievements in its fields of competence, stressing Australia’s willingness to build fruitful cooperation with ICESCO.

The meeting also brought together Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, Dr. Barry Combo, Head of Education Sector, Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of Science and Technology Sector, and Ambassador Khaled Fath Al-Rahman, Director of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue.

The Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a meeting with representatives of several universities, institutes and colleges offering education in arts, theatre and music in the Islamic world. The meeting aimed at discussing arrangements for launching the Network of Theatre, Film and Performing Arts Training Institutions in FUIW Member Universities, which seeks to foster cooperation among faculties, institutes and colleges, and promote exchange among students and researchers.

The meeting took place on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at Hassan I University in Settat, Morocco, and via videoconference. The parties reviewed the educational experiences of participating universities, institutes and colleges and explored avenues of cooperation to ensure the success of the Network of Theatre, Film and Performing Arts Training Institutions in FUIW Member Universities.

Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General (DG) and FUIW Secretary-General began the meeting with welcoming remarks, noting that the Network is part of the Draft Statute of the Leagues of Parallel Faculties. This project is geared towards promoting linkages among Member Universities and developing joint scientific and research plans that would facilitate exchange among researchers and students.

ICESCO DG added that this project aims to enhance cooperation among colleges, institutes and schools offering education in theater, cinema and performing arts in FUIW Member Universities, achieve convergence of visions, and standardize relevant terminology. The Network also seeks to encourage the creation of specialized research centers and foster cooperation with peer colleges and institutes in international universities.

For her part, Dr. Khadija Essafi, President of Hassan I University, emphasized that arts play an instrumental role in education by creating harmony among students, honing their skills, increasing their self-confidence and igniting their creativity and developing their critical thinking skills. “Digital transformation offers unprecedented possibilities for interaction and artistic exchange. This made it necessary for universities to lay greater focus on arts, which is the overarching objective of the Network,” added Dr. Essafi.

Dr. Omar Halli, Advisor to ICESCO Director-General for the FUIW, stressed that the Network will serve as a link between theatre, film and performing arts training institutions and students in the Islamic world. The Network will unleash students’ artistic potential in various areas of specialization and have a positive impact on societies.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Ms. Jumana Suleiman Ghunaimat, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the Kingdom of Morocco. The meeting discussed ways to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and Jordan in the educational, scientific and cultural fields.

At the outset of the meeting, held on Tuesday (February 15, 2022), at ICESCO headquarters, in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik congratulated Ms. Ghunaimat on assuming her functions as Jordan’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, wishing her every success.

He reviewed ICESCO’s major programs as part of its new vision and strategic orientations, which are based on openness and cooperation with all parties to serve the Member States and Muslim communities around the world, highlighting ICESCO’s interest in promoting the culture of foresight, consolidating the values ​​of peace, civilizational dialogue and coexistence, building capacities of women and youth, and urged the Member States to invest in space sciences and benefit from modern technologies and artificial intelligence applications for achieving sustainable development.

For her part, Ms. Ghunaimat commended ICESCO’s roles in supporting its Member States in the Organization’s areas of action, stressing the keenness of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to continue constructive cooperation with ICESCO.

The meeting also brought together Dr. Mohammed Zine El Abidine, Head of Culture and Communication Sector; Ms. Ramata Almami Mbaye, Head of Human and Social Sciences Sector; and Ambassador Khaled Fathalrahman, Director of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue.

Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Morocco, to discuss the development of cooperation and the remarkable partnership between ICESCO and Pakistan in the Organization’s fields of action.
During the meeting, held on Friday, 11 February 2022, at ICESCO’s headquarters, in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik stressed the Organization’s willingness to enhance communication with the competent authorities of its Member States in order to build fruitful cooperation through practical programmes and activities with positive and measurable outcomes based on the priorities and needs of each Member State.

The meeting reviewed the major future programmes and activities scheduled in cooperation between ICESCO and Pakistan. The two parties also discussed several cooperation proposals in education, science and culture, as well as training and capacity building for youth and women in the fields of technology, innovation and arts.

For his part, the Pakistani Ambassador commended the leading role of ICESCO, praising the cooperation and partnership relations between the two parties. He also stressed the willingness of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to cooperate with ICESCO in many fields and the Embassy’s willingness to cooperate with the Kingdom of Morocco within the framework of the proclamation of Rabat as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022.

The Center for Strategic Foresight at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a roundtable meeting to present the outlines and preliminary findings of its study, prepared by a host of international experts and specialists on the “Possible Futures of the African Continent.” The meeting aimed to identify the best practices considering the new global trends and their consistency with the African reality and better understand the necessary factors to achieve the desired progress in the African continent.

At the outset of the meeting, held on Thursday, 10 February 2022, via videoconference, Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General, gave an address wherein he indicated that ICESCO includes 26 African countries in its membership, adding that it strives to meet their needs through various programs for the benefit of different groups, especially women and youth.

He added that ICESCO Center for Strategic Foresight’s Study on the “Possible Futures of the African Continent” represents an opportunity to examine the current scenario, consider opportunities at the continental level and clarify ways to develop Africa. “ICESCO is committed to contributing to the efforts geared towards providing an innovative solution to the major challenges facing Africa towards 2050. It also plays its pivotal role in promoting the culture of foresight to build a better African future,” stressed ICESCO DG.

Afterward, the participants in the meeting, which was moderated by Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of ICESCO Center for Strategic Foresight, and his team, reviewed the findings of the study. Dr. Alioune Sall, Executive Director of the African Futures Institute, South Africa, stressed the importance of analyzing the current situation in Africa to understand the process of change in the continent and identify its future prospects. Dr. Jacy Karoy Sibena, Assistant Professor at the School of Governance at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, indicated that innovation and technological development are still below the required level in Africa, particularly with the Covid-19 pandemic that has affected the economy.

