Category: Director General

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held a series of meetings with several heads of delegation taking part in the UN Transforming Education Pre-Summit, which kicked off on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The Director-General highlighted ICESCO’s strategic roadmap and explored with the heads of the delegation the prospects of cooperation in the fields of education, science and culture, as well as coordination regarding the Transforming Education Summit, to be held next September in New York during the 77th General Assembly.
During his meeting with the Iranian delegation, chaired by Mr. Mahdi Fayyazi, Secretary-General of the Iranian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, Director of the Center for International Affairs and Schools Abroad at the Iranian Ministry of Education, Dr. AlMalik and the ICESCO delegation explored the latest cooperation development between the Organization and Iran and discussed the major programs and activities of ICESCO’s Regional Center in Iran. The two parties also expressed their keenness to promote cooperation and partnership in implementing new programs within the framework of ICESCO’s strategic orientations.

The Iranian delegation renewed the invitation extended to the Director-General to visit Iran and stressed their country’s sustained support for ICESCO and its various initiatives, programs and activities.

Moreover, the Director-General met with Dr. Adel Al-Busaisi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Iraq, and together they explored cooperation prospects between the Organization and Iraq in the fields of education, science and culture by agreeing on the implementation of a number of joint programs and projects that meet the priorities of Iraq within ICESCO’s areas of competence and in line with the Organization’s strategic orientations as contained in its strategic roadmap 2022.

The two parties also discussed cooperation between ICESCO and the competent Iraqi authorities in organizing international conferences, seminars, workshops and specialized training sessions to contribute to building the capacities of women and young people in areas of education, science and culture.

In addition, Dr. AlMalik met with Mr. Salah Khaled, Director of UNESCO Doha Office for Gulf States and Yemen, UNESCO Representative to Gulf States and Yemen, and together discussed the prospects of building strong cooperation relations between the two parties in cooperation with the Gulf States. They also discussed cooperation in the fields of Arabic, heritage, education programs, statistics and other areas of common interests.

These meetings were attended by Dr. Omar Halli, Advisor to the Director-General for the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), and Ms. Somia Djakta, Director of ICESCO Office and Permanent Delegation to UNESCO.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Musa Muhammad Al-Maqrif, Libyan Minister of Education, Chairman of the Libyan National Committee for Education, Culture and Science, and discussed cooperation developments between ICESCO and the State of Libya in the fields of education, science and culture.

During the meeting, held on Thursday (23 June 2022), as part of the visit of the Libyan Minister of Education and his delegation to ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, in the presence of Dr. Said M’hamad Ed-Dbib, Permanent Delegation of Libya to ICESCO, Dr. AlMalik stressed ICESCO’s keenness to enhance communication with Member States’ National Commissions to identify their priorities and needs, and design country-tailored programmes and projects to implement them in cooperation with the competent authorities.

ICESCO Director-General indicated that ICESCO’s strategic orientations focus on building the capacities of youth and women, enhancing their orientation to entrepreneurship in innovation, encouraging the Member States to invest in space sciences, capitalizing on artificial intelligence applications in the fields of education, science and culture, consolidating the values of peace, coexistence and civilized dialogue, and contributing to preserving and promoting the heritage of the Islamic world.

The meeting touched on the key programmes, projects and training sessions that have been recently implemented in cooperation between ICESCO and the competent Libyan authorities, and the future proposals for a partnership to implement practical programmes and projects.

For his part, Dr. Al-Maqrif expressed Libya’s pride in the constructive cooperation with ICESCO and stressed its keenness to further implement qualitative programmes and projects to achieve the desired outcomes, commending the Organization’s remarkable roles and the support it provides to the Member States in its areas of competence.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, held a meeting to explore ways to promote cooperation between the two organizations in developing agricultural technology, promoting food security and environment protection, and building women and youth capacities, especially in rural areas.

During the meeting held on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, via videoconference, the two parties discussed the mechanisms of updating the MoU signed between the two organizations to set out for new cooperation programs in the field of developing agricultural technology, capitalizing on the potential of AI applications in this field, protecting the environment, achieving food security, countering wastage, building the capacities of women and the youth in rural areas and supporting them in creating income-generating projects.

The DG also highlighted the major projects and programs that ICESCO implements to support the efforts of its Member States to achieve sustainable development through encouraging the use of modern technology in the agricultural field and training women and young people in agricultural entrepreneurship.

For his part, Dr. Qu Dongyu commended ICESCO’s efforts and its open-door policy, noting that the number of Member States in the two organizations will contribute to building fruitful cooperation in expertise exchange. The FAO official also stressed the importance of updating the MoU to help build leadership capacities among women and young people.

The meeting was attended by several FAO officials, along with a team of experts from ICESCO, namely Ms. Amira Fadil, Head of the Sector of Cooperation and International Cooperation; Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor at the Sector of Science and Technology; and Ms. Rim Jirari, Head of the Section of Organizations and Bodies at the Sector of Cooperation and International Cooperation.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stressed that the Organization continuously strives to safeguard and promote the heritage of Al-Quds, which abounds with treasure troves of monotheistic religions throughout different eras, and reflects people’s diverse cultures and plural backgrounds. He added that ICESCO stands steadfast in its refusal and rejection of all Judaization attempts and commits to supporting all projects and activities that serve and preserve the identity of Al-Quds, its Mosque, its Dome of Rock and its proud and resilient people.

The DG made this statement in an address he gave at the celebration of the Al-Quds Activity Day, held by the Bait Mal Al-Quds Agency, the executive body of Al-Quds Committee, which is chaired by His Majesty King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco. The celebration was held at the Agency’s headquarters as part of the celebration of Rabat as Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022, with the participation of Dr. Mohamed Salem Echarkaoui, Director of the Agency; Mr. Jamal Al-Shobaki, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Kingdom of Morocco, and a delegation from the National Popular Congress of Al-Quds.

The DG stated that one of the strategic goals of the Programme of the Culture Capitals in the Islamic World is to highlight the richness and diversity of the capitals’ cultural heritage, as well as their cultural and art movements to promote understanding among nations and peoples. He noted that throughout history, Al-Quds has been at the forefront of cities known for its values of tolerances, diversity and long-standing history and its people who we should all support.
The DG commended the quality activities that the Agency organizes in contribution to highlighting the cultural and artistic heritage of the city of Rabat, notably the launch of the program to support the sector of culture and social activity in Al-Quds, titled “Ribat Al-Quds.”
Dr. AlMalik concluded his address by reading a poem in honor of Al-Quds, titled “Shawqu Al-Liqaa.”

The celebration of Al-Quds Activity Day featured the inauguration of a photography exhibition on Al-Quds titled, “Rabat in Al-Quds,” which was opened by the guests of honor of the celebration who visited its various exhibited collections.

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.