Category: Front Page

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the “High-Level Regional Dialogue on Improving Student Outcomes in the Gulf and MENA Region” and the consultative meeting of regional and international education organizations, held under the theme “From Coordination to Integration.” The two meetings were held virtually and in person in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on 4 and 5 October 2026, respectively, and were organized by the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States, with the participation of representatives of ministries of education and regional and international education organizations.

ICESCO was represented by Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Head of the Education Sector, Supervisor of the Translation and Publishing Center, who delivered a presentation titled “From Assessment Results to Impact-Driven Policies: A Regional Vision for Improving Student Learning Outcomes in the Gulf and the MENA Region in Light of the PISA 2025 Results.” The presentation was delivered during the regional dialogue, co-organized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), on Sunday, 4 October.

Dr. Albanyan began by emphasizing that the results of the international assessment should not be viewed as a ranking of countries, but rather as a reflection of the quality of the relationship among curricula, teachers, laboratories and the school environment. He explained that the results revealed a profound educational paradox and outlined the main regional challenges, including disparities in teaching quality among schools, the limited translation of curricula into cognitive tasks, and the growing digital presence without adequate pedagogical design.

Concluding his remarks, Dr. Albanyan announced two ICESCO initiatives to address these challenges: developing a “Regional Scientific Thinking Toolkit” for curriculum developers, and launching a teacher training program on science diplomacy and critical inquiry in partnership with its Member States.

In his address at the consultative meeting on Monday, 5 October, Dr. Albanyan delivered a presentation on integration and coordination among regional and international educational organizations in support of ministries of education. He highlighted the weak links among various educational institutions and initiatives, reflected in several ways, including the proliferation of dialogue platforms and the overlap of certain programs. Dr. Albanyan proposed a practical framework for cooperation and for structuring these relationships, based on defining priorities and roles, coordinating joint programs, and establishing mechanisms for accountability, funding and review.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) launched, on Monday, 5 October 2026, a joint project to develop ICESCO’s School Teachers and Leaders Standards and Practice Instrument. The project aims to provide an evidence-based framework for advancing educational performance while taking into account the diversity of educational, cultural and institutional contexts across the Islamic world.

The launch took place during a ceremony organized by ICESCO at its headquarters in Rabat to mark World Teachers’ Day. Officials, experts and representatives of national and international institutions discussed the role of teachers and school leaders in improving the quality of education and building education systems capable of meeting future needs.

The event began with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by opening remarks by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, delivered on his behalf by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General. The remarks underscored the importance of elevating the standing of teachers and supporting school leaders in developing learning environments that foster sustained improvements in learning outcomes.

Dr. Benarafa explained that, through the project, the Organization seeks to establish a reference framework defining the knowledge, skills and practices underpinning effective teaching and sound school leadership. Member States will be able to draw on the framework in line with their priorities and needs, supporting the profession’s development and strengthening its impact across the education system.

In recorded remarks, Ziauddin Yousafzai, Co-Founder of the Malala Fund, father of Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Prize laureate, stated that great teachers inspire their students and transform their lives, encouraging them to learn, revisit prior knowledge and free themselves from misconceptions.

For his part, Mr. Karim Hamidouche, Secretary-General of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, described teachers as the main drivers of any education reform. He noted that the impact of technology, curricula and infrastructure depends on teachers’ competence, passion, recognition and professional empowerment. He also highlighted the close cooperation between ICESCO and the Moroccan Ministry of Education through field projects and practical approaches that place teachers at the heart of educational transformation.

The event continued with a joint presentation by Mr. Waqas Afridi, Expert in ICESCO’s Education Sector; Ms. Pamela Bender, Global Head of Education Standards at IBO; and Mr. Marc Neesam, Education Systems Solutions Manager at IBO. The presentation outlined the new project’s objectives, phases and timeline, the interim findings of a comparative analysis of international and regional standards, the methodology for developing the instrument, and the project’s implementation steps.

Following this presentation, Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Head of ICESCO’s Education Sector, Supervisor of the Translation and Publishing Center, moderated a panel discussion titled “Standards Transforming into Impact for Building a Future-Ready Teaching Profession.” Representatives of national, international and academic institutions explored ways to apply the standards within educational institutions, use them in teacher preparation, training and continuous professional development, and support school leadership.

