Category: Director General

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Mr. Nabil Mohamed Ahmed, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Republic of Djibouti, held a meeting to explore ways of enhancing cooperation between ICESCO and Djibouti in several areas of common interest.

During the meeting, which took place on Monday, June 20, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, with the presence of Mr. Mohamed Douhour Hersi, Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti to the Kingdom of Morocco, and the delegation accompanying the Minister, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the key components of ICESCO vision and strategy, which accord great importance to youth and women capacity-building, foster scientific research in the Member States, encourage investment in space sciences and make use of artificial intelligence applications to promote education, science and culture.

The meeting reviewed the existing cooperation between ICESCO and Djibouti and the Organization’s support in the field of teaching the Arabic language. The two parties also discussed future cooperation in implementing joint programs in the fields of education, scientific research, women and youth capacity-building, as well as attracting talents from Djibouti to work at ICESCO.

For his part, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Republic of Djibouti expressed his country’s aspiration to build a fruitful partnership with ICESCO in areas of common interest, especially in supporting the Arabic language and adopting cultural projects within Djibouti universities to valorize and safeguard heritage.

He invited ICESCO to participate in a climate conference to be held in the Republic of Djibouti in October.

The meeting brought together Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General, Ms. Amira Fadel, Head of ICESCO Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, advisor to the Director-General for Partnerships and International Cooperation, and Supervisor of ICESCO’s Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Robert Dölger, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Kingdom of Morocco, and together they explored cooperation prospects between the Organization and the Federal Republic in the fields of education, science and culture.
During the meeting, which was held on Monday, June 20, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, in the presence of Mr. Steffen Krueger, representative of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Morocco, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the key programmes and activities that ICESCO is currently implementing in light of its new vision and strategic orientations that rest upon openness to as well as cooperation and greater communication with not only the Member States but also the Non-Member States who are allowed to join the Organization as observers, including the Federal Republic of Germany, which is home to a vast Muslim community.
ICESCO DG commended the distinguished cooperation between the Organization and several German institutions, notably the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Leibniz Association, noting that ICESCO is keen to cooperate with more German entities in the fields of education, science and culture.

He also reaffirmed the importance that ICESCO, through its various sectors and centers, attaches to serving its Member States and Muslim communities around the world, particularly in the areas of building women and youth capacity, guaranteeing the right to equitable and quality education for all, promoting a culture of foresight, anchoring peace, civilizational dialogue and coexistence, countering extremist ideas, encouraging investment in space sciences, and supporting efforts aimed at leveraging artificial intelligence and new technologies to advance education, science and culture.
For his part, the German Ambassador hailed ICESCO’s roles in supporting its Member States and underscored his country’s keenness to cooperate with the Organization in its areas of competence, noting the effective partnership between ICESCO and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, reflected in the organization of multiple training sessions and workshops aimed at building the capacities of young people, encouraging them to read, offering them scholarships, and combating extremism.

The meeting saw the attendance of Mrs. Amira El Fadil, Head of ICESCO’s Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, Dr. Kais Hammami, Head of the Strategic Foresight Center, Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor at the Science and Technology Sector, and Mr. Omer Hamid, Expert at the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) received, on Friday 17 June 2022, Dr. Mohamed Ouled Amar, Director-General of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), and together discussed the developments of cooperation between the two organizations.
At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Al-Malik welcomed Dr. Ouled Amar at ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat and lauded the strong cooperation and complementarity between ICESCO and ALECSO.

He also reviewed the development and modernization aspects of ICESCO in the fields of education, science and culture, to serve the Member States and Muslim communities in non-Member States based on a forward-looking vision that calls for the need to encourage Muslim countries to invest in and localize modern technology, especially the applications of space science and artificial intelligence. This vision also focuses on entrenching the values of coexistence and peace, training and capacity building of youth and women, and the promotion and preservation of tangible and intangible heritage.

At the end of the meeting, which also brought together Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of ICESCO, and Dr. Abdelfattah Lahjomri, Director of the Arabization Coordination Bureau in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik and Dr. Ouled Amar went to the meeting hall, where the heads of ICESCO’s sectors, departments and centers presented their main programmes and strategic orientations.

