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Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received on Wednesday, 12 November 2025, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, Dr. Essam Al-Rubaian, President of the Civil Service Bureau of the State of Kuwait, accompanied by Counselor Saud Almutairi, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Kuwait in the Kingdom of Morocco.

The meeting discussed prospects for enhancing cooperation between ICESCO and the State of Kuwait in the fields of education, science, culture, media, and communication, as well as building practical partnerships that promote the exchange of expertise and jointly prioritized programs.

At the outset of the meeting, Dr. Benarafa welcomed the Kuwaiti delegation and reaffirmed the strength and vitality of the ties between ICESCO and Kuwait. He presented an overview of the Organization’s vision and strategic orientations, as well as the programs, projects, and activities it implements for the benefit of its Member States, particularly in advancing educational systems, modernizing curricula, and empowering women and youth and preparing them with the skills needed for future professions.

Dr. Benarafa also highlighted ICESCO’s initiatives to promote the values of coexistence, peace, and intercultural dialogue, encourage investment in technology, innovation, and AI applications, foster a culture of foresight, and enhance the global standing of the Arabic language through innovative initiatives and specialized academic and media partnerships.

For his part, Dr. Essam Al-Rubaian commended ICESCO’s leading role in advancing human development and knowledge, and in implementing practical projects that promote a culture of peace. He also praised ICESCO’s institutional progress and the wealth of expertise it has accumulated across its specialized centers and sectors. Dr. Al-Rubaian reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with ICESCO through impactful joint programs in capacity building, digital transformation in education, and supporting initiatives that promote the Arabic language.

Following the meeting, Dr. Benarafa accompanied the Kuwaiti delegation on a tour of the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization housed at ICESCO’s headquarters. The delegation was briefed on the exhibition’s educational and technological pavilions. They also visited ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector, where they were introduced to its specialized units, including the newly established studio designed to enhance the production of digital content in support of the Organization’s mission.

The meeting was attended by Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Head of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue; Dr. Ahmed Said Ould Bah, Advisor to the ICESCO Director-General; Dr. Barakat Al-Wegyan, Director of the Communication Department; and Mr. Mohammad Alahmad, Assistant Undersecretary at Kuwait’s Civil Service Commission.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated, via video conference, in the 2025 International Forum for Quality organized by the UNESCO Regional Center for Quality and Excellence in Education (RCQE), on Wednesday, 12 November 2025, on the occasion of World Quality Day. The event was held under the theme “Quality: Thinking Differently to Achieve Vision and Create Impact.”

Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Director of the Office of the Director-General and Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector, delivered an address titled “Quality of Life and Institutional Performance.” In her presentation, she outlined ICESCO’s vision to broaden the concept of quality to include human empowerment and creativity as key drivers of institutional excellence and sustainable development. She underlined that quality of life is no longer limited to material well-being but rather involves an environment that promotes creativity and entrepreneurship, particularly among youth and women.

Dr. Mabrouk also highlighted ICESCO’s efforts to promote the creative economy through its programs aimed at supporting innovation and empowering young people and women in cultural and knowledge-based fields, considering this a cornerstone for building a sustainable knowledge-based economy.

In her address, Dr. Mabrouk called for the development of a shared reference framework among Islamic world countries to measure the quality of creative life and its institutional impact. She also advocated enhanced cooperation among regional and international organizations to exchange expertise and disseminate best practices in the fields of innovation and quality.

The Forum aimed to foster a culture of quality within educational systems, promote the exchange of experiences and successful models, build capacities in performance measurement and continuous improvement, and align standards with the requirements of digital transformation, thereby enhancing innovation and improving the efficiency of educational institutions in participating countries.

The third phase of the program was launched on Tuesday, 11 November 2025, at Al-Farabi National University in Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan. The program is implemented by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation, in cooperation with ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku.

During the opening session, speakers commended the strategic cooperation between ICESCO, the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation, and academic institutions in Central Asian countries to promote the Arabic language and support its teaching programs and curricula. They emphasized the importance of this initiative in strengthening cultural and commercial ties between these countries and the Arab world. A broad meeting was also held on the sidelines of the session to explore future cooperation and the sustainability prospects of these distinguished programs.

The four-day program in Kazakhstan is led by Dr. Anas Hussam Saeed Al-Nuaimi, expert at the Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, and local expert Ilias Kadir. The two experts will present a comprehensive curriculum for teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers, and equip participants with modern methods, techniques, and digital resources to enhance the effectiveness of Arabic language teaching in non-Arabic-speaking environments.