The ceremony concluded with an interactive professional development workshop for nearly 30 teachers from Moroccan public schools, led by experts from ICESCO and the IBO. The workshop focused on connecting the teaching profession and professional policies with everyday educational practice and exploring the skills needed to keep pace with the rapid changes in education.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held the Third Session of the Research Group on “Women’s Thought and Creativity in the Islamic World,” under the theme “Arab Resonances: Women’s Voices, Arts and Knowledge.” Bringing together 24 women from 11 countries across the Islamic world, the session explored women’s contributions to intellectual and artistic production and their role in driving social transformations.

Held via videoconference on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, the session was organized as part of the International Forum “Culture to Rethink the World” and within the framework of the cooperation program entitled “ICESCO–Arab World Institute: Shared Culture,”. Its activities focused on movement expression, philosophy and poetry.

The session opened with remarks by Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of ICESCO’s Culture Sector, who highlighted the importance of providing spaces for dialogue and research that advance the status of women and enable discussion of their experiences through an approach that respects diversity and cultural specificities. He also affirmed ICESCO’s commitment to supporting intellectual exchange on issues concerning women in the Islamic world.

The session was moderated by Dr. Zoubeida Boukhari, an international consultant in culture, education, and environmental communication. Presentations under the first theme addressed the performing arts as an expression of identity and a living memory passed down through generations, highlighting their role in preserving cultural practices and protecting them from disappearance. They also examined the ability of movement expression to transcend social barriers, convey experiences of suffering and provide space to express what is difficult to articulate in words.

Under the philosophy theme, discussions focused on the role of women’s creativity in transforming women’s realities and strengthening Arab cultural rapprochement, while dismantling inaccurate stereotypes of Middle Eastern women. The presentations emphasized that creativity extends beyond aesthetics to the production of ideas, dialogue across fields of knowledge and the building of bridges between cultures.

The session concluded with poetry recitations addressing women’s issues, experiences and aspirations. The recitations showcased examples of women’s writing that make poetry a space for self-expression and for listening to the experiences of others.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has won the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage in its sixth edition, in the Arab category on “Best Practices in Safeguarding Cultural Heritage Elements,” for its study entitled “Member States Strategy to Enhance the Role of Culture and Heritage in Countering Climate Change.”

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, presented the award to Mr. Salim Omar Salim, Director of the Organization’s Regional Office in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates who received it on behalf of the Organization, in the presence of Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage. The ceremony was held on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, at the Institute’s Grand Theatre in the United Arab Emirates.

The ceremony opened with remarks by Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Musallam, who reviewed the efforts of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah to safeguard cultural heritage and protect historical landmarks through projects and initiatives aimed at preserving the memory of places and oral traditions in Sharjah and various regions worldwide. For her part, Ms. Aisha Rashid Al-Hossan Al-Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage, affirmed that the Award continues to fulfill its mission by celebrating those who carry, recount and practice heritage, researchers who document and study it, and institutions and projects working to safeguard and sustain it.

ICESCO issued the study in May 2026, under the supervision of its Islamic World Heritage Center, with coordination by Dr. Bilel Chebbi, Programs Director at the Center. The study aimed to consolidate the place of culture and heritage in national and international climate and sustainable development policies and strengthen their presence in global discussions on environmental challenges, thereby supporting the use of heritage knowledge and practices in responding to the impacts of climate change.

ICESCO provides access to the entire study and its executive summary via the following links:
https://icesco.org/rjcs
https://icesco.org/sol4

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held an international cultural meeting to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the launch of its international forum, “Culture to Rethink the World.” The meeting reviewed five years of reflection, research, and cultural action, bringing together researchers, academics, experts, and cultural practitioners who are members of the Forum. They presented their key contributions and exchanged views on the new challenges facing the cultural sector and the Forum’s future work.