For his part, ALECSO Director-General commended the presentations on the programmes and action plans of ICESCO, stressing that his visit aims to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations to achieve common objectives, and reaffirming ALECSO’s willingness to implement more cooperation projects with ICESCO and exchange publications.

Afterward, Dr. AlMalik took Dr. Ouled Aktmar on a tour of some of ICESCO’s new facilities, including the youth training incubators, and “Mishkat” hall, which is equipped with the latest technology for holding virtual training sessions and workshops.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Noura bint Mohammed Al-Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, President of the Emirati National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, held a meeting to review the latest cooperation developments between ICESCO and the UAE and explore ways to promote partnership between the two parties, particularly in the fields of the Arabic language, heritage preservation and youth support.

During the meeting, held on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture in Abu Dhabi, with the presence of Ms. Salma Darmaki, Secretary-General of the Emirati National Commission, and the Commission’s working team, the two parties reaffirmed their keenness to sustain cooperation and capitalize on new methods and innovative and practical mechanisms. They also expressed their readiness to work according to a strategic plan for the implementation of several joint programs and the achievement of shared goals between ICESCO and the Commission.

The meeting addressed the issue of the ICESCO Fund for Supporting Heritage Projects in the Islamic World and the possibility of the UAE’s contributions to finance it to achieve its goals to promote, preserve and document tangible and intangible heritage and ensure its documentation and inscription of ICESCO’s lists of heritage in the Islamic world.

The meeting also discussed the promotion of cooperation between ICESCO and the UAE in the field of the Arabic language and the UAE’s participation in ICESCO’s forums and conferences. They also discussed cooperation in the field of supporting and building young people’s capacities, in light of the leading programs the Organization implements in this field and the success the UAE has scored in the field of youth empowerment, particularly with regard to the Center of Government Accelerators and Service Development. The two parties discussed the possibility of providing the youth of the Islamic world with the opportunity to benefit from some training sessions that the center organizes.

The DG also visited the Prime Minister’s Office and took stock of the work of the Center of Government Accelerators and Service Development. He also met with Ms. Shama Al-Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs; and Mr. Saeed Al Nazari, Director-General of the Federal Youth Authority.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, discussed prospects for cooperation between the two parties in the areas of common interest.

During the meeting, held on Wednesday (June 15, 2022), in Dubai, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the mainlines of ICESCO’s vision, strategic orientations and key initiatives, programmes and activities, being implemented in cooperation with the competent authorities in its Member States, to support development and modernization efforts in the fields of education, science and culture, consolidate the values of coexistence and civilized dialogue, and build the capacities of young people through training on leadership for peace and security.

For his part, Dr. Huwaireb reviewed the Foundation’s programmes and activities, most notably the Knowledge Summit, which held its 7th session this year in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the theme “Knowledge: Protecting Humanity and the Planet in the Pandemic.”

“The Foundation and UNDP issue an annual report on the future of knowledge, which features recommendations for policymakers to support countries in developing cooperation and innovation capabilities,” he added.

The meeting touched upon the proposed areas of cooperation between ICESCO and the Foundation, including Arabic language, promotion of various knowledge paths, participation in the events of each party, and the organization of joint events.

At the end of the meeting, the two parties agreed to hold joint expert meetings to discuss in detail the programmes and activities of each party and develop an executive plan to build fruitful cooperation.

In recognition of his efforts in supporting women and community service as well as the success of the programs and activities of ICESCO’s Year of Women initiative 2021, the Arab Women’s Council for Social Responsibility honored Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO). Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, awarded ICESCO DG the Golden Shield of Excellence 2022, on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, during the opening of the 6th Regional Forum for Arab Women in Dubai, under the theme: “Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility after Covid-19.”

After receiving the Shield, Dr. AlMalik delivered a speech in which he expressed his gratitude to the Arab Women’s Council, stressing that ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations accord particular importance to supporting girls and women in all fields, as they are the foundation for building developed and prosperous societies, pointing to ICESCO key programs and activities implemented in this regard.

He also reviewed ICESCO’s key achievements during the Year of Women, pointing out that the Organization’s proclamation of 2021 as the Year of Women under the theme “Women and the Future” came as evidence of ICESCO’s deep awareness of the importance of the role of women in society and as an appreciation of their efforts in addressing the negative effects of the Covid 19 pandemic and the sacrifices they made in facing this unprecedented pandemic, inside and outside their homes.

