Category: Director General

The “Mishkat Al-Arabiya” hall at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hosted the ceremony of distributing certificates to university teachers and students participating in the 1st and 2nd sessions of the Programme for Development of Open Education at Member Universities of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW) affiliated to ICESCO, which aims to build the capacity of teachers in using open education resources and tools and integrating them in university curricula.

The ceremony kicked off on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, with a recorded speech by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director General (DG) and FUIW Secretary General, in which he commended the Programme for the Development of Open Education and open education resources, which included a series of intensive training sessions, praising the two editions held in 2022, for the benefit of 85 participants from 17 countries, representing more than 60 universities.

Dr. AlMalik added that the Programme for the Development of Open Education comes as part of ICESCO’s vision and strategy to contribute to the development of education in Islamic countries and to strengthen its tools, to find a sustainable engine for the development of open education skills, curricula and strategies and to contribute to bridging the gap between universities, meeting the needs of students and learners and increasing their chances of integration into the labor market and tomorrow’s professions.

Following that, Dr. Khaled Berrada, Professor at Mohammed V University in Rabat and one of the supervisors of the programme, reviewed FUIW Member Universities’ partnership in the field of open educational resources and highlighted the challenges that each beneficiary had to overcome to successfully complete the session. For his part, Dr. Daniel Burgos, Vice Rector of the International University of La Rioja of Research and Technology in Spain and one of the supervisors of the programme, indicated that the practical application of the methods and tools of open education resources begins with recognizing the benefits of such resources.

After that, the certificates were distributed to the beneficiaries of the two sessions, who, during their interventions, commended the programme and its importance and potential to keep up with the evolution of the educational process in universities around the world.

In conclusion, Dr. Omar Halli, Advisor to ICESCO DG for the FUIW, reaffirmed the need to develop the programme, through cooperation with more universities and educational institutions, and encourage its beneficiaries to disseminate knowledge and experiences and supervise sessions, explaining the importance of exploring new methods to obtain and create information from open sources.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. André Azoulay, Advisor to His Majesty King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco, Founding President of the “Essaouira-Mogador” Association, on Wednesday, 8 February 2023, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, and together discussed ICESCO’s modernization and development and explored ways to promote cooperation between the Organization and the Association in areas of common interest.

ICESCO DG opened the meeting by expressing his thanks and appreciation to Mr. Azoulay for his participation in several of the Organization’s conferences and activities in 2022, underscoring his keenness to forge a fruitful partnership between ICESCO and the “Essaouira-Mogador” Association in various fields.

Dr. AlMalik reviewed the key thrusts of ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, as well as its development and modernization over the last three years, explaining that the Organization adopts the approach of openness to all, strives to foster the values of peace and tolerance, promotes civilizational dialogue and contributes through its various initiatives, programmes and activities to serving humanity without distinction among the beneficiaries.

For his part, Mr. Azoulay commended ICESCO’s efforts in the areas of peace-building and social cohesion and its youth leadership programmes, praising the positive developments and changes in the Organization and its forward-looking vision.

Following the bilateral meeting, Dr. AlMalik and Mr. Azoulay joined the expanded meeting, which brought together Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy DG, and a host of department and sector directors at the Organization. The meeting touched upon ICESCO’s major programmes currently implemented to support Member States in the fields of education, science and culture.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties affirmed their keenness to promote cooperation between ICESCO and the Essaouira-Mogador Association and agreed on sustaining coordination to organize a joint international conference on the Argan tree and issue a study by ICESCO’s Strategic Foresight Center on the future of Essaouira.

Dr. AlMalik then gave Mr. Azoulay a tour of the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization currently hosted at ICESCO in partnership with the Muslim World League (MWL) and Morocco’s Mohammadia League of Scholars.

Mr. Azoulay expressed his fascination with the museum exhibits and the state-of-the-art technologies used to display details of the biography of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), noting that this scientific event contributes to promoting interfaith tolerance.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania signed two cooperation and partnership agreements focusing on promoting cooperation and financial support for the executive program of the Celebration of Nouakchott as Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2023, and preparing the nomination file for the inscription of traditional checkers games in Africa on ICESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List and UNESCO World Heritage List.

The first agreement was signed on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at ICESCO Headquarters, by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, and Mr. Mohamed Ould Soueidat, Minister of Culture, Youth, Sports, and Relations with Parliament, President of the Mauritanian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture.

Following the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik commended the agreement which reflects the special cooperation relations between ICESCO and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, represented in the Mauritanian National Commission, and is part of ICESCO’s initiatives to support its Member States through the implementation of programs, activities and projects in the States that have settled their arrears to ICESCO’s budget. He also reaffirmed the Organization’s keenness to ensure the success of the ambitious programs scheduled as part of the Celebration of Nouakchott as Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2023.

For his part, Mr. Mohamed Ould Soueidat noted that this agreement aims to settle his country’s arrears to ICESCO’s budget, with the understanding that more than 70% of its total amount is to be invested by ICESCO to implement cultural and development projects in Nouakchott, in support of its celebration as Culture Capital.

