Category: Director General

The headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hosted a ministerial roundtable to discuss the broad lines and agree on the implementation mechanisms of the initiative of launching the Support Fund for Talents in the Islamic World, as proposed by H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt, during the 14th Session of the General Conference in Cairo. The Roundtable discussed the various aspects of the initiative to ensure the best outcomes.

The Roundtable, held on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, saw high-level participation, including Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and scientific Research, President of the National Commission for Education, Science and Culture of the Arab Republic of Egypt; Dr. Younes Skouri, Minister of Economic Integration, Small Enterprises, Employment and Competencies of the Kingdom of Morocco; Dr. Patrick Mouguiama-Daouda, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, Technology Transfer and National Education, the Gabonese Republic; Ms. Amna bint Salim Al Balushi, Secretary-General of the Omani National Commission for Education, Science and Culture; and a representative of the Moroccan Ministry of Higher Education.

At the beginning of the event, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, reiterated his thanks and appreciation for H.E. President El-Sisi for proposing the creation of this fund, noting that ICESCO had held multiple talks with the Member States which welcomed this initiative, which is in harmony with ICESCO’s new vision and strategic orientations to support innovation in the Islamic world.

In his address, Dr. Ayman Ashour expressed his thanks to the Director-General and the Organization’s working team for the achievements scored over the course of the past three years. He then gave a presentation on the Fund Initiative, stating that Egypt is eager to share its experience in setting up such funds with the Islamic world. He noted that the Republic established a fund in 2019 for sponsoring innovators and talented people by virtue of a presidential decision, a fund which has achieved great success.

Moreover, the Egyptian Minister stated that the initiative of President El-Sisi also includes offering 100 scholarships to the Islamic world students to study in Egyptian universities that are affiliated with the Ministry of Higher Education, 100 scholarships from Al-Azhar University and 50 scholarships from private universities.

For his part, Dr. Younes Skouri, welcomed the initiative which he described as pioneering, reaffirming the support of the Kingdom of Morocco for such a work, given that it targets a category with no dedicated programs. Dr. Patrick Mouguiama-Daouda commended the Fund’s areas of action, which include promoting gender equality and supporting talented people in the field of innovation in relation to issues of climate change. Likewise, Dr. Amna Al-Balushi stated that this initiative is in line with the interest the Sultanate of Oman accords to talented people, siezing the opportunity to give an overview of the “Tharwa” program, overseen by the Omani Ministry of Education. The Representative of the Moroccan Ministry of Higher Education presented a number of proposals to enrich the initiative.

At the close of the Roundtable, the Director-General underlines that all ideas and proposals put forth during the roundtable will be elaborated before submitting this initiative to the Executive Council. He added that following that, ICESCO will prepare the final version of the Fund, set out its legal and administrative framework and finalize its working mechanism along with all the relevant matters prior to submitting them to the 2023 session of the Executive Council.

With high-level participation including ministers, officials and representatives of the ICESCO Member States and international organizations and institutions, the Headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) saw the opening of the First Consultative Meeting on “Strategic Indicators for Development in the Islamic World: Global Knowledge Index as a Model,” held by ICESCO, in partnership with Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The two-day event aims to discuss the Global Knowledge Index as a standard for measuring the knowledge performance of world countries and understanding the changes they undergo and the challenges they face.

The Meeting opened with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by an address by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, who highlighted the benefits of living in this era of knowledge advancement, noting that the power of states is now measured by their achievements in the field of technology and scientific research and their abilities to keep up with knowledge trends.

The Director-General added that the sustainability of development hinges upon people’s ability to grow continuously, which calls for introducing changes to the mechanisms of scientific research and building capacities capable of producing knowledge. He stated that several countries in the Islamic world have made major strides in the fields of the knowledge index, while others have still not provided the desired statistics and data.

The Director-General concluded his address by presenting a number of recommendations for promoting the Knowledge Index in the Islamic World, setting up a general framework for the Index likely to encompass accurately all its dimensions, and working towards building effective partnerships in this field. Dr. AlMalik also reiterated ICESCO’s intention to be the focal point between the Member States and global indexes.

