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Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Washmi, Secretary-General of King Salman International Complex for Arabic Language (KSICAL), explored avenues for enhancing cooperation between the Organization and the Complex in preserving and spreading the Arabic language, elevating its status regionally and globally, and optimizing its presence in various scientific and cultural fields.

The meeting was held on Thursday, December 30, 2021, at the Complex’s headquarters in Riyadh and was attended by a number of the Complex’s officials. During the meeting, the two parties discussed means for enhancing cooperation in concert with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, particularly through the implementation of capacity-building programmes in the field of the Arabic language. The two parties also reviewed the major initiatives and training workshops organized recently by the Complex and ICESCO’s Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers.

The two parties emphasized the importance of developing and updating strategies pertinent to teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers and enriching Arabic content in the fields of science, culture, big data and artificial intelligence. They also underscored the need for supporting studies, research and applications, building capacities relevant to promoting Arabic, and establishing educational centers specialized in Arabic sciences to optimize the language’s international presence.

This meeting was also an occasion to coordinate ICESCO’s participation in the 2022 “Arabic Language in International Organizations” conference organized by KSICAL in Riyadh, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The conference aims to discuss the international presence of Arabic in organizations, its reality and aspirations, and to review the needs of these organizations in the field of the Arabic language.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Hani bin Hamza Mansi, Advisor to the Saudi National Commission, and Mr. Ahmed Said Bah, Advisor to ICESCO DG for Partnerships and International Cooperation.

Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia, to explore arrangements for holding the 9th session of the Conference of Environment Ministers in the Islamic World, due to be hosted by Saudi Arabia in 2022, and the current edition of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Award for Environmental Management in the Islamic World (KSAAEM), in coordination and consultation with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.

The meeting, held today, Thursday, December 30, 2021, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, touched upon the preparations and arrangements for holding the 9th session of the Conference of Environment Ministers in the Islamic world, due to be organized in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2022, in partnership between ICESCO and the Ministry.

The meeting also discussed the developments of KSAAEM’s current edition, whose General Secretariat is ensured by ICESCO under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia, represented by the National Center for Environmental Compliance. The meeting discussed the approval of the Higher Committee of the Award and the extension of the nomination deadline to March 31, 2022, and prospects for improving the Award and mechanisms to strengthen its presence and role in joint international environmental action.

Mr. Naif Ghazi Alshammari, Director of International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Mr. Hani bin Hamza Mansi, Advisor to the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science and Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Advisor to ICESCO DG for Partnerships and International Cooperation, attended the meeting.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Eng. Haitham bin Abdulrahman Al-Ohali, Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) in Saudi Arabia. They reviewed the comprehensive executive plan for cooperation between the Organization and the Ministry in the digital field, particularly through the development of online Arabic content, in concert with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.

The meeting was held on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh and was attended by a number of the Ministry’s officials and advisors. During the meeting, the two parties agreed on implementing a set of programs in the various ICESCO Member States over the period 2022-2025, notably the “Attaa Digital” Hackathon Project, which will be implemented in Egypt, in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Egypt. The Hackathon will be a youth-oriented pilot project open to all Arab countries. ICESCO will facilitate coordination and communication with these countries’ National Commissions for Education, Science and Culture to ensure their participation.

The two parties also discussed the proposed mechanisms for implementing the cooperation programs and activities contained in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between ICESCO and the MCIT to cooperate on spreading technical awareness and enriching technical Arabic content. The MoU was signed during the 14th Session of ICESCO’s General Conference, hosted by Egypt, under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The MoU sets out the framework for implementing joint programs for training, conducting joint research and studies, providing advisory services to the Member States in the areas of cooperation, launching specialized platforms and developing websites and applications.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed on establishing a working group consisting of representatives of ICESCO, the Ministry and the Saudi National Commission to follow up on the implementation of the cooperation programs.

Mr. Hattan M. Bin Samman, Secretary-General of the Saudi National Commission, Mr. Hani bin Hamza Mansi, Advisor to the Commission, and Mr. Ahmed Said Bah, Advisor to ICESCO DG for Partnerships and International Cooperation, attended the meeting.

Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with HRH Princess Lamia Bint Majed Al Saud, Secretary-General of Alwaleed Philanthropies, and together they reviewed the outcomes of joint programs during 2021. The parties explored future cooperation projects between the Organization and the Foundation, in coordination with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.

During the meeting, held yesterday, 28 December 2021, at the headquarters of the Alwaleed Philanthropies in Riyadh, ICESCO DG reiterated his gratitude to HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Chairman of the Alwaleed Philanthropies, for the Foundation’s support for ICESCO including a donation of USD 2,090,000 to implement projects aiming at mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through supporting women and youth entrepreneurship. These projects provided assistance to 10 African countries to address the repercussions of the pandemic. Dr. AlMalik also provided the Secretary-General with statistics and operational data pertaining to the implementation of the program in all the beneficiary countries.

For her part, HRH Princess Lamia commended ICESCO’s tireless efforts, stressing the eagerness of Alwaleed Philanthropies to further develop partnerships with the Organization.

During the meeting, the two parties explored ways to develop constructive partnership and cooperation between ICESCO and Alwaleed Philanthropies, through sustaining cooperation on projects related to countering the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, through the production of educational media materials, as well as face masks, sanitizers, liquid soap, detergents and various protection tools. They also agreed to sustain cooperation on building the capacities of women and youth to promote peace, security, and coexistence among cultures and civilizations.

The meeting also touched upon a project for cooperation related to mobile health services, which is an integrated mobile medical unit targeting vulnerable and needy groups in several countries, especially in remote and rural areas. The meeting also explored prospects of cooperation in the field of safeguarding tangible and intangible heritage, especially in the African region, encouraging ICESCO Member States to inscribe their heritage sites, particularly endangered ones, on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage Lists and UNESCO’s World Heritage List, and providing support to the Member States where these sites are located.

Mr. Hattan Munir bin Samman, Secretary-General of the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, Mr. Hani bin Hamza Mansi, Advisor to the Commission and Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Advisor to ICESCO DG for Partnerships and International Cooperation, attended the meeting, along with several female executives at Alwaleed Philanthropies.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Abdullah bin Muhammad Al-Walidi, DG of the National eLearning Center, and together they explored cooperation prospects between ICESCO and the Center in the field of e-learning and discussed its potential and ways to develop digital educational content to promote the quality of education in the Islamic world.

During the meeting, held today, Thursday 23 December 2021, at the headquarters of the Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the two parties explored the methodologies and mechanisms necessary for supporting e-learning in the ICESCO Member States in 2022, including offering e-learning licenses and sharing them with the Member States, developing cooperation in the field of building capacities to obtain professional e-learning certificates, and holding workshops and training sessions where experts from ICESCO and the Center can provide e-learning support to countries in need.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties reaffirmed their keenness to promote cooperation and partnership between the Organization and the Center, in coordination with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, to share the Kingdom’s successful experiences and vast expertise in the field of e-learning with several ICESCO’s Member States. They also agreed to work together to launch e-learning initiatives, prizes, and projects and support relevant studies and research works.

Mr. Hani bin Hamza Mansi, Advisor to the Saudi National Commission, Dr. Ahmad Said Bah, Advisor to ICESCO DG, for Partnerships and International Cooperation, attended the meeting in addition to a number of officials at the Center.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Alissa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL). They reviewed the outcomes of the fruitful partnership between ICESCO and the League in 2021, particularly with regard to following up the implementation of the resolutions and recommendations of the International Conference on the Civilizational Values in the Prophet’s Seerah.

During the meeting, held yesterday, Wednesday 22 December 2021, at the League’s headquarters in Riyadh, the two parties discussed the programs and activities scheduled for implementation in cooperation between ICESCO and the MWL in 2022. These include the Second Session of the International Conference on the Civilizational Values in the Prophet’s Seerah, following up on the publishing of studies and research works, and organizing training sessions and workshops on promoting the values of tolerance, middle stance and moderation.

The two parties also agreed to co-hold several intellectual and academic seminars in 2022, in line with the outcomes of the International Conference on the Civilizational Values in the Prophet’s Seerah, and reaffirmed the importance of sustaining cooperation between ICESCO and the League to highlight the true image of the Islamic civilization.