The second agreement was signed by Dr. Nidal Abuzuhzi, Head of Administrative Affairs at ICESCO, and Mr. Mohamed Ould Sidi Abdellah, Secretary-General of the Mauritanian National Commission.

According to this agreement, ICESCO undertakes to prepare the program for the meeting on preparing the nomination file for the inscription of traditional checkers games in Africa on ICESCO and UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists, while the Mauritanian National Commission commits to ensuring the organizational aspects of the meeting.

The agreement is part of the MoU signed between ICESCO and the Emirati National Commission for Education, Culture and Science in November 2022, through which the United Arab Emirates undertook to provide support to ICESCO’s programs geared towards promoting the heritage of ICESCO’s African Member States.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Said Mohammed Albarami, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Kingdom of Morocco, and discussed partnership developments between ICESCO and the Sultanate of Oman in the fields of education, science and culture, and ways to strengthen cooperation relations.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday (February 7, 2023), at ICESCO Headquarters, in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed the Organization’s keenness to enhance cooperation relations with several Omani institutions and agencies, in coordination with the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.

The meeting considered the various aspects of cooperation between ICESCO and the Sultanate of Oman in educational, heritage and scientific projects, the areas of promoting dialogue and the values of tolerance, and the historical and current role of the Sultanate of Oman in promoting dialogue and strengthening cultural relations between peoples.

The meeting saw the presence of Dr. Salim Al-Habsi, Programs Manager at ICESCO General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences, and Mr. Mohammed Al-Ma’amari, Counselor at the Omani Embassy, in Rabat.

After the meeting, ICESCO Director-General took the Omani Ambassador on a tour of the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, which is currently organized at ICESCO Headquarters, in partnership with the Muslim World League and the Mohammadia League of Scholars. During the tour, explanations were given to the delegation about the various sections highlighting the Prophet’s Seerah through modern display technologies.

At the end of the tour, Ambassador Albarami commended the exhibition, which constitutes a virtual visit to the time of the Prophet (PBUH). He also praised ICESCO’s leading role in showcasing the civilizational aspects of the Prophet’s Seerah.

Dr. Said Amzazi, former Minister of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Dr. Dris Ouaouicha, former Minister Delegate in Charge of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Kingdom of Morocco, visited the Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, currently housed at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, received the two former ministers, on Friday, February 3, 2023, noting that this initiative to host the Museum and Exhibition at ICESCO Headquarters, in its first stop outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is the fruit of a strategic partnership among the Organization, the Muslim World League (MWL) and Morocco’s Mohammadia League of Scholars.

Following the meeting, Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, took Dr. Amzazi and Dr. Ouaouicha on a tour of the Exhibition, where they received detailed presentations on the contents of the Exhibition’s different pavilions and sections, which feature modern display techniques to recount and document the details of the Prophet’s and take the visitor on a virtual journey to his time.

Following the tour, Dr. Amzazi commended ICESCO’s initiative to host this civilizational exhibit, noting that it presents the Prophet’s Seerah in a simplified manner suitable for the public.

For his part, Dr. Ouaouicha expressed his thanks to ICESCO, the MWL and the Mohammedia League of Scholars for organizing such an initiative.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Eric Falt, Director of the UNESCO office for the Maghreb, and together explored ways to enhance cooperation between the two Organizations in education, science and culture.

During the meeting, which was held on Friday, 3 February 2023, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the Organization’s key ongoing activities and programmes geared towards supporting the efforts of its Member States in accordance with their specific needs and priorities, particularly in the fields of building women and youth capacities, anchoring the values ​​of coexistence, tolerance and civilizational dialogue, safeguarding tangible and intangible heritage through the inscription of the Islamic world’s historical sites and cultural elements on ICESCO’s heritage lists, and encouraging investment in modern technology to achieve sustainable development.

The two parties discussed proposals for the development of a distinguished partnership between ICESCO and UNESCO by expanding the geographical scope of programmes and activities in areas of common interest to include all ICESCO Member States. Dr. Al-Malik emphasized the Organization’s keenness to multiply its partnerships and improve its openness to international organizations and institutions to contribute to the modernization of education, science and culture in its Member States.

For his part, Mr. Falt commended the effective cooperation between the two Organizations, highlighting avenues for future partnership in developing the capabilities of women and girls, and devising joint programmes in the fields of education, science and culture.

A delegation from the Society of Spouses of Arab Ambassadors and Officials at International Organizations in the Kingdom of Morocco, along with a host of Moroccan women friends of the Society, visited, Thursday, February 2, 2023, the Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, currently housed at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, received the delegation, reaffirming that the Organization’s new vision and strategy accord great attention to building women’s capacities and supporting them in all fields, as they are the pillars of advanced and prosperous societies.

