Category: Director General

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, held a meeting to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between ICESCO and Pakistan in the field of education.

The meeting was held on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, in New York, following both officials’ participation in the United Nations Transforming Education Summit, and was attended by the ICESCO delegation. The Director-General seized this opportunity to congratulate Dr. Hussain on his new position as Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training in Pakistan, wishing him success in his new mission.

The meeting focused on several ongoing ICESCO programmes and projects, and the possibility for Pakistan to benefit from them. The two parties also agreed on launching the Project to Improve Water and Sanitation Services in Rural Schools in Pakistan, as part of a project currently being implemented by ICESCO in many of its Member States to improve these services in a thousand rural schools.
Moreover, the two parties agreed to hold training sessions and workshops for Pakistani teachers and to cooperate in the field of “greening education,” by capitalizing on modern technology, setting up digital libraries to support children’s education and developing online education.

At the close of the meeting, ICESCO Director-General invited the Pakistani Minister to take part in one of ICESCO’s upcoming conferences on education, an invitation the Minister promised to accept soon.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Moussa Faki Mohamed, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the Organization and the Union in areas of common interest.

During the meeting, held in New York, on Monday (September 19, 2022), on the sidelines of the United Nations Transforming Education Summit, organized in parallel with the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the main axes of ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, and its major initiatives, programmes and activities to consolidate the values of peace, coexistence and civilizational dialogue, build the capacities of youth and women, encourage Member States to invest in modern technology, and benefit from their opportunities in developing education, science and culture.

The meeting also touched on the areas of common interest and points of convergence between the priorities of ICESCO and the African Union. The two parties stressed their willingness to build a fruitful partnership and agreed to sign a cooperation agreement, which includes the implementation of joint practical programmes and activities, and the participation in international conferences and forums of each party.

The meeting brought together Dr. Mohamed El-Hassan Ould Labat, President of the Cabinet, Advisor for Strategic and Political Relations; and Ambassador Fatima Kyari, Head of the African Union Mission to the United Nations; as well as Dr. Barry Coumbou, Head of ICESCO Education Sector; Ms. Amira Al-Fadil, Head of ICESCO Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor at ICESCO Science and Technology Sector.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Albert Ouedraogo, Prime Minister of the Republic of Burkina Faso, held a meeting to review the latest developments in cooperation between ICESCO and Burkina Faso and discuss the implementation of several partnership programmes and activities in the future.

The meeting, which was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Education of Burkina Faso, came on the sidelines of the participation of Dr. AlMalik and Dr. Ouedraogo in the United Nations Summit for Transforming Education in New York, where ICESCO and Burkina Faso reviewed the key results of their joint programmes, projects and activities and reaffirmed the continuation of their constructive partnership.

The two parties agreed to cooperate in holding a symposium on space sciences and a training session for youth in Burkina Faso on how to design and manufacture an educational satellite “CanSat,” to implement several projects in the preservation of the environment, inscription of several historical sites and cultural elements in Burkina Faso on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List and organize training sessions for heritage officials in Burkina Faso on preparing inscription files and protecting and maintaining archaeological sites.

The meeting also touched upon the problem of dropping out of school, Burkina Faso’s success in addressing and reducing the effects of this phenomenon and the possibility of transferring this experience to other ICESCO Member States.

For his part, the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso commended ICESCO’s new vision and strategic orientations and expressed his gratitude for the Organization’s interest in cooperating with his country and supporting its efforts in developing education, science and culture, stressing that his government will pay the arrears of Burkina Faso’s contributions to ICESCO’s budget.

The meeting brought together from ICESCO: Dr. Barry Koumbouo, Head of the Education Sector, Ms. Amira El-Fadil, Head of Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor in the Science and Technology Sector, and Dr. Sungbong Kim, Expert at the Education Sector.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), called on the global community to implement several reform policies to usher in a new era of education that meets the world’s needs for inclusive and equitable quality education. He stressed that countries need to raise the share of education in their general budgets, set up a world fund for supporting education during disasters and in conflict zones, and urge global corporates specializing in the field of education to provide technical and technological support to educational sectors in developing countries. He also called on educational organizations to cooperate in conducting studies on the latest educational development and set up a plan for the ensuing needs.

Dr. AlMalik made this statement Monday, September 19, 2022, at the Transforming Education Summit Leaders Day, held by the United Nations at its headquarters in New York, concurrently with the organization of the 77th General Assembly. This major educational event aims to pool efforts, align ambitions and promote solidarity to find solutions to compensate for the hits that struck the education sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic and reimagine its future. The Summit saw high-caliber participation including heads of states and governments, ministers, leaders, international organizations and world-renowned experts in the field of education.

