Disclaimer: You are using Google Translate. The ICESCO is not responsible for the accuracy of the information in the translated language .

your opinion

User Feedback

Overall, how satisfied are you about the website?

    Extremely Dissatisfied Extremely Satisfied

    ICESCO and Qatar’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University discuss development of cooperation on Culture Capitals Culture in Islamic World program

    The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. Almalik, received Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail, Professor at the College of Islamic Studies and International Relations in Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar, and renowned expert on international affairs, who discussed ways to develop cooperation between ICESCO and the University, within the framework of the in-depth study currently being prepared at the university, which will be published internationally, on ICESCO’s program to celebrate the Capitals of Culture in the Islamic world.

    During the Meeting, which took place on Thursday, September 19, 2024 at ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik stressed the Organization’s keenness to cooperate closely with universities, as they are centers of intellectual, cultural and educational influence, by supporting the efforts of these institutions in developing scientific research and establishing ICESCO research chairs in prestigious universities in Member States and beyond.

    ICESCO Director-General further appreciated the great efforts made by Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail and his team over the past two years in preparing a comprehensive study on ICESCO’s program to celebrate the Capitals of Culture in the Islamic world.

    Following the bilateral meeting, Dr. AlMalik and Dr. Ismail held an expanded meeting with a number of sector, department and center heads, as well as ICESCO experts. During the Meeting, Dr. Ismail presented an analytical overview of the study on the ICESCO program for celebrating the Capitals of Culture in the Islamic World. His presentation covered the overarching methodology, the stages the study has gone through so far, its main areas of focus, and the significant impact of this program in promoting cultural exchange and embodying the Organization’s role in preserving and valuing the heritage of the Islamic world. He also shared the Study’s recommendations for enhancing the Program, which has seen development in the last five years in terms of its philosophy, strategy, and objectives.

    Furthermore, Dr. Mustafa Osman noted in his presentation that an agreement had been reached with a global publishing house to publish the study in a book in English, following its review, development, and the completion of some of its sections.

    After the Presentation, ICESCO Director-General and the meeting participants, including organization officials and experts, praised the efforts put into the study and offered several remarks to enrich it and broaden the scope of its potential benefits.

    ICESCO and Iraq Explore Strengthening Cooperation in Education, Science, and Culture

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Botan Dizayee, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Morocco, to explore ways to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and Iraq in education, science, and culture.

    During the meeting, held today, Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed the Organization’s keenness to strengthen collaboration with Iraq in areas of shared interest, and ensure Iraq’s participation in ICESCO’s conferences and activities, in line with its forward-looking vision and strategic objectives.

    The Iraqi Chargé d’Affaires expressed his appreciation to ICESCO and its DG for gifting a large collection of the Organization’s publications to the library of Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as for its cooperation with Iraqi entities in the fields of education, science, and culture.

    The meeting, which was attended by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO’s Deputy DG, along with several directors and experts from the Organization, included discussions on the key ongoing cooperation programs and projects between ICESCO and Iraq, as well as proposals for future collaborative programs and projects, particularly in cultural sector.

    At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik presented Dr. Botan Dizayee with certificates recognizing the inscription of several historical sites and cultural elements on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List.

    ICESCO Deputy Director General Participates in 25th Baghdad International Book Fair

    Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, the Deputy Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), is participating as a guest of honor in the 25th Baghdad International Book Fair, which takes place on 12 – 22 September 2024, under the theme “Iraq Reads.” The Event is sponsored by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani and features high-level attendance from ministers, officials, writers, and intellectuals from both Iraq and abroad. Additionally, the President of Iraq, Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, made an official visit to the fair.

    Dr. Benarafa took part in a panel discussion at the Fair on the topic of “Imaginative Biography in Creative Writing,” held in the Exhibition’s seminar hall, which witnessed rich discussions and an open dialogue with the audience.
    The participation of ICESCO’s Deputy Director-General in this event aligns with the Organization’s approach to promoting education, science, and culture, as well as supporting creativity and creators through various initiatives, programs, and projects.