ICESCO DG commended the choice of the theme of the 6th Regional Forum for Arab Women 2022 by the Arab Women’s Council, headed by Ms. Lynne Daglawe Moukarzel, under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and the League of Arab States, and in strategic partnership with the Arab Organization for Social Responsibility and cooperation with the Beirut Bar Association and Excellence Awards Academy. He explained that “sustainable development and social responsibility after Covid 19,” has become a common topic, especially in light of the great global challenges that require solidarity and joint action to be eradicated.

Dr. Al-Malik concluded his speech by inviting the Arab Women’s Council for Social Responsibility to hold its next meeting at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat.

The Council’s 6th Forum, which is held on June 15-16, witnessed the participation of high-level leaders, businesswomen and businessmen from various Arab countries. It aims to encourage women to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, which rely on a collective responsibility to promote economic development, inclusive social development and environmental protection, as well as to establish a roadmap to achieve a better and more sustainable future after the Covid-19 pandemic. It also seeks to provide a high-level platform for interaction between participants of various specializations to strengthen the role of women and their partnership in achieving comprehensive social and development responsibility.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Euromed University of Fez in the Kingdom of Morocco held a meeting to review the key achievements of the ICESCO Chair, “Women in Science: Artificial Intelligence and the Future” and the major activities and research works which were implemented and supported by the Chair during its first year at the University, in line with ICESCO’s approach to open up to universities and promote girls’ presence in scientific fields.

The meeting was held on Monday, June 13, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat between Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, and Dr. Mostapha Bousmina, President of Euromed University. The two parties expressed their keenness to sustain the fruitful cooperation between ICESCO and the University regarding this special chair, which strives to promote AI research works, and encourages girls and women’s participation in this field, among others.

For her part, Dr. Maha Kamira, Chair Coordinator, presented a report on the key achievements scored by the Chair in its first year, in addition to the projects, training sessions, workshops and seminars that the Chair held or took part in, noting that several innovations have been invented, which the Chair is currently working on patenting.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of the Sector of Science and Technology; Dr. Kais Hammami, Head of the Center for Strategic Foresight; Ms. Sally Mabrouk, Head of the Director-General’s Office; Dr. Adel Smeda, Expert at the Sector of Science and Technology. The ICESCO officials all commended the Chair’s achievements, highlighting the importance of cooperation and coordination between the Chair and several ICESCO programs in many of ICESCO’s Member States relating to its field of competence.

The Headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat hosted today, Saturday, June 11, 2022, the activities of the Annual Scientific and Educational Fair that the Scientific Junior High School in Agdal organized in cooperation with ICESCO. The Fair aims at nurturing students’ talents, creativity and scientific thinking, achieving educational and scientific excellence, and shifting from theoretical knowledge to scientific and technological applications.
This Fair reflects ICESCO’s keenness to support talents and scientific and innovative thinking, and develop students’ creativity and sense of initiative, as part of the Organization’s new vision which aims to achieve excellence and creativity in schools by building capacities and developing future skills that are necessary for an ever-developing world that relies on technology and AI.

Moreover, this Fair highlights an educational necessity aimed at addressing students’ needs, honing their readiness, building their capacities and skills and helping them actively interact with the learning material. It also aims to develop their talents, achievements and creations, achieve complementarity between theory and practice in school curricula, and consolidate understanding of scientific facts.

In his address, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, congratulated the students and teaching staff of the Scientific Junior High School of Agdal for the success of this Fair, expressing the Organization’s keenness to develop cooperation prospects in similar fairs.

The Fair was opened by Dr. Kombou Boly Barry, Head of ICESCO Education Sector, and Dr. Majid Khannas School Principal of the Scientific Junior High School of Agdal. The Fair was attended by more than 200 students and a large number of parents, in addition to the jury members tasked with assessing the projects and innovations and experts from the Education Sector.

Following the opening ceremony, the Scientific Commission, which consisted of prominent inventors and professors and experts specializing in scientific research, took stock of the projects and inventions and held its deliberations. The Fair concluded its proceedings with the announcement of winners who received incentive prizes.

