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The Education Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the regional forum on enhancing and integrating the common Arab and human values in educational curricula in the Arab world, held by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), to strengthen the role of education in spreading positive values, guide learners’ behaviors, civic role, and intellectual belonging, exchanging good knowledge and experiences in education on social values and practices, and examining their impact on young people. The forum brought together many academics, researchers, educational policymakers from Arab countries, as well as the representatives of several specialized organizations and bodies.

In his address at the opening session, today, November 22, 2021, via videoconference, Dr. Ahmed Zanfali, Programs Manager at Education Sector, reviewed the Organization’s efforts to enhance the common Arab and human values in society to achieve sustainable development goals and spread peace, highlighting the salient projects, programs, educational activities, seminars, conferences, publications and reports that ICESCO implemented and published to support the efforts geared towards integrating the positive values into all educational curricula and support its Member States in keeping up with developments in the field of education.

He also pointed out that ICESCO, within the framework of its new vision, pays special attention to enshrining modern education and instilling the lofty values through the development of an educational model that responds to the current needs, contributes to building and promoting values, and developing scientific, critical and creative thinking skills of learners to help them build an integrated personality, and develop a culture of peace and coexistence, stressing ICESCO’s willingness to work with all parties to consolidate the common Arab and human values and to integrate them in the educational curricula.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stressed the dire need to accord due attention to developing and teaching the values and principles that instill noble ethics in young people, empower girls and women and support humanity’s quest for promoting the values of coexistence, dialogue and acceptance of the Other, attaining permanent peace and building prosperous societies.

The Director-General made this statement in a recorded address he gave today, Monday, November 22, 2021, during the opening session of the International Symposium on Ethics Education. The symposium is organized by Arigatou International in partnership with ICESCO, Guerrand-Hermes Foundation for Peace, the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), the Kenyan National Commission for UNESCO, the Kenyan Ministry of Education, Religions for Peace Organization, Scholas Occurrentes Foundation, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, UNICEF, with UNESCO’s support. The Symposium aims to exchange knowledge and promote cooperation to foster ethics education for the benefit of children across the globe.

In his address, Dr. AlMalik stated that ethics is a key tool for promoting nations’ cultures and civilizations, achieving peace and security, building mutual trust, accord, and harmony among people, and anchoring the value of coexistence among world nations. He also highlighted ICESCO’s efforts to promote ethics among younger generations starting from early childhood to higher education levels.

The DG talked about ICESCO’s various programs and initiatives that aim to promote knowledge, anchor values and noble ethics, eradicate all forms of devious behavior, and spread love among people to achieve social cohesion and support sustainable development efforts.

Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Farhan Nizami, Director of Oxford Center for Islamic Studies, signed a memorandum of understanding to promote and develop constructive cooperation in the fields related to education, science and culture.

The signing ceremony was held during the visit of Dr. Al-Malik, today, November 17, 2021, to the Center headquarters, in Oxford, England. Dr. Al-Malik explored with Dr. Nizami the developments in cooperation between ICESCO and Oxford Center, and the proposed partnership programs and activities between the two parties, which are outlined in the signed memorandum of understanding, most notably building the capacities of young people, developing scientific research, enhancing the use of modern technology, and providing scholarships for Muslim countries’ students at Oxford University.

The memorandum of understanding also stipulates cooperation in meeting the educational needs of young generations in Muslim societies, developing cooperation in the fields of health, and enhancing ICESCO’s contribution to the Center’s Young Muslim Leadership Programme.  The initiative is organized every year in partnership with Prince Charles’ Charitable Foundation, to enhance the proper understanding of the Islamic civilization among the peoples of the world.

The signing ceremony is also attended by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy DG of ICESCO, and Dr. Richard Makepeace, former ambassador and researcher in international relations at the Centre.

The Director of Oxford Center for Islamic Studies then took the DG of ICESCO on a tour of the Center’s facilities, including the Center’s gallery and library. Dr. AlMalik commended the outstanding role of the Center in publicizing the Islamic civilization through pioneering research works that depict the true image of Islam in the West.

Oxford Center for Islamic Studies is a research center affiliated with Oxford University, established, in 1985, to encourage studies on the Islamic culture and civilization and its development needs, under the auspices of Prince Charles of Wales. It is the first center of its kind to receive the patronage of a member of the British Royal Family.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Margaret Casely-Hayford, Chancellor of Coventry University in the United Kingdom, and explored avenues of cooperation between ICESCO and the University in areas of common interest, particularly in fields of science and research.