For his part, Dr. Mohammed Tariq, Professor at the Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences, Hassan II University of Mohammedia, Kingdom of Morocco, gave a presentation on the future of youth in Africa after the Covid-19 pandemic, wherein he stressed that the continent’s youth face many challenges related to health care, education, unemployment and terrorism, adding that youth are at the forefront of digital transformation.

Dr. Karim Benkahla, Professor at the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Tunis, Tunisian Republic, reviewed the social, climatic, economic and security risks facing Africa, the factors of change, namely education and human capital, and the possible scenarios for the future of the continent. Ms. Sandra Coulibaly Leroy, Programming and Evaluation Department at the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF), touched on the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on cultural action and creative industries in Africa.

In his closing speech, ICESCO DG reaffirmed that Africa has a great and prosperous future, pointing out the importance of the expected recommendations of the study in contributing to the development of African countries to be at the forefront of developed countries. Afterward, the floor was open for the participants to exchange remarks and ideas.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Anar Karimov, Azerbaijani Minister of Culture. The two parties discussed developments in cooperation between ICESCO and Azerbaijan in the cultural field and reviewed the implementation plans of their future joint programmes and activities.

The meeting, which took place on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, via videoconference, saw the participation of officials from ICESCO and Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture and the National Commission for Education, Science and Culture. During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik expressed his satisfaction in ICESCO’s distinguished partnership with the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Organization’s areas of competence.

“This partnership is part of ICESCO’s new vision and action strategy which are based on sustained communication with the Member States, identification of their priorities and needs, and coordination with their competent authorities to devise joint programmes accordingly,” explained ICESCO DG.

For his part, Mr. Karimov emphasized that Azerbaijan is keen to foster partnership with ICESCO, commending the Organization’s role in advancing the cultural field through the inscription and preservation of the Islamic world’s heritage and the promotion of peace, coexistence and dialogue among civilizations.

The meeting touched upon future joint programmes and activities between ICESCO and the Ministry. The two parties agreed to hold further meetings between experts from both sides to follow up on the implementation plans of the discussed programs and activities.

The meeting brought together Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Head of ICESCO Culture and Communication Sector, and Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Advisor to ICESCO DG for Partnerships and International Cooperation, as well as Mr. Ajil Gunashov, Secretary-General of the Azerbaijani National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, and Mr. Murad Aliyev, Head Advisor of the Division for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Culture.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Muammar Al-Eryani, Yemeni Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, and together they discussed means to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and the Republic of Yemen in the Organization’s areas of competence.
During the meeting, which took place on Sunday, January 30, 2022, in Riyadh, Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s vision, action strategy and strategic orientations by 2025. He also emphasized the great importance that ICESCO attaches to safeguarding, protecting and inscribing tangible and intangible heritage in countries of the Islamic world.

The meeting touched upon proposals for cooperation between ICESCO and Yemen’s Ministry of Culture in various areas, namely training Yemeni archeology personnel on the preparation of nomination files for the inscription of historical sites and cultural elements on heritage lists as well as on heritage restoration and protection lists. Areas for cooperation also included encouraging Yemen’s heritage industries, valorizing the country’s cultural heritage, particularly traditional music and songs, and coordinating its participation in the celebration programs of ICESCO’s Programme for Culture Capitals in the Islamic World. ICESCO also lays particular focus on the educational field and seeks to provide programs aimed at reducing school dropout among girls.

At the close of the meeting, ICESCO DG affirmed that the Organization will launch a set of programs and projects in concert with the competent Yemeni authorities. These programs will be geared towards the preservation of Yemeni heritage and the promotion of its authenticity and richness, as well as the adoption of a poetry encyclopedia of Yemen’s regional dialects.

Further to the meeting held on December 22, 2021, between Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL), during which they discussed the organization of the International Exhibition and Museum on the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik and Sheikh Dr. Nasser bin Misfir Al-Zahrani, head of the Exhibitions and Museums Department of the MWL, held a meeting on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, to discuss arrangements for the organization of the International Exhibition and Museum on the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization in Rabat, Morocco, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

During the meeting, which was held in Riyadh, the two parties reviewed the preparations for organizing the Exhibition and Museum under the supervision of Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa. They also reviewed the arrangements for the visit of a delegation of the League’s officials and supervisors of the International Exhibition and Museum on the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization in Medina, to the site designated for the establishment of the Exhibition, which is of particular importance in the light of the celebration of Rabat as Culture Capital in the Islamic World in 2022, and the cooperation that binds ICESCO and the MWL and their desire to hold it in several Member States of the Organization in the future.

Dr. Al-Malik and Dr. Al-Zahrani affirmed the commitment of ICESCO and the League to strengthen the existing partnership between them and to continue working on the implementation of civilizational programs and projects, which aim at promoting Islam and its noble values and principles, highlighting its true image in its civilizational dimensions, and correcting misconceptions about it.

The International Exhibition and Museum on the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization receives the attention and guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Muhammad bin Salman. The Exhibition and Museum are dedicated to the promotion of the values of Islam, namely justice, peace, mercy, tolerance and moderation, based on the Holy Quran, the Seerah of the Prophet, and the glorious Islamic history. The institution is equipped with the latest technologies allowing the visitor to discover the Prophet’s Seerah and the historical scenes and monuments. It includes 150 pieces of evidence of the greatness of Islam and the preservation of the rights of non-Muslims, in addition to more than 500 artifacts from the Prophetic era.