For his part, Mr. Jamal bin Huwairib, CEO of Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, reaffirmed his Foundation’s eagerness to develop and widen the scope of cooperation with ICESCO to include new fields, notably promoting the status of Arabic, supporting knowledge paths and involving the youth in the process of building knowledge societies.

Speaking next was Dr. Hany Torky, Chief Technical Advisor and Knowledge Project Director at the UNDP, who commended ICESCO’s efforts to support cultural and knowledge development in its Member States. The UNDP official also highlighted the importance of the Global Knowledge Index, which includes 37 ICESCO Member States.

Following the opening session, the Ministerial session was held, which focused on the knowledge challenges in the Islamic World. The session was moderated by Ms. Amira Al-Fadil, Head of the Sector of partnerships and International Cooperation at ICESCO, and featured the statements of some ministers. Dr. Ayman Ashour, Egyptian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, stressed the importance of knowledge advancements and their positive impact on all forms of life, highlighting Egyptian efforts to invest in human capital and the country’s achievements in the field of scientific research in Egypt in 2022

For his part, H.E. Dr. Patrick Mouguiama-Daouda, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, Technology Transfer and National Education, the Gabonese Republic, underlined the need to work towards disseminating knowledge and promoting the exchange of expertise to reach the youth, women and the most vulnerable groups. Dr. Abdellatif Miraoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation of the Kingdom of Morocco, also gave an address where he highlighted the importance of keeping up with modern technology, capitalizing on young talents, attracting capacities and giving due attention to social and human sciences.

At the end of the session, a discussion session was held where several secretaries general of Member States’ National Commissions asked many questions and put forth some proposals that enriched the theme of the session.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) received the internationally recognized ISO 27001 Certification for Information Security Management Systems, as a result of the Organization’s implementation of best practices for data security and risk management in light of its new vision aimed at the modernization and transformation of administrative processes through investment in digital mechanisms and administrative innovation.

ICESCO has been successfully certified to ISO 27001 following an internal evaluation of its information security system to identify vulnerabilities and address them. This was followed by a detailed, comprehensive external audit by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) which demonstrated the Organization’s compliance with the requirements of the ISO 27001 standard.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), affirmed that reception of the said certification is part of the Organization’s relentless quest for optimal information security across all sectors, departments and centers through the proactive implementation of international best practices for data security and anticipatory risk management.

He explained that ICESCO has developed an information security system that is based on the best technical specifications and that is implemented effectively and maintained consistently, adding that the Organization is keen to raise its employees’ awareness of the importance of information security and equip them with the necessary knowledge on the subject.

It is worth noting that the ISO 27001 certification is granted to organizations and institutions that adopt efficient systems to protect data, information and intellectual property and conduct effective risk assessments to identify and mitigate risks and thus achieve optimal security.

In 2021, ICESCO received the ISO 9001:2015 certification for Quality Management Systems demonstrating the compliance of the Organization’s sectors, departments and centers with the requirements of the international standard.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Jamal bin Huwairib, CEO of Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF), and together they explored prospects of cooperation in areas of common interest.

During the meeting held today, December 20, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, in the presence of several ICESCO’s heads of sectors and departments and Dr. Huwairib’s accompanying delegation, the two parties reaffirmed their keenness to promote cooperation, which had already been set into motion even before signing the cooperation agreement.

They also discussed cooperation in some fields notably, the Foresight Report: Future of Knowledge, annually issued by the Foundation and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), which features recommendations for decision-makers to support countries in building cooperation and innovation capacities.

The meeting also focused on the importance of the participation of all ICESCO Member States in this report, as the number currently stands at only 37 countries, given the significance of their participation in such indexes to assess and diagnose the challenges facing them as a first step towards overcoming them. The two parties also stressed the need for accurate and updated information supported by figures and statistics.

The two parties also discussed cooperation proposals in the field of Arabic to promote its presence on the international scene, particularly in the Islamic world, through finding commonalities between countries’ local languages and Arabic. The meeting also suggested the design of a joint action program that relies on modern communication technology to target young people; and the expansion of the Foundation’s program to train authors to include all the countries of the Islamic world.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to hold expert meetings to devise executive plans between ICESCO and the Foundation.