During the meeting, ICESCO DG reviewed the main axes of the Organization’s vision and strategic orientations as well as its roles in entrenching values of civilizational dialogue and coexistence between different cultures, building the capacities of women and youth, contributing to the promotion of a culture of foresight to build a more prosperous future for humanity, and supporting the use of new technology in all fields in different countries of the Islamic world to achieve sustainable development.

The meeting continued over a luncheon organized by Coventry University in celebration of Dr. AlMalik’s visit after awarding him an Honorary Doctorate in Arts on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, in appreciation of his significant contributions, at the international level, in areas of education, elimination of poverty, illiteracy, ignorance, extremism, and peacebuilding in the Middle East. The luncheon was attended by Dr. Ian Marshall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Coventry University, several faculty members, and Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, Deputy DG at ICESCO.

Following the luncheon, Dr. AlMalik held an open meeting with a large number of students at the University during which he reviewed ICESCO’s projects and programs, highlighting those aimed at young people, notably the Leadership Training Program for Peace and Security from which 30 young ambassadors of peace representing 22 countries graduated in 2021, and that will continue in the coming years.

Dr. AlMalik held a rich discussion with the students and answered their questions during an open meeting attended by Dr. Michael Hardy, Professor at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations (CTPSR) at Coventry University, and Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, Deputy DG at ICESCO.

In a huge conferment ceremony with high-level participation, held at the headquarters of Coventry University, on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, the British University awarded the Honorary Doctorate in Arts to Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in appreciation of his efforts in the fields of education, culture, peacebuilding and the consolidation of the values of coexistence.

Dr. Michael Hardy, Professor at the Center for Trust, Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University, began the ceremony with a speech wherein he underscored that the Academic Board of Coventry University had decided to award the Honorary Doctorate to Dr. AlMalik in recognition of his great contributions in the fields of education, eradication of poverty, illiteracy and extremism, and building relations of peace in the Middle East.

After receiving the degree, ICESCO DG delivered an address wherein he expressed his gratitude and pride for such a degree from a prestigious and age-old university in arts and science given its leading role in developing societies and contributing to sustainable development goals by qualifying students and promoting education, research and innovation in the cultural, social, scientific and economic fields.

Dr. AlMalik also expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince, and Saudi Arabia for the unlimited support he has received throughout his educational and vocational career and their constant support for the development of the various levels of the educational process in Saudi Arabia.

ICESCO DG stressed the urgent need for excellence and accuracy in the academic field through the promotion of constructive criticism, independence of thought, and the development of innovative educational methods and new research skills aimed at building capacities. He also called for adopting foresight to counter the current challenges and crises and turn them into opportunities to achieve development and prosperity.

Dr. AlMalik also explained that ICESCO and Coventry University share the same vision and approach aimed at developing the educational process and ensuring the right to education for all to achieve peace, coexistence and harmony among societies and cultures, and build a better world for future generations. He also elucidated on ICESCO’s initiatives, which provide support for the efforts of Member States in the fields of education, science and culture.

Coventry University is one of the long-standing British universities, established in 1843 AD, and offers various disciplines such as arts and humanities, engineering, environment and computing, health and life sciences, business and law, and art and design. The University also has many international branches in China, Kenya, Nigeria, and Pakistan, as well as numerous research and scientific partnerships worldwide.

Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Mokhtar Ould Dahi, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports and Relations with Parliament, Government Spokesperson of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, to explore ways to develop cooperation between ICESCO and Mauritania in the Organization’s areas of action.

The meeting, held in Paris, today, November 13, 2021, on the sidelines of their participation in the 41st Session of UNESCO General Conference, touched upon the major cooperation programs between the Organization and Mauritania, and proposals of new programs and activities between ICESCO and the competent authorities in Mauritania, including the inscription of the Mauritanian Mahdara on the Islamic World Heritage List as a cultural intangible heritage, organizing the Old Towns Festival, which celebrates the Mauritanian culture to preserve historical cities, and considering the proposal of the establishment of ICESCO Regional Educational Center for the Development of Traditional Education in Nouakchott and ICESCO training programs for imams and religious preachers.

For his part, the Mauritanian Minister stressed his country’s willingness to continue the constructive cooperation with ICESCO and support its initiatives and new vision, commending the Organization’s outstanding efforts to support Muslim countries.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy DG, and Ambassador Cheikhna Moulaye Zeine, Permanent Delegate of Mauritania to UNESCO, also took part in the meeting.