The opening session was attended by Prof. Zhanseit Tuimebayev, Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University; Turki al-Maliki, representative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Kazakhstan; Abdulaziz Almagushi, Deputy Director-General of the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation; Dr. Suleiman al-Omari, Head of Operations at the Foundation; Mr. Bakbergen Koishibayev, the Deputy Secretary-General of the National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan; along with a number of deans, researchers, and academic and educational figures.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) welcomed the second cohort of its Young Professionals Program (YPP) on Monday, 10 November 2025. The group comprises 13 professionals from diverse nationalities selected to join a 24-month professional training across ICESCO’s sectors, departments, and specialized centers.

During the welcome ceremony, participants were introduced to ICESCO’s areas of work and flagship programs and projects through presentations delivered by various sectors and departments. These sessions outlined the Organization’s structure and operational mechanisms.

The program aims to enhance participants’ practical and professional skills through field training and direct involvement in project and activity implementation. It provides a multicultural international work environment that strengthens their expertise and prepares them to lead impactful initiatives in the future.

ICESCO selected the new cohort based on rigorous criteria of competence, excellence, and potential to contribute to institutional development. Candidates underwent multiple evaluation and testing stages, with attention to geographic and gender balance, as well as proficiency in digital, administrative, and project management skills. This aligns with the Organization’s strategic direction to strengthen its programs by investing in young talent capable of generating tangible impact and transferring expertise to work environments in Member States after the training period.

The YPP is part of ICESCO’s strategic vision to empower human capital, particularly youth, by refining their professional, digital, linguistic, and administrative skills. It also offers them the opportunity to work alongside international experts and build cross-border cooperation networks.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) reaffirmed the importance of digital technologies in achieving sustainable development and strengthening economic and social security during a workshop organized by the Organization’s Sector of Science and Environment under the theme: “The Role of Digital Technologies in Inclusive and Sustainable Development: Spotlight on SMEs and Cooperatives.”

Held virtually on Monday, 3 November 2025, the workshop brought together over 50 experts and specialists. Representatives from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), ZeroE company, and the Act4Community initiative of Morocco’s OCP Group, alongside local sustainability experts, contributed to the session.

In his address, Professor Raheel Qamar, Head of ICESCO’s Sector of Science and Environment, stressed the need to make technologies accessible to all and to adapt them to local contexts. He highlighted the pivotal role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and cooperatives in driving sustainable growth and enhancing economic and social security.

As part of the workshop proceedings, a discussion session was moderated by Dr. Issam Krimi, Dr. Adel Smaida, and Dr. Fahman Fath Al-Rahman, experts from the Sector of Science and Environment. The session explored the challenges and enablers to technology adoption among resource-limited institutions.

The workshop also examined several key themes, including strategies for leveraging open data to help SMEs and cooperatives meet Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards and expand into global markets. It further presented a case study from Safi, Morocco, showcasing how digital tools can be utilized to enhance competitiveness and ensure compliance with sustainability requirements.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) launched on Sunday, November 9, 2025, the animated film, “Show Me Your Smile”. The launch was part of the activities of the International Children’s and Youth Book Fair in Casablanca, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication in the Kingdom of Morocco, the Global Network of Religions for Children, and the Conference of Education Ministers in French Speaking States (CONFEMEN). The film screening saw the participation of 50 children, along with officials, experts, educators and media professionals.

The film “Show Me Your Smile” was produced as part of a program supervised by ICESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector and carried out by the Organization’s Media and Communication Sector. The film aims to combat bullying in schools through a creative visual story that raises awareness about the dangers of bullying and highlights ways to prevent its psychological, educational, and social impacts.

During the launch ceremony, Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of ICESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector, explained that the production is part of the “StopBully Program”, which includes a range of educational tools designed to protect childhood and promote well-being in schools through value-based education and the development of positive interaction skills.

For her part, Ms. Kenza Abourmane, Director of the Youth Sector at Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, commended the Ministry’s cooperation with ICESCO in producing educational content for children and adolescents. She highlighted the alignment of this project with national efforts to combat violence in schools and expressed the readiness of cultural institutions under the Ministry to host screenings and parallel discussions that emphasize the film’s messages and values.

In a video address, Mr. Abdel Rahamane Baba-Moussa, CONFEMEN Secretary-General, extended his thanks to Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, for this initiative that conveys moral and educational messages. He stressed that the film serves as an educational tool directed at students of different age groups.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mustafa Y. Ali, Secretary-General of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC), stressed that “a safe child is the foundation of a safe world,” which is in line with ICESCO’s vision and its continuous support for initiatives that promote and uphold this principle.

Mr. Karim Hamidouche, Acting Secretary-General of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, also commended ICESCO’s efforts to strengthen the education system and enhance safeguards for children across its Member States.

Following the screening, a discussion was held with the participating children, who shared their experiences and ideas to help prevent bullying. They emphasized the importance of seeking support when needed, and the role of families, schools, and educators in early prevention of both school and cyberbullying.