Following the meeting, Dr. AlMalik took Dr. Bin Huwairib and his delegation on a tour of the Museum and Exhibition of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, currently hosted at ICESCO Headquarters. The Foundation delegation received a detailed presentation of the various sections and pavilions.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held a meeting with Mrs. Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Minister of Education and Higher Education of the State of Qatar, and together discussed developments in cooperation between ICESCO and Qatar and reviewed the programmes to be jointly implemented in the fields of education and higher education.

During the meeting, which was held on Thursday, December 15, 2022, in Doha, Dr. AlMalik congratulated the Minister on Qatar’s successful hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, underlining the need to capitalize on the benefits that the country has reaped from organizing the global tournament and harness them to advance education and culture.

ICESCO DG reviewed the major projects currently implemented by the Organization, emphasizing youth-oriented programmes, most notably capacity-building workshops, and training programmes in technology and innovation entrepreneurship and leadership for peace and security, as well as scholarships.

For her part, the Qatari minister provided an overview of Qatar’s strategic vision in the field of education and higher education and the progress achieved in the implementation plans, expressing the Ministry’s keenness to foster partnership and cooperation with ICESCO.

The meeting touched upon means for leveraging the outcomes of the Transforming Education Summit, which was held by the United Nations at its headquarters in New York in September 2022, and saw the distinguished participation of the State of Qatar and ICESCO. The event was aimed at mobilizing action, ambition, solidarity and solutions to recover pandemic-related learning losses and reimagine the future of education.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stressed the need for unified visions and cooperation between regional and international organizations to ensure their success, highlighting the structural shifts in self-awareness, international developments and the organizations’ experiences, which have led to the successful management of international affairs with confidence.

This statement was part of Dr. AlMalik’s address delivered on Monday (December 12, 2022), at the two-day Forum on “Organizations from Local to Global,” organized by the Qatari Ministry of Culture, in Doha, under the theme: “Our strength in our unity,” as part of the activities of the National Day of the State of Qatar, in Darb Al Saai, with the participation of high-level ministers, officials and heads of several international organizations and institutions.

ICESCO Director-General added that Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup is conclusive evidence that success is the outcome of sound visions, good management and creativity, considering that this success is a civilizational achievement.

Furthermore, he pointed out that the transition from local to global in organizations’ fields of action requires overcoming internal performance obstacles that give rise to the question of reform and the transformations of the international pattern through the communications revolution, which has become a guide of human progress and providing more opportunities for young people to meet their aspirations. “We should liberate organizations from the dominance of politics, promote social and educational issues, and strengthen cooperation and synergy between organizations to ensure mutual understanding, dialogue and civilizational alliance, reduce violence, hatred and intolerance, and confront pandemics, climate change, migration and crimes,” added Dr. AlMalik.

Dr. Al-Malik also reviewed the strategic orientations of ICESCO in fulfilling its vision, which draws on the civilizational potentials of the Islamic world and responds to the aspirations of Muslim people for reform, explaining that the pattern of structural and conceptual renewal prevails at ICESCO and that the Organization’s efforts are strengthened through cooperation with various organizations, including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the League of Arab States, ALECSO, the US Space Foundation and other international partners.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Pope Francis met to discuss cooperation between ICESCO and the Vatican in promoting peace, civilizational dialogue and the values of coexistence and tolerance.

At the start of the meeting, which took place on Saturday, December 10, 2022, in the private library where he holds his official meetings, Pope Francis welcomed Dr. AlMalik and his accompanying delegation. ICESCO’s Director-General commended the Pope’s role in promoting tolerance and understanding among the followers of different religions and cultures. He emphasized that ICESCO’s new vision and strategic orientations place peace-building, co-existence and civilizational dialogue at the core of its priorities and that the Organization is open to cooperation with stakeholders to support the development of the fields of education, science and culture, in a way that serves humanity and helps to address future challenges. This was reflected in the opening of membership for non-member states to join ICESCO as observers, for further cooperation and exchange of experiences with the countries of the Islamic world.

ICESCO’s Director-General pointed out that the Organization seeks to achieve its objectives through the launching and implementation of several concrete initiatives, programs and projects with tangible results for the benefit of youth and women in the African continent, including the Leadership Training in Peace and Security Program (80 ICESCO Ambassadors for Peace from Member and Non-Member States have benefited from this program and that the Organization aspires to train 500 Ambassadors by 2025).

