Category: Front Page

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) co-organized the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Linguistics, hosted by the Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, and held by the American University of Sharjah, in cooperation with the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.

The opening of the conference, on Thursday, October 17, 2024, saw the presence of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, and Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the American University, as well as a number of experts and specialists, who enriched the discussion on the intersection between artificial intelligence and natural language processing, and shed light on various topics such as the government strategy for language intelligence and culture, in addition to language, culture and identity in the digital age.

During the session on “AI and the future of language learning: innovations and impact”, Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of ICESCO’s Center of Strategic Foresight and Artificial Intelligence, gave a presentation on how AI technologies can contribute to the development of language learning methodologies. He also discussed the ethical challenges of integrating AI into education and its potential to improve language proficiency assessments.

In the session on “AI-assisted multilingualism”, Dr. Majdi Haj Ibrahim, Head of ICESCO’s Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, emphasized the pivotal role of AI in promoting multilingualism in the era of globalization, and highlighted in his presentation the opportunities and challenges of using AI technologies to develop language learning, translation and communication among diverse linguistic groups.

In parallel with the two-day conference sessions, ICESCO had a special stand to introduce participants and visitors to the Organization’s efforts and programs in the field of artificial intelligence and education, and the activities of the Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers in placing Arabic in the prestigious position it deserves.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in collaboration with the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, has launched the 2024-2025 third annual edition of the international “Mishkat Al-Arabiya” Program for Educational Training and Continuing Professional Development. This year’s theme is: “Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers in the Era of Technology and Artificial Intelligence.”

The 3rd annual of the Program, aimed at educational professionals working in the field of teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic speakers, kicked off with a workshop titled: “Modern technology in the service of contemporary language education: Arabic as a model.” The workshop took place at the “Mishkat Al-Arabiya” hall at ICESCO’s headquarters on October 16-17, 2024. The workshop was attended both in-person and online by 175 participants, including teachers of Arabic as a second language, divided into groups from 12 countries: Chad, Benin, Guinea, Cameroon, Senegal, Malaysia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Vietnam, and Morocco. Additionally, remote participants from various other countries and regions joined the workshop.

This inaugural training workshop, led by Dr. Mustapha Jaghboub, Expert in educational technology, aimed to enhance participants’ skills and competencies in using digital applications for educational purposes. These tools provide a highly diverse range of educational resources, methods, and materials that improve the quality of language lessons and encourage positive student interaction. The workshop included hands-on sessions where the expert guided participants in designing digital resources for teaching certain linguistic topics, taking into account instructional methods aligned with the digital industry.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in collaboration with the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, held an introductory workshop on the Hamdan-ICESCO Prize for Voluntary Development of Educational Facilities in the Islamic World. The Workshop aimed to highlight the significance of this Prize and to review the eligibility criteria for nominations and competition.

The Workshop, held on Monday, October 14, 2024, via videoconferencing, was hosted at “Mishkat” Hall at ICESCO headquarters. It saw the participation of several members of national commissions from Member States, along with representatives from associations, organizations, and institutions involved in educational facility development.

The Workshop featured a general presentation on the partnership program between ICESCO and the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences. It also included discussions on the ICESCO-Hamdan system for educational proficiency in the field of Arabic for non-Arabic speakers, known as “Mishkat,” as well as a detailed presentation on the Hamdan-ICESCO Prize for Voluntary Development of Educational Facilities in the Islamic World. This presentation covered the Prize’s achievements, criteria, and future prospects.

During the Workshop, attendees heard a testimonial from the Royal Humanitarian Foundation of the Kingdom of Bahrain, one of the institutions that won the Prize in its 3rd edition.

The Workshop was supervised by Dr. Ahmed Said Ould Bah, Advisor to the DG for Partnerships and International Cooperation, Mr. Adel Bouraoui, Advisor to the DG responsible for ICESCO’s external bodies in the field of Arabic language, and Mr. Mohammed Al Owais from the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, who provided an overview of the technical steps for applying for the Prize through its official website.

The Islamic World Heritage Committee (IWHC) announced the inscription of 91 historical sites and cultural elements on the tentative and final lists of tangible and intangible heritage in the Islamic world. This announcement was part of the Final Report of the 12th IWHC Meeting, held in Shusha, Republic of Azerbaijan, on 8-9 October 2024. With this latest addition, the number of cultural properties inscribed has reached 724 sites and elements.

Upon examining the nomination files submitted by ICESCO Member States, the IWHC adopted the inscription of 69 historical sites and cultural elements in the Final List from 23 countries, namely, Jordan, the UAE, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Oman, Nigeria, Palestine, Egypt, Morocco, Mauritania, Iran, Burkina Faso, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Russia, Afghanistan, Guinea, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Niger, and Syria.

The Committee also adopted the inscription of 22 files on the Tentative List submitted by four countries, namely Uzbekistan, Palestine, Mauritania and Egypt.