    ICESCO and Libya sign MoU to strengthen cooperation for youth support and capacity building

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and National Economic and Social Development Board in Libya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at establishing a cooperation and coordination mechanism for training youth in the fields of technical sciences and promoting the values of citizenship and the culture of peace, as well as enhancing cultural exchange between the two parties.

    The MoU was signed on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at the Organization’s headquarters, in Rabat, by Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), and Dr. Mahmoud El Fetisi, General Director of National Economic and Social Development Board, in the presence of Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy DG, as well as several heads and directors of ICESCO’s sectors and departments, Mohammed Ammari Zayed, Libya’s Permanent Delegate to ICESCO, and members of the Council’s delegation.

    The two-year MoU provides for leveraging ICESCO’s experts to support the Council’s strategy in the field of awareness-raising about the spread of drugs and psychotropic substances, designing professional training programs for Libyan youth in the field of technical sciences, diplomatic leadership and citizenship, promoting the culture of peace, supporting the Council in issuing international reports on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Libya, cultural exchange, and providing training opportunities for Libyan youth at ICESCO.

    Prior to the signing ceremony, Dr. Al-Malik received Dr. El Fetisi and his delegation, during which he reviewed ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, and its major programs and initiatives, especially in the field of empowering youth for tomorrow’s professions, pointing out that youth are central in the Organization’s priorities with over 41% of ICESCO’s current employees below the age of 35, which has given the Organization an impetus for creativity and innovation in its areas of competence.

    Dr. Al-Malik commended the willingness he witnessed during his last visit to Libya, of all the competent parties in Libya to implement programs and initiatives in cooperation with ICESCO to develop the fields of education, science and culture.

    For his part, Dr. Mahmoud El Fetisi praised ICESCO’s roles in developing its areas of competence in Member States, stressing that the MoU will strengthen the outstanding partnership between Libya and the Organization.

    At the Global AI Summit: ICESCO Director General Announces the launch of Riyadh AI Ethics Charter for the Islamic World

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) launched Riyadh AI Ethics Charter for the Islamic World, which aims at outlining a global framework for the development of AI technologies in line with the values and ethics of the Islamic world, and promoting inclusive and sustainable development as well as international cooperation in this field.

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director General, announced the launch of the Charter on Wednesday, 11 September 2024, at the third Global AI Summit (GAIN), held by SDAIA, at King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, in Riyadh, in the presence of princes, ministers, senior international officials, thought leaders and heads of leading AI and technology companies from 100 countries around the world.

    Dr. AlMalik stressed that the launch of Riyadh AI Ethics Charter for the Islamic World is a historic moment, showcasing the great strategic partnership between ICESCO and SDAIA. On this occasion, he expressed his warm thanks and gratitude to all the partners who contributed to drawing up the Charter through a series of specialized workshops, including the Omani University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), which hosts ICESCO’s Chair on AI Ethics, the Moroccan Polytechnic University Mohammed VI (UM6P), the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, as well as experts and researchers from various ICESCO Member States.

    He stressed that AI offers tremendous opportunities and solutions to the most pressing problems facing our societies, but also presents challenges to human creativity and the originality of scientific research. He also noted that Riyadh Charter encompasses the principles of truth and originality, and provides a comprehensive framework within which the use of AI is compatible with ethical values, including respect for privacy and human dignity, and the promotion of equity and solidarity.

    ICESCO Director General added that the Charter aims to integrate AI into the societies of the Islamic world in such a way as to preserve the values and central role of the family. “It also features proposals to ensure the development of AI, including the creation of an AI Monitoring Committee to oversee progress in this field and provide strategic recommendations to policymakers based on the advice of qualified experts. Similarly, ICESCO will lead a consortium of international governmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions to help its Member States build the necessary infrastructure for the development of the digital economy; and cooperate with SDAIA to launch an initiative to train 25,000 young people in the Islamic world in AI science and applications,” he explained.

    Dr. AlMalik concluded his speech by recalling that Riyadh AI Ethics Charter is the outcome of ICESCO’s commitment to the outstanding civilizational values of the Islamic world.

    Remarkable participation of ICESCO delegation at GAIN Summit in Riyadh

      A high-level delegation from the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is taking part in the Third Global Artificial Intelligence Summit, organized by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), under the patronage of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of SDAIA. 
    

    Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, ICESCO Director -General, and his accompanying delegation attended the opening ceremony of the three-day Summit, which kicked off on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at the King Abdulaziz International Convention Center in Riyadh.


    The opening session brought together a host of princes, ministers, senior international officials, thought leaders, heads of major technology and artificial intelligence companies from around the world, and ambassadors accredited to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Summit was also attended by a group of experts and economic policy makers active in the field of artificial intelligence from 100 countries, speaking in more than 150 sessions and workshops.


    Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi, SDAIA President, delivered opening remarks, while Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, spoke at the first session of the Summit.


    On Wednesday, Dr. Al Malik will announce the launch of the “Riyadh Charter for Artificial Intelligence for the Islamic World”, which culminates the outstanding partnership between ICESCO and SDAIA and embodies the commitment of the two organizations to contribute to developing a comprehensive framework for the use of AI technologies that is based on the values and principles of the Islamic world and contributes to achieving sustainable development.


    Moreover, ICESCO organized, on the first day of the Summit proceedings, a working session titled, “Strategic AI Governance: Between Legislation and Ethics”. The working session saw the participation of Mr. Richard Sterling, CEO of Oxford Insights; Dr. Said Jaboob, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies, Research and Innovation at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in the Sultanate of Oman; and Dr. Immanuel Goffi, Professor of AI Ethics at the École d’ingénieurs du numérique (School of Digital Engineering) in Paris.


    Dr. Kais Hammami, Head of ICESCO’s Center for Foresight and Artificial Intelligence, moderated the session, stressing the pivotal role of foresight in anticipating future challenges to strategic AI governance. Dr. Kais also stated that foresight guarantees the integration on long-term approaches to ensure responsible and ethical adoption of AI.
    In his statement, Mr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Head of the Department of Legal Affairs and International Standards, highlighted the key principles of the Riyadh Charter for Artificial Intelligence in the Islamic World, highlighting the importance of balancing the universality of international norms with the distinctive values of the countries of the Islamic world.

    One hundred scholarships in Egyptian universities for ICESCO Member States students

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Arab Republic of Egypt are pleased to announce the provision of 100 full scholarships in Egyptian universities to students from the Islamic countries, as part of the activities of ICESCO Year of Youth Program held under the patronage of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

    These scholarships are announced in implementation of the generous initiative by President El-Sisi to offer 100 scholarships to young people from the Islamic world in Egyptian universities affiliated with the Ministry of Higher Education to enhance the distinguished partnership between ICESCO and Egypt in the field of higher education and scientific research, and to support excellent young people from the Islamic world, and provide them with opportunities to hone their talents and develop their skills and creative and innovative capacities.

    To benefit from these scholarships and see the list of available colleges and programs, students wishing to study in Egypt are advised to consult the link: https://admission.study-in-egypt.gov.eg . When submitting applications, the expression (100_Icesco) must be put next to the applicant’s name in the nomination form.

    For further inquiries, please contact ICESCO via this email: 100scholarshipsinegypt@icesco.org

    ICESCO Launches Initiative to Preserve and Restore Timbuktu’s Historical Manuscripts in Mali

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Bouréma Kansaye, Mali’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, to discuss the details of ICESCO’s initiative to preserve, enhance, and restore Timbuktu’s historical manuscripts, which encompass tens of thousands of documents of significant international importance.

    At the beginning of the Meeting, which took place on Friday 6 September 2024, at the Cadi Ayyad University Conference Center in the Kingdom of Morocco, alongside the international symposium dubbed: “Ahmad Baba Al Timbukti: A Model of Civilizational Diplomacy in West Africa,” Dr. AlMalik expressed his gratitude to Dr. Kansaye for attending the symposium and delivering an opening speech. He emphasized ICESCO’s commitment to collaborating with Mali, particularly in the field of manuscript preservation, given the vast number of documents housed in Timbuktu’s libraries, and mentioned the Organization’s plan to establish a specialized center dedicated to scripts and manuscripts.

