Category: Director General

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and Ibn Zohr University in Agadir, Morocco, signed a partnership agreement to create an ICESCO Chair on Argan Trees at the said University. The Chair aims at supporting, encouraging, and supervising research works on Argan trees and their means of preservation, as well as dedicating awards to outstanding research works in the field of Argan trees development and preservation.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG); Dr. Said Amzazi, Minister of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research, President of the Moroccan National Committee for Education, Science and Culture; Dr. Driss Ouaouicha, Minister Delegate in Charge of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Morocco and Dr. Abdelaziz Bendou, President of Ibn Zohr University, signed the agreement yesterday, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at the headquarters of the Center of National Trainings and Meetings, in Rabat. Mr. Jamal Eddine El Aloua, Secretary-General of the Moroccan National Commission well as several presidents of Moroccan universities, officials and directors at the Moroccan Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research attended the signing ceremony.

In his address at the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik stated that the Chair aims to encourage research works on Argan trees since it is considered an intangible cultural heritage, a medical plant found in abundance in the southern regions of Morocco and an environmental treasure which offers investment opportunities, especially for the rural women through engaging in Argan products cooperatives.

The DG added that the establishment of the Chair is part of ICESCO’s new vision which adopts an open-door policy, noting that the Organization has created an International Network of Chairs for Science, Thought, Letters and Arts to support research works in these fields.

Dr. Amzazi explained that the Chair will oversee research works on Argan trees preservation and development mechanisms in addition to launching awards to encourage outstanding research works in the field.

The agreement provides for selecting scientific research topics on Argan trees, overseeing their completion and execution, organizing calls for proposals on research works related to the Chair’s topic, as part of an awards program, as well as assigning a jury to select outstanding works. In addition, the agreement provides for presenting the National Commission with the necessary information to prepare periodical reports to be submitted regularly to ICESCO, which will support the chair’s activities.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), reaffirmed the Organization’s readiness to support, within the framework of its strategy and new vision, the efforts of its Member States to ensure the continuity of the educational process and to support them in facing the numerous challenges undermining younger generations’ right to education, welfare, and development. He also noted that despite the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the educational situation in many parts of the world, there are many opportunities available compared to the risks and challenges.

Dr. AlMalik made the statement in his address at the ceremony of distributing electronic tablets to several students in the region of Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Morocco, on Saturday, July 24, 2021. The ceremony was attended by Dr. Saaïd Amzazi, Minister of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research, President of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture; Dr. Driss Ouaouicha, Minister Delegate in Charge of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Kingdom of Morocco; Mr. Lamine Benomar, Wali of the Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab Region; Mr. Jamal Eddine El Aloua, Secretary-General of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture; Dr. Abdelaziz Bendou, President of Ibn Zohr University; as well as some officials from the education sector in the Kingdom of Morocco.

Dr. AlMalik stressed that ICESCO is anticipating a new educational era, which is the era of the digital school that relies on AI innovations, noting that the pandemic has accelerated the pace of this transition. In this regard, he stressed, countries of the Islamic world must be well prepared to be among the first countries to embrace the new trend and develop their educational systems.

ICESCO DG also commended the dynamics, projects, and forward-looking plans of the Moroccan educational system, guided by the wise strategic vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, congratulating the Moroccan Monarch for his major and noble efforts to overcome the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

For his part, Dr. Said Amzazi hailed the fruitful cooperation with ICESCO and its efforts to support its Member States’ education systems, as well as its remarkable achievements over the past two years.

The distribution of the electronic tablets to many students in the Dakhla Region is part of the cooperation program between ICESCO, the Moroccan Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture.

Following the ceremony, the participants took part in the inauguration of the Higher School of Technology (EST) of Dakhla. Established with a nearly 40 million MAD budget, the school has a capacity of 1000 students. This project is part of the diversification of the university offer in the region, by providing new specialties.

The participants in the roundtable on “Reimagining Youth Skills Post-Pandemic,” that the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) held, presented a set of ideas on ways to adapt educational systems to the needs of young people, and the importance of reconciling educational curricula with the skills necessary for addressing the changes and challenges of the labor market. The meeting gathered several experts and specialists yesterday Thursday, July 15, 2021, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat.

In his speech, Dr. Salim Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), stressed that the Organization takes into account the importance of building the capacities of young people and developing their creative potentials to excel in their professional lives through holding a series of training courses to provide them with the necessary tools to face future challenges, enhance their proactive capabilities and contribute to the sustainable development of their societies.