For his part, the Vatican Pope expressed particular interest and appreciation for the program, noting the possibility of implementing a joint program between ICESCO and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue for training in peace-building and the promotion of the values of brotherhood and tolerance. He also welcomed Dr. AlMalik’s proposal to receive a group of young ICESCO Ambassadors for Peace at the Vatican, or during the World Youth Day in Lisbon celebration in July 2023, a year that the Organization will proclaim as the Year of Youth.

ICESCO’s Director-General seized this opportunity to present the Organization’s shield to the Vatican Pope, as well as a copy of the book “Peace 360: Exploring the Dimensions of Peace,” which was recently published by the Organization. For his part, Pope Francis presented Dr. AlMalik with his autographed encyclical letter “All Brothers” and a commemorative medal on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his appointment.

Pope Francis commended ICESCO’s efforts, expressing his willingness to strengthen cooperation between the Vatican and the Organization in consolidating peace and promoting coexistence and civilizational dialogue.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Yahya Pallavicini, ICESCO Goodwill Ambassador, and Ms. Somia Djacta, Head of ICESCO Office at UNESCO.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Ministry of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of culture, aimed at intensifying consultation in the field of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and enhancing joint international cooperation in inscribing natural and historical sites and cultural elements on the Islamic World Heritage List.

The MoU was signed today, Wednesday (7 September 2022) in Riyadh by Dr. Salim Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General, and His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, during their attendance at the 23rd session of the Conference of Ministers in charge of Cultural Affairs in the Arab World.

The MoU covers cooperation between ICESCO and the Saudi Ministry of Culture in the fields of teaching the Arabic language and promoting its presence internationally, giving greater attention to literature, translation, publishing and libraries, and to the exchange of expertise and experiences in the field of visual arts, architecture, design and Islamic decorations, digitization of culture, creative industries, sustainable development and culture-related creative economy.

The MoU also specifies the means of implementing cooperation through exchanging official delegations and experts in various cultural fields, the establishment of training programs and work sessions to develop skills, organizing seminars for specialists, and setting up a joint working group that undertakes the tasks of setting action plans and following up their implementation, and overcoming the difficulties and obstacles facing them.

This agreement is part of ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientation for cooperation with the competent authorities in the Member States to support the fields of culture, especially those related to enhancing the presence of the Arabic language at the international level, benefiting from the specialists’ know-how, strengthening cooperation between experts and researchers, capitalizing on and developing successful experiences.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), underlined that ministers in charge of cultural affairs assume significant responsibilities to position culture at the heart of sustainable development, raise future generations of culture enthusiasts, and open up to the global environment, while preserving and celebrating its distinct identity. He added that the culture ministers are also responsible for keeping up with the latest trends of the digital revolution, noting that culture is not a luxury but rather an essential prerequisite for paving the way for our societies to build the future.

Dr. AlMalik made this statement in his address on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, during the opening session of the 23rd Session of the Conference of Ministers in Charge of Cultural Affairs in the Arab World, held under the theme, “Culture and the Green Future.” The two-day conference is held by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and is hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Culture in Riyadh.

At the beginning of his address, Dr. AlMalik hailed the conference, expressing his thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, may Allah preserve him, the Crown Prince, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi Government for the special attention they accord to culture and culture enthusiasts.

Moreover, the Director-General highlighted the importance of culture in humanitarian work, given its ability to raise hopes, promote fraternity and spread the values of charity through policies carefully drafted to foster unity. He also called for preparing an empirical study on the reality and future of the cultural world in the Islamic world countries, setting up a committee to explore the prospects of cooperation in organizations concerned with cultural work, and creating cultural centers. He also urged Member States’ governments to raise the share of cultural work in their general budgets, encourage young cultural initiatives and cooperate to devise the proper policies to capitalize on the information and AI applications technology in cultural work.

The ICESCO Director-General concluded his address by reiterating ICESCO’s commitment as a global house of expertise to support culture in its Member States, seizing the opportunity to cast light on the Organization’s programs and initiatives, partnerships and agreements to preserve heritage sites and specialized training sessions to build capacities to ensure cultural sustainability.