At the outset, Dr. AlMalik commended the organization of the Transforming Education Summit, which represents the start of a new era in education. He also highlighted the key roles of education in supporting the development and building world peace and security, noting that SDG4 stresses the importance of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality lifelong education. He added that education was one of the fields most impacted by the pandemic repercussions, as its system has become a standard for measuring our success or failure in preventing disasters and overcoming crises.

Moreover, Dr. AlMalik stated that ICESCO places education at the forefront of its priorities, guided by its new and forward-looking vision which focuses on women, children and young people and capitalizes on modern technology to build the youth’s capacities to keep up with the sciences and jobs of tomorrow. He reaffirmed that the educational process goes beyond memorization to reach competencies, talents, intelligence and creativity.

In this regard, the Director-General announced that, in its capacity as an international organization with a civilizational outreach, ICESCO reaffirms its support for sustainable educational development goals, led by the UN, adding that ICESCO is aware of the dire situation of girls’ education and intends to set up digital labs for girls, along with a digital library for children’s education.

Likewise, the Director-General stated that the educational challenges caused by the pandemic necessitate smart and unconventional solutions that make use of modern educational methods, focus on the role of the teacher and highlight the importance of family in the educational process.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Dauren Abayev, Minister of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, to discuss ways of improving cooperation between ICESCO and Kazakhstan in the fields of culture.

During the meeting, held on Thursday (September 15, 2022) at the Ministry’s headquarters, in Nur-Sultan, in the presence of the Deputy Minister and the Director of International Relations as well as a number of the ministry officials, Dr. Al-Malik reviewed ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, which contribute to laying the foundations for cultural policies in Muslim countries and ensuring the protection and preservation of heritage, highlighting the Organization’s key initiatives and programmes implemented to valorize the cultural heritage of Muslim countries, promote digital culture, spread awareness about the importance of sport as a driving force for building peace and dialogue between societies, uniting peoples and breaking down barriers of hatred, as well as developing the educational process and maintaining students’ health.

For his part, the Kazakh Minister of Culture and Sports commended ICESCO’s remarkable roles in its areas of competence and the distinguished relations between the Organization and Kazakhstan, stressing his willingness to continue and develop this partnership.

Moreover, the meeting tackled the proposal of organizing cultural weeks by the competent parties in Kazakhstan, Rabat, Cairo, and Yaounde, which are celebrated as Culture Capitals in the Islamic World for 2022 with a view to introducing Kazakh culture and promoting cultural exchange.

The two parties also agreed to strengthen cooperation through many programmes and activities, including Kazakhstan’s submission of files of heritage sites and cultural elements for their inscription on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List, co-organize a training session for young people on the restoration and preservation of cultural property, and an international symposium on Al-Farabi’s contributions to human civilization, and take the necessary measures to sign a memorandum of understanding on the formula of cooperation, at the Organization’s headquarters.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), participated in the tree-planting ceremony, organized at the Peace and Harmony Park, in Nur-Sultan.

This ceremony, held on Thursday (September 15, 2022), as part of the 7th Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, saw the participation of the President of the Kazakh Senate and the Mayor of Nur-Sultan, along with the heads of delegation and leaders of religions taking part in the Congress, as a symbol that religions call for peace and unity.

Afterward, the participants in the Congress took a group photo.

Dr. Salim Al-Malik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Miguel Angel Moratinos, High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), on the sidelines of their participation in the seventh session of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Nur-Sultan the capital of Kazakhstan. The two sides explored ways to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and the Alliance of Civilizations in the field of peacebuilding and the consolidation of the values of coexistence and civilized dialogue.

During the meeting, which took place today, Thursday (September 15, 2022), Dr. Al-Malik reviewed ICESCO’s comprehensive vision in the field of peacebuilding under which ICESCO implements several initiatives and programmes, including ICESCO’s program for training youth and women in leadership for peace and security, which aims at qualifying and mobilizing young people to become ambassadors of peace in their communities through equipping them with the tools of knowledge and leadership skills by exchanges with inspirational leaders and expert trainers.
The meeting reviewed ICESCO’s partnership in organizing the high-level conference to be held by the Alliance of Civilizations in Fez, Kingdom of Morocco, which will be attended by religious leaders.

For his part, Mr. Moratinos praised the roles played by ICESCO in building peace and promoting civilizational dialogue, stressing the keenness of the Alliance of Civilizations to cooperate with ICESCO.

The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, awarded Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Memorial Medal of Honor (30th independence anniversary of Kazakhstan), in appreciation of his efforts in developing ICESCO and its pioneering roles, and promoting relations between the Organization and Kazakhstan in the fields of education, science and culture.