He added that this initiative to host the Museum and Exhibition at ICESCO Headquarters is the fruit of a strategic partnership among the Organization, the Muslim World League (MWL) and Morocco’s Mohammadia League of Scholars, a partnership which aims to highlight the civilizational aspects of the Prophet’s Seerah and reflect the true, moderate image of Islam to the world.

Moreover, Dr. AlMalik stated that the Exhibition has received wide numbers of visitors since its opening, including Moroccan citizens from different cities and age ranges, along with the country’s residents and guests, noting that the number of visitors has exceeded half a million since the Exhibition’s opening to the public on November 28, 2022.

During the tour, the delegation received detailed presentations on the contents of the Exhibition’s different pavilions and sections, which feature modern display techniques and rely on AI and Augmented Reality technology to take the visitor to the time of the Prophet (pbuh).

Following the tour, the delegation expressed their delight to visit this great civilizational edifice, which takes the visitor on a scientific and spiritual journey through its pavilions and sections, praising the encyclopedic information presented on the Seerah using modern technology. The delegation also expressed its thanks to ICESCO the MWL and the Mohammedia League of Scholars for organizing such an initiative.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Habib El Malki, President of the Moroccan Supreme Council for Education, Training and Scientific Research, where they discussed ways and means of strengthening cooperation between ICESCO and the Council in fields of common interest.

During the meeting, held on Monday (31 January 2023), at ICESCO’s headquarters, in Rabat in the presence of Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the main thrusts of the Organization’s vision and strategic orientations as well as its current programmes and projects on women and youth capacity-building and the promotion of innovation and scientific research, exploiting the new technologies in the development of education systems in the ICESCO Member States, training educational staff and strengthening the presence of Arabic worldwide.

The meeting also discussed cooperation proposals aimed at establishing a partnership between ICESCO and the Council. In this connection, ICESCO Director-General reaffirmed the Organization’s willingness to cooperate with all parties to contribute to the modernization of education, science and culture in the Member States.

For his part, Dr. El Malki stressed the importance of building a partnership between ICESCO and the Council, commending the remarkable new momentum and modernization in the Organization over the past three years as well as its adoption of advanced working mechanisms.

At the end of the meeting, the two parties agreed to continue coordination to draw a partnership agreement, including specific programs, projects and action plans.

At the end of the meeting, ICESCO Director-General took the President of the Council 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.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), called on international and regional organizations concerned to contribute to the implementation of the recommendations of the Transforming Education Summit, held in New York, particularly in the developing countries, in order to achieve SDG 4 and meet the requirements of quality, convenience and equality.

This statement was part of ICESCO DG’s address, delivered on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at the Global Symposium on the Role of International and Regional Organizations after the Transforming Education Summit 2022, held by the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS), via videoconference, with the participation of regional and international organizations as well as experts in the field of education.

At the outset of his address, Dr. AlMalik underscored the significance of the International Day of Education given the importance of education to various fields. “In this context, this symposium highlights the scale of responsibility and the magnitude of challenges, and showcases the outstanding efforts of the Arab Education Bureau for the Gulf States,” he added.
He stressed that five months after the Summit, it is high time to allocate appropriate budgets to transform education, develop action plans, identify priorities, and bridge educational development gaps between countries.

Dr. AlMalik concluded his address by reaffirming the Organization’s commitment to the Summit’s recommendations, through partnerships and technical support to Member States to move forward in achieving the desired goals, adding that ICESCO will hold a high-level workshop to follow up on the outcomes of the Summit.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), participated in the opening ceremony of the first edition of the Islamic Arts Biennale, under the theme “The First House,” organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from January 23 to April 23, 2023, as the first of its kind in the world to celebrate the historical heritage of Islamic civilization, through combining contemporary art, collectibles, manuscripts and unique pieces.

After the opening ceremony, held on January 22, 2023, Dr. Al-Malik, accompanied by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy DG, commended the efforts of the Ministry of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, in organizing this unique event, which succeeded in merging the cultural heritage of the Islamic world civilization and contemporary arts as well as presenting a bright picture of Islamic arts in all its diversity to the world.

ICESCO DG stated that the Organization’s participation in the Biennale opening comes as part of its vision and strategic orientations to safeguard and valorize the heritage of the Islamic world, through its inscription on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage Lists, and its several programmes, projects and training sessions to enhance the cultural economy and invest in modern technology applications to achieve these goals.
The opening ceremony of the Islamic Arts Biennale saw the participation of high-caliber Saudi and Arab officials and several artists and intellectuals from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world.

The 2023 Islamic Arts Biennale will be held in the Western Pilgrims Hall at King Abdulaziz International Airport, on an area of 118,000 square meters. It includes artworks of 40 artists from around the world and 280 artifacts loaned from local and international institutions.
The Biennale’s schedule includes organizing a wide range of activities, trips, workshops, meetings with artists, discussions, lectures, seminars, artistic and cinematic performances. It focuses on several topics, mainly the legacy of the heritage of the Islamic world and its cultural value to contemporary society, and the organization, collection, safeguarding and teaching of the Islamic world arts.