Likewise, the 12th IWHC adopted the Report of the Activities of the Heritage Centre for 2024; the Heritage Center Vision and Strategies for the Next Biennium; and the Proposal Methods and Process of Inscription on the Islamic World Heritage List. The Committee also issued decisions to adopt the “Heritage Fund in the Islamic World”; “Green heritage”; “Museums and illicit trafficking in cultural property in the Islamic World”; and “The Cultural and Intellectual Register of the Islamic World”.

At the close of the meeting, hosted by Shusha as part of its celebration at the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2024, the Committee issued a number of recommendations, notably, dedicating a number of programs to raise the awareness of students and youth of the importance of cultural heritage; holding intensive training workshops for workers in heritage sites and museums in the Member States; and submitting more files on heritage sites and cultural elements for inscription on the Islamic World Heritage List. The Committee also recommended publicizing heritage sites, and cultural elements inscribed on the Final List of Heritage in the Islamic World; ensuring their update using alternative means and modern technologies; and enriching the Portal of Heritage in the Islamic World.

In celebration of the World Mental Health Day, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade, WHO, European Union Delegation in Morocco, Arab Voluntary Union in Bahrain held a round-table under the theme: “All for the Mental Health and Well-Being of Youth”, to raise awareness of the importance of concerting efforts at all levels to address mental health issues and support people suffering from mental disorders.

In his speech at the opening of the round-table, today, Wednesday (9 October 2024) at the headquarters of the Ministry of Youth and Culture – Youth Sector – in Rabat, Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, touched upon the relationship between mental health and culture, stating that cultural activities contribute to reducing mental illnesses and disorders. He gave an overview of ICESCO’s anti-bullying programme, which includes holding a series of educational workshops, lectures and various competitions.

For her part, Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of the Social and Human Sciences Sector at ICESCO, praised the fruitful partnership between ICESCO, the Ministry and the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade, which culminated in holding this roundtable. She also reviewed ICESCO’s efforts in the field of health and psychological care.

Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco, in a speech delivered on his behalf by Mr. Mustafa Al-Masoudi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication – Youth Sector, praised the distinguished partnership between the Ministry and ICESCO, translated in a number of programmes and projects.

For his part, Mr. Ismail Taqi, Head of Trade Facilitation Department at the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade, pointed out that mental health is one of the determinants of social balance to achieve development at various levels, and that the Centre pays great attention to youth.

Mr. Fouad Chafiqi, Inspector General of Educational Affairs at the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports in the Kingdom of Morocco, reviewed the Ministry’s strategy to combat school violence.

Following the opening session, the participants officially launched the Psychological First Aid Guide, and the graphic story “Show Me Your Smile”, by the Egyptian writer Hegra Mahmoud Al-Sawy Ahmed, which deals with the phenomenon of bullying in schools. Then the winners of the story illustrations competition were announced, with artist Badr Rahawi came first, Osama Otrot second, and Youssef Rahali from the Kingdom of Morocco came third.

The winners of the Innovation Lab-Youth Changemakers Initiative 2024, launched in partnership between ICESCO, the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco, and the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade, were also announced as part of ICESCO’s International Forum “From Youth for Youth”.

For the record, the first session of the roundtable discussed “Confronting Mental Health Challenges in Times of Crisis: Drawing Lessons from Best Practices and Case Studies”, while the second session debated: “ICESCO’s Anti-Bullying Programme: Enhancing Shared Knowledge to Build a Strong Psychological Future for Children and Youth”.

The 12th meeting of the Islamic World Heritage Committee (IWHC), being hosted in Shusha, Republic of Azerbaijan, as part of the celebration of Shusha as Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2024, kicked off on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. The meeting will examine Member States’ nomination files of historical sites and cultural elements for inscription on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List, review the vision and activities of ICESCO’s Heritage Center, present its 2024 publications, and discuss major challenges facing the Center.

The meeting began with the address of Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), delivered on his behalf by Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of ICESCO’s Culture and Communication Sector, in which he reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to support efforts aimed at preserving the Islamic world’s heritage through a series of books published to identify endangered archaeological sites and cultural elements, and inscribe more historical sites and cultural elements on the Islamic world heritage lists, which so far include a total of 637 sites and cultural elements.

He explained that ICESCO, in cooperation with specialists and experts from various countries, is striving to achieve a qualitative leap in heritage preservation, and seeks through its action plans and its Islamic World Heritage Center to strengthen the capacities of heritage stakeholders by providing them with the necessary knowledge tools to carry out their activities in conformity with international standards.

In his address, Eng. Mohammed Al-Aidarous, Chairman of the Islamic World Heritage Committee, thanked the Republic of Azerbaijan for hosting the meeting, indicating that the meeting will discuss a number of major issues affecting the Islamic world’s heritage, which will support the restoration and preservation of heritage.

In her address, Ms. Saadet Yusifova, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, pointed out that heritage faces a number of challenges that may threaten its existence, particularly conflicts and wars, and that the preservation of this heritage is a right for future generations.

Dr. Webber Ndoro, Head of ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage Center, presented the Center’s next two-year strategy, its vision and priorities, and its key programs and activities. The Center’s experts presented a number of documents and reports on the finalization of the Islamic World Heritage Portal and highlighted the Center’s partnerships, in addition to a presentation on the major publications of ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage Center for 2024.