Dr. AlMalik added that ICESCO seeks to support the countries of the Islamic world in all fields related to education, science, and culture, especially in building the capacities of youth and women, using artificial intelligence, and instilling the values ​​of dialogue and coexistence. He pointed out that the roundtable is a step towards further cooperation with the UNICEF in protecting the rights of children and young people to help them meet their needs and increase their opportunities to achieve their aspirations.

Ms. Giovanna Barberis, UNICEF Representative in Morocco, indicated that the global repercussions of the Covid 19 pandemic prompt us to act to enhance youth resilience. She stated that the roundtable is an opportunity to listen to young people’s views and aspirations, and review their skills and ways to develop them; and as such, it is a starting point for a series of fruitful activities and meetings with ICESCO.

Then, Mr. Khalid Chenguiti, Education Specialist at UNICEF, made a presentation on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people and their skills and indicated that in order to develop them, there is a need to proceed with the implementation of a methodological and comprehensive vision of education in the countries of the Islamic world. Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of ICESCO’s Center for Strategic Foresight, explained the importance of foresight for young people and gave an overview of the work of the Center and its role in promoting a culture of foresight in the countries of the Islamic world.

Mr. Ahmad Outizki, a pedagogical inspector of Arabic at the Moroccan Ministry of Education, emphasized that the “Maharati” (My Skills) project has contributed to the improvement of young people’s skills within the school, through the promotion of teachers’ pedagogical approaches. For her part, the high school student Sabrine Amiziane reviewed her experience in the program “UpShift” Morocco, as well as the methods used in her workshops to develop skills other than those acquired at school. Ms. Oumaima Fariq, the program coordinator at “Douar Tech”, touched upon the importance of disseminating digital skills-focused programs among young people.

This roundtable also saw the participation of Dr. Koumbou Barry, Head of the Education Sector at ICESCO, who emphasized the important role of the family in the development of young people’s capacities to become active actors and to contribute to bringing about change within societies to facilitate their transition to professional life.

The roundtable concluded with a discussion session during which participants shared their views and opinions.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the fields of education, childhood development, youth capacity building, development of training on tomorrow’s professions, and artificial intelligence applications to strengthen human capital, protect the rights of children and youth, and preparing and qualifying them to face the future.

Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, the supervisor of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector at the Organization, and Ms. Giovanna Barberis, UNICEF Representative in Morocco, signed the MoU, during a ceremony organized July 15, 2021, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, in the presence of several directors of Sectors and Departments and advisors at ICESCO, and some UNICEF officials.

In his speech during the ceremony, Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman stressed the importance of signing the MoU between ICESCO and UNICEF in protecting the rights of children and youth, helping them meet their needs, and upgrading their capacities to acquire the skills necessary for social and economic integration.

Ambassador Fathalrahman pointed out that ICESCO supports the countries of the Islamic world in all fields related to education, science and culture, and works to qualify women and enhance the capacities of youth through the use of artificial intelligence and strategic foresight to find adequate solutions to future challenges.

Mrs. Giovanna Barberis expressed her happiness at signing the MoU, noting that the areas of joint action of ICESCO and UNICEF will contribute to promoting the rights of children and youth in Morocco, and constitute an opportunity to share information, experiences and good practices in the fields of education, early childhood, youth, and social integration.

The MoU between ICESCO and UNICEF provides for cooperation in sharing information and knowledge on projects and programs related to education and childhood development, and the social and economic integration of youth, to benefit from the experiences and expertise of each party; cooperation in holding the Early Childhood Conference in 2022; promotion of a culture of foresight among youth to raise awareness among them about the future opportunities; launching the “Future from a Youth Perspective” campaign, and participating in organizing forums and workshops on topics of common interest.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) launched on Thursday, July 15, 2021, “ICESCO Network of International Digital Platforms for Culture, Arts and Heritage.” The Network is part of ICESCO’s “Paths towards the Future Program” and aims to promote cultural awareness among young people in the Islamic world through providing artistic, literary, and scientific tools. The Network also aims to build women and young people’s capacities through encouraging cultural entrepreneurship.

ICESCO launched the Network in a meeting that brought together ICESCO leaderships and experts and several young interns at the Culture and Communication Sector, who made presentations on the components of the Network. In his remarks on the presentations, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), commended the efforts that both ICESCO leaderships and interns exerted, calling on all parties to continue their work to promote heritage, arts, and literature in the Islamic world. He also stressed the importance of promoting creative cultural industries and heritage handicrafts that most adequately reflect the Islamic civilization and culture.

ICESCO DG expressed his delight at launching such a network, which embodies ICESCO’s new vision in its anticipation of the future, embrace of the protection of the Islamic civilization heritage and promotion of its role in preserving identity and promoting sustainable development.