Mr. Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, awarded the Medal of Honor to Dr. AlMalik, on Thursday (15 September 2022), during his current visit to Nur-Sultan to attend the 7th Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

The Minister pointed out that this medal is one of the key medals awarded by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to eminent international figures, in appreciation of their efforts in strengthening cooperation and international relations, and in commemoration of the 30th independence anniversary of Kazakhstan.

For his part, Dr. Al-Malik expressed his thanks and appreciation to His Excellency President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, stressing his pride in this medal, granted by one of ICESCO’s outstanding Member States, with which the Organization has a distinguished partnership.
Moreover, the Supreme Scientific Council of Eurasia National University decided to award an honorary doctorate to Dr. AlMalik, in recognition of his outstanding efforts in the fields of education, science, and culture since he assumed his position as ICESCO DG and his support for scientific research and academic chairs.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Mr. Khairat Abdulrahmanov, High Commissioner for National Minorities at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) discussed prospects for cooperation between the two Organizations in the areas of promoting civilizational dialogue, consolidating the values of peace and coexistence, building capacity of youth and women and contributing to the consolidation of relations between peoples and societies around the world.

The meeting, which took place on Thursday, September 15, 2022, in the city of Nur-Sultan, comes as part of the visit of the ICESCO DG to the Republic of Kazakhstan to participate in the activities of the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations and the Organization’s ongoing key programmes and activities, in cooperation with its Member States, in its fields of action. Mr. Abdurahmanov, in his turn, reviewed OSCE’s action areas and its objectives.

The two parties explored several areas of common interest between ICESCO and OSCE, as well as proposals for programmes and activities that the two Organizations could cooperate in implementing, mainly ICESCO Youth Leadership Training for Peace and Security Programme, and ICESCO’s Youth Training Programme on how to establish and develop small businesses in the field of technology. and innovation, which aims at supporting more than 150 start-ups in the field of innovation and technology in ICESCO Member States by 2025, in addition to cooperating in holding several conferences and seminars on issues that are consistent with the common priorities of the two Organizations.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to hold meetings at the level of experts between the two Organizations, to develop an implementation plan and mechanisms to build fruitful cooperation based on practical programmes and activities.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), reaffirmed that as we come closer to the end of the pandemic, we are more convinced of the need for more synergy and cooperation among individuals and groups regardless of their faith, skin color, language, and culture. “We are more aware of Allah’s wisdom behind the common origin of humanity despite their different paths in life. The leaders of world religions made great efforts during the pandemic. The Congress will surely outline new visions to develop a road map likely to address the pandemic’s repercussions,” he underscored.

This came in the DG’s address at the opening of the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which kicked off on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, in the Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan, under the chairmanship of His Excellency Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and in the presence of Pope Francis, Pope of the Vatican, and His Eminence The Grand Imam, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, and high-ranking world religious leaders, to support spiritual and social development in the post-Covid 19 period, based on the role of religions in promoting the values ​​of tolerance and coexistence.

ICESCO DG stated that religious leaders made great efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic, which infected and resulted in the death of millions around the world, through initiatives that responded to humanity’s aspirations. He added that all post-pandemic challenges should be addressed through wisdom, tolerance, calmness, moderation, and acceptance of differences.

He said that historical moments are rare in the span of every generation. Thus, it is imperative to fully and firmly take advantage of the opportunities that similar moments offer such as our current stage, which is rich in experiences, evidence, and approaches that we have accumulated over the two years of this severe pandemic. “This experience should give us the courage and credibility to seize the unique opportunity before us to provide answers and solutions to major issues and challenges to be ready to usher in the post-pandemic era, which places the health sector in the right position, build educational systems that are more resilient to crises, recognize the importance of the family system, which will remain the viable nucleus for the growth of the tree of life and the transcendence and civilization of nations and build the capacity of young people to keep pace with tomorrow’s sciences, artificial intelligence technology, and live languages,” he stressed.

Moreover, Dr. AlMalik indicated that the Organization launched several promising initiatives, mainly the International Virtual Forum on the Role of Religious Leadership in the Face of Crises, which concluded with the adoption of a global document on moral solidarity in times of crisis.

At the close of his address, ICESCO DG noted the efforts made by the Republic of Kazakhstan to strengthen the values ​​of coexistence, manage cultural diversity and represent civilizational awareness.

Following ICESCO DG, Mr. Maulen Ashimbayev, Chair of the Senate of Kazakhstan and moderator of the session, commended ICESCO’s roles and its new vision.