Opening the meeting, held via videoconference on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of ICESCO’s Culture Sector, recalled the conviction on which the Forum was founded: culture has moved beyond being heritage that must be safeguarded to become a force for thought, creativity, and innovation, capable of keeping pace with societal transformations. He also outlined the Forum’s structure, comprising the ICESCO Center for Holistic Policies for the Promotion of Cultural Reality, the ICESCO International Chairs Network for Thought, Heritage, Literature, and Arts, research groups, the “Youth Elite” Program, and the ICESCO International Network of Civil Society Communities for Culture and Development.

The Head of the Culture Sector presented figures highlighting the scale of the Forum’s achievements. Its network now comprises more than 200 members representing over 30 nationalities, 10 ICESCO Chairs across eight countries, and 13 research groups. It also includes an international civil society network bringing together more than 60 organizations from over 28 countries, active in more than 50 fields.

In terms of intellectual output, the Forum mobilized more than 90 authors and researchers to prepare over 15 strategic studies, including studies on cultural GDP and employability in the cultural sector. It organized more than 85 virtual seminars and over eight international exhibitions, and published 17 books and collective works, as well as more than 200 articles on the “ICESCO Creative” platform. In terms of impact, more than nine programs and six international projects were implemented, directly benefiting over 7,000 people.

The meeting was moderated by Zineb Bougrine and Sidi Ahmed Jawad from the Culture Sector. It featured contributions from representatives of the Chairs Network, most notably Dr. Fawzi Mahfoudh, Supervisor of the ICESCO “Ibn Khaldun Chair for Culture and Heritage” in Tunisia; Dr. Sana Ghouati, Supervisor of the ICESCO “Chair for Comparative Literature and Arts” in Morocco; and Brazilian artist and researcher Dr. Sandra Rey, Supervisor of the ICESCO “Art and Nature: Hybrid Processes” Chair in Brazil.

The discussion also featured Dr. Rim Jallouli, Expert in Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development; Dr. Mohamed Amine Hammami, artist and international expert in digital creativity and digital culture; artist and composer Rafik Gharbi; and Dr. Bouazza Benachir. They all highlighted the importance of developing new approaches to cultural policies based on indicators that measure cultural development. They also addressed the relationship between technology and innovation, alongside the contemporary challenges facing culture.

Saint Petersburg: 25 September 2026

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the First International Conference on African Manuscript Heritage, held on 23 and 24 September 2026 at the National Library of Russia in Saint Petersburg, under the theme “The Comprehensive Study of African Manuscript Heritage: Codicology, Paleography, Textology, History of Collections, Cataloguing, and Conservation.” The Conference was jointly organized by Libya’s Al-Shaikh Al-Tahir Al-Zawi Center for Research and Manuscript Studies (TCRMS) and the Faculty of Asian and African Studies at Saint Petersburg State University (FAAS).

In an address delivered on his behalf during the opening session by Dr. Idham Hanash, Director of ICESCO’s Center for Calligraphy and Manuscripts, Dr. Salim AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, underscored the major civilizational and historical significance of African manuscripts. He noted that these manuscripts provide compelling evidence of the intellectual advancement achieved across Africa’s diverse peoples and languages, as well as the centuries-long flourishing of writing traditions and manuscript production. Dr. AlMalik also reviewed ICESCO’s ongoing efforts in this field, including the organization of scientific events, training workshops, and activities aimed at preserving this cultural heritage.

He further noted that ICESCO is currently developing a joint program with the African Cultural Institute (ACI) to restore Timbuktu’s historic manuscripts, as part of the Organization’s continuing international efforts to protect Africa’s cultural and human heritage.

During the first scientific session, titled “Toward Codicological Cataloguing of African Arabic Manuscripts,” Dr. Ahmed Abdelbaset, expert at the Center for Calligraphy and Manuscripts at ICESCO, discussed the concept of Codicological Cataloguing, comparing it with the three recognized levels of traditional descriptive cataloguing. He also outlined the extensive knowledge required of manuscript cataloguers and the need for a thorough understanding of the physical dimensions of African manuscripts.

Over the course of two days, the Conference featured a range of substantive scientific presentations, as well as visits to the halls of the National Library of Russia, where they viewed its rare works and collections.