The ICESCO Network of International Digital Platforms for Culture, Arts, and Heritage is composed of two main categories. ICESCO International Art Programs, the first category, includes ICESCO Fund for Creative Intelligence, the Digital Library, and ICESCO Center for Cinema and Pictures (ICESCO Web TV). It also includes three platforms, namely the Interactive Platform for Creative Intelligence and Cultural Industries, the Youth Interactive Platform, and the Young Creations Platform.

As for ICESCO Arts Center, the second category, it includes ICESCO Portal for Heritage in the Islamic World, the Virtual Museum, the Virtual Opera House, and the Literature House. It also includes ICESCO Museum for Contemporary Art, and ICESCO Forum Platform, an interactive platform for intellectuals, researchers and creative people across the globe.

These unique digital platforms are the result of the hard work of a host of creative and young ICESCO interns, under the supervision of ICESCO’s experts and leaderships, as part of the Organization’s strategy and plans to train and build the capacities of young people. Under the same strategy, ICESCO launched several leadership incubators to equip young people across the Islamic world with the proper future leadership skills in the fields of education, science and culture.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the European Association for Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers in Brussels, held yesterday, Wednesday, July 14, 2021, via videoconference, a coordination meeting to explore the organization of an international conference at the headquarters of the European Parliament, next December, in celebration of World Arabic Language Day.

Dr. Majdi Haji Ibrahim, Head of ICESCO Center for Arabic Language for Non-Arabic Speakers; Dr. Youssef Ismaili, Expert at the Center and Ms. Rajae Al Hakkouni, Program Assistant at the Center, represented ICESCO during the meeting. Ms. Samira ben Abdelouahab, President of the Association, and Dr. Fatima Houssni, President of the Association’s Scientific Committee, represented The European Association for Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers.

During the meeting, the two parties discussed the importance of involving international organizations and major global institutions in celebrating World Arabic Language Day and touched upon the details of the Conference, due to be held in cooperation between ICESCO and the Association. The two parties also discussed the Conference title, themes, and date, along with the list of proposed participants. They agreed on holding a parallel training workshop for Arabic language teachers.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed on a set of recommendations to develop a roadmap for joint-action arrangements and assign tasks to prepare for the Conference.

In recognition of the major efforts the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) exerts in the field of inscribing and preserving heritage, providing restoration and maintenance training to heritage professionals, and raising cultural awareness, the Association Espace les Oudayas gifted on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, the key to the Grand gates of the Kasbah of the Udayas to Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), during his visit.

The DG headed the ICESCO delegation that paid a visit to the Kasbah to take stock of the restoration and development works carried out in this heritage site, one of the major historical landmarks in Rabat, Morocco.

A host of the Association officials, along with the representatives of several heritage protection institutions in Morocco received the ICESCO delegation. These included Mr. Abdelrahman Al-Badraoui, President of the Association Espace les Oudayas; Mr. Fikri Benabdellah, President of the Association Rabat Salé Mémoire; and Mr. Abdelati Lehlou, President of the Moroccan Committee of the International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

The delegation toured the Kasbah and listened to an overview about the site’s heritage and historical significance for Morocco, the development it has witnessed throughout history, and the attention it currently receives in light the Kingdom’s interest in protecting and restoring heritage.

Upon receiving the Key to the Kasbah, the DG reaffirmed that the Organization accords special attention to tangible and intangible heritage of the Islamic civilization. He noted that ICESCO’s new vision adopted an action strategy on promoting this heritage, which reflects the cultural and civilizational richness of the Islamic world as well as other world countries. Dr. AlMalik added that ICESCO created the Center of Heritage in the Islamic world and inscribed more than 300 heritage sites and cultural element on the Islamic World Heritage Lists. 

The DG stated that ICESCO is working closely with its Member States to incorporate heritage preservation in school curricula at different school levels, in a bid to establish this culture among the new generations, reaffirming the Organization’s readiness to cooperate with the competent parties in the Islamic world and other world countries featuring traces of the Islamic civilization to inscribe and preserve these sites.

ICESCO delegation during the visit to the Kasbah included Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy DG; Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of the Culture and Communication Sector; Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Supervisor of the Sector of Partnerships and Cooperation; and Dr. Ahmed Said Bah; Advisor to ICESCO DG for Partnerships and Cooperation.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), recommended providing adequate and customized technical support for decision makers and officials in charge of devising and implementing education plans across the globe in order to properly achieve SDG4. He stated that ICESCO firmly supports joint strategic documents in a bid to improve international cooperation in the field of education.