    Dr. AlMalik further highlighted that the ICESCO initiative will restore Timbuktu’s manuscripts to their original state and ensure they are properly cared for, considering their status as a heritage of human and Islamic written knowledge. He mentioned that the initiative would be implemented as soon as all financial aspects were settled, in coordination with relevant authorities in Mali.

    For his part, the Malian minister praised ICESCO’s initiative, describing it as a pioneering project, and thanked the Organization for its efforts in preserving and valuing the Timbuktu manuscripts.

    The Meeting also addressed several logistical and organizational aspects of the initiative, with an agreement to ensure its successful implementation.

    ICESCO Invites Researchers to Submit Scientific Papers on the Jobs of Tomorrow in Africa

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is inviting researchers, specialists, and postgraduate students to participate in the International Conference on “Skills and Jobs of Tomorrow in Africa,” organized in partnership with HEM Business School in the Kingdom of Morocco. Participants are encouraged to submit scientific papers, which will be evaluated by a special jury. The selected papers will be presented during the conference scheduled to take place from 10 to 12 December 2024, in Tangier, Morocco.

    The papers to be submitted should focus on one of the Conference’s themes, which include the evolving landscape of skills and jobs in Africa, and the key factors influencing its future. Special emphasis should be placed on the role of education, culture, youth, gender equality, industrial development, digital transformations, and the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence. The aim is to contribute to preparing the continent for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

    Those interested in participating must submit their draft papers in PDF format via the online submission portal: https://bit.ly/4fakYqU, following the guidelines provided in the concept note, and adhering to the following conditions:

    ● The research paper must be original, comply with scientific research standards, and align with the conference themes, which are detailed in the concept note.
    ● The jury welcomes case studies, doctoral proposals, and empirical studies that present innovative ideas aimed at enhancing workforce development, improving education, and strengthening economic strategies across Africa.
    ● Research papers should be written in one of the following languages: Arabic, English, or French.
    ● The deadline for submitting draft papers is 5 October 2024 (no more than 5 pages).
    ● Results will be announced on 31 October 2024.
    ● The full paper must be submitted by 20 November 2024 (with a maximum of 15 pages, including references and appendices).

    All submitted papers will undergo a thorough evaluation by a panel of experts to ensure their scientific quality and originality. Authors of the accepted papers will be invited to present their research at the Conference. The Conference papers will receive extensive academic exposure, including publication in a peer-reviewed journal, and will also be featured in a special edition documenting the conference proceedings.

    For inquiries, please contact:
    ICESCO: Strategy@icesco.org
    Institute of Higher Management Studies: hemresearchcenter@lcieducation.com

    On International Literacy Day, ICESCO calls for Eradication of the Causes of illiteracy for a Better Educational Future

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) seizes the opportunity of the International Literacy Day, observed every 8th September, and celebrated this year under the theme: “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace”, to call for intensifying efforts to promote literacy, improve its quality and maximize its benefits to promote mutual understanding and peace. ICESCO also stresses the need to adopt preventive and proactive methods to eradicate the causes of illiteracy instead of merely adopting treatment approaches to address this phenomenon.

    Believing in the importance of supporting literacy, inclusive and equitable education for all, ICESCO focuses, as part of its mission and strategic vision, on education as a human right, by disseminating awareness of the need to combat illiteracy and focusing on marginalized and poorest categories, especially girls and women. It also highlights the need to mobilize sufficient financial resources and increase investments allocated to this field, in addition to providing more high quality open and free educational resources.

    Recognizing the role of education in promoting human development, ICESCO has made supporting literacy programs in its Member States a top priority. As the progress achieved in this field is not sufficient, attaining this goal requires greater efforts and international cooperation in a global context marked by the existence of 765 million illiterate youth and adults, two-thirds of whom are girls and women, in addition to the prevalence of disparities in access to literacy programs and the weak participation of the poor and most needy and deprived groups.

    In our fast-paced world, where technology is increasingly important and cultures are diverse, it is more important than ever to equip individuals with a multilingual, mother-tongue-based educational approach. This approach plays a pivotal role in enhancing literacy skills, encouraging mutual understanding and respect for cultural diversity, supporting efforts aimed at building more just and peaceful societies and providing individuals with broad prospects for continuous learning.