The pavilion of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) at the International Book and Publishing Fair in Rabat held a dialogue session on Saturday, June 11, 2022, to introduce ICESCO’s Cultural Capitals Program in the Islamic world and the reasons for declaring Rabat as Culture Capital in the Islamic world for 2022, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, with the participation of Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication in the Kingdom of Morocco, and Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General.

During the session, which was moderated by Mr. Najib Riati, Cultural Adviser to ICESCO Director-General, Dr. AlMalik stated that the selection of Rabat as Culture Capital in the Islamic world for 2022 is due to its literary and cultural richness and historical monuments, as it has all the components that ICESCO is looking for in Culture Capitals Program.

He pointed out that ICESCO’s Cultural Capitals Program has recently witnessed transformation and renewal since its establishment. It has become more focused on including the fields of tourism and education, and the involvement of many stakeholders to promote cultural and scientific fields.

He added that ICESCO Headquarters will witness the opening of the International Exhibition and Museum of the Biography of the Prophet and Islamic Civilization on July 25, 2022, which will be held within the framework of the celebration of Rabat as the Culture Capital in the Islamic world 2022, in partnership between ICESCO, the Muslim World League, and the Mohammadia League of Scholars in Morocco. The exhibition includes modern display technologies to narrate and document in detail the biography of our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The first exhibition outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be in the Kingdom of Morocco, which indicates the distinguished relations between the two countries.

For his part, Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid highlighted the cultural radiance of Rabat and its global civilization dimension, noting that the Chellah archaeological site has hosted multiple civilizations over history.

He stressed that during this year, various cultural, artistic and musical activities will be organized with the participation of various stakeholders and that celebrating Rabat as Culture Capital in the Islamic world will contribute to strengthening the cultural industry, reviewing the Ministry’s programs, activities and initiatives to be implemented within the framework of this celebration.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa highlighted the cultural dimension of the city of Rabat, and that its declaration as Culture Capital in the Islamic world for 2022 restores its cultural importance, pointing out that ICESCO’s Cultural Capitals Program is one of the mechanisms for valorizing, documenting and safeguarding heritage as it builds the memory that links us to the past and the future.

At the close of the session, the floor was given to the attendees to ask Dr. AlMalik, Mr. Mehdi Bensaid and Dr. Benarfa, questions about ICESCO’s Cultural Capitals Program in the Islamic world.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stressed the importance of civil society institutions as they provide societal experience to help government developmental programs become more equitable and just, and seize training opportunities to develop the workforce of society, in addition to their ability to positively contributing to the development of strategic and periodic plans as they include various societal forces.

This statement was part of the address that Dr. AlMalik delivered, on Thursday (June 9, 2022), in Tétouan, at the launch of the Celebration of “Tétouan, Capital of Moroccan Civil Society for 2022,” under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, held by the International Civil Society Organization for the Values of Citizenship, Development and Dialogue, in cooperation with Tétouan Asmir Association for Cultural, Socio-economic and Sports Development, in the presence of a group of ministers and officials of the Moroccan government, representatives of regional and international organizations, and civil society figures.

ICESCO DG explained that the civil society’s potential stems from a real extrapolation of the societal needs, commending the selection of Tétouan as the Capital of Moroccan Civil Society for 2022 similarly to the Celebration of Rabat as Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022, both under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him.

He also praised the features of Tétouan, including its ancient wall, whose full construction took over three hundred years, and its seven historical gates. Tétouan is the memory of Andalusia. It deserved the compliment saying “This is Tétouan… this is its generosity to the civilization of all time.”

Dr. AlMalik concluded his address by reciting the poem he dedicated to Tétouan, under the title: “Princess of Doves.”
The International Civil Society Organization for the Values of Citizenship, Development and Dialogue in the Kingdom of Morocco launched the “Capital of Moroccan Civil Society” Initiative in 2018 to celebrate the leading Moroccan cities in civil society action.

The programme of Tétouan, Capital of Moroccan Civil Society for 2022, includes several activities throughout the whole year, particularly symposia on the intellectual and tangible heritage of Tétouan, an exhibition of civil society works and honoring civil society actors and bodies, as well as media professionals, icons of thought, art and innovation, and distinguished and creative youth of Tétouan. It also features artistic and musical performances that highlight the city’s distinguished creativity.