Dr. AlMalik made the statement in his address at the Ministerial Roundtable of the Global Education Meeting 2021, that UNESCO held, on Thursday, July 13, 2021, via videoconference. The Meeting was held under the theme, “From recovery to accelerating SDG 4 progress,” and saw the participation of several key international figures including ministers, education experts and specialists, and activists in humanitarian and educational work.

Dr. AlMalik noted that anticipating the future of education indicates that the schools we know will undoubtedly transform into digital and virtual schools. He added that this compels us to develop innovative curricula and alternative school programs and education paths to pave the way towards the digital schools of the future.

“In line with the sustainable development plan, and considering that education is a human right, ICESCO has sustained its efforts to support its Member States since the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing school closure,” Dr. AlMalik stated. He further explained that ICESCO’s efforts were geared towards ensuring the continuity of the education process and guaranteeing the right to education for all.

Dr. Al-Malik noted, ICESCO provided its Member States with the necessary technological equipment and devices to help them transition to the new learning model. He added that the Organization prepared a document on the guidelines for re-opening schools in Member States, launched many initiatives as part of “ICESCO Digital Home” to help address the issue of “educational loss,” and provided support to 25 Member States to set up education and training e-platforms.

The DG also revealed that ICESCO is currently working on some key studies relevant to AI and smart data in education.

The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, met Today, July 13, 2021, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, with Mr. Leslie J. Baja, Ambassador of the Philippines to Morocco. The two parties explored cooperation prospects between the Organization and the Philippines in the fields of education, technology, culture, anchoring values of coexistence and civilizational dialogue.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the main axes of the Organization’s vision and action strategy, which adopt an open-door policy and promote partnerships to benefit the Member States and Muslim communities around the world. The DG highlighted the potential for cooperation between the two parties to serve the Muslim communities of the Philippines.

ICESCO DG explained that since the beginning of COVID-19, the Organization has played a key role in supporting a number of its Member States in countering the negative impact of the pandemic through launching and implementing several initiatives, programs and projects in cooperation with Member States’ competent authorities.

For his part, the Ambassador of the Philippines to Morocco commended ICESCO’s significant efforts and welcomed the development of cooperation with the Organization in its areas of competence. Mr. Baja stated that Muslim Filipinos represent a significant proportion of 11% of the total population and that his country strives to overcome certain issues facing them. He also noted that there are several institutes and research centers at Filipino universities specialized in the field of Islamic Studies.

The meeting touched upon several fields of cooperation between ICESCO and the Philippines, such as contributing to deconstructing extremist discourse, participating in peace and counter-terrorism conferences, sharing Filipino expertise with the countries of the Islamic world in teaching Medical sciences, and collaborating on artificial intelligence.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, ICESCO Deputy DG; Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of the Center of Strategic Foresight at the Organization; Dr. Ahmah Said Ould Bah, Advisor to ICESCO DG for Partnerships and International Cooperation and Ms. Monera Fatima Siriban, Philippines Vice-Consul in Rabat, attended the meeting.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), will participate on August 2021 in the 36th session of the Space Forum, held annually by the American Space Foundation since 1984 in the State of Colorado, USA. This event is considered the first American Forum for the discussion of space policies and programs and the discovery of the latest developments in this field.
The Director-General will be a keynote speaker at the Forum, which will bring together a large number of leaders, decision-makers, and all sectors of the space community from several spacefaring nations, as well as space agencies, commercial space companies, cyber-security companies, federal government agencies and organizations, and the state governments of the U.S. Also participating will be R&D centers, educational institutions, space entrepreneurs, private spaceflight service providers, companies involved in the adaptation, manufacture or sale of space technologies for commercial use, in addition to specialized media.
The Forum’s agenda includes the discussion of many important topics, most notably a “forward-looking agenda,” as well as a wide range of parallel activities, including an exhibition on the latest innovations in space and major advances in space technology, from nanotechnology to spacecraft, with the participation of over 200 exhibitors.
For the record, ICESCO and the American Space Foundation are bound together by ties of close cooperation for the promotion of space sciences and programs in the Islamic world, as part of ICESCO’s new vision and strategy to raise awareness of the importance of space sciences and technologies and the huge potential offered by their technological applications to achieve sustainable development. The two parties co-organized the 1st International Forum on “Space Science: Importance, Challenges and New Opportunities in the Space Industry and the Islamic World” on 10 June 2021 under the theme: “Innovators of Tomorrow,” which was attended by an elite space program managers and experts, scientists and astronauts from around the world.