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    Category: Front Page

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    Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, ICESCO Launch Groundbreaking Initiative to Provide Scholarships for Syrian Students

    Posted on by mohamed.elmajdouby

    In a pioneering initiative exemplifying humanitarian solidarity and highlighting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s civilizational role in supporting the Syrian people, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU) announce the allocation of 30 scholarships for Syrian students to pursue their undergraduate and graduate studies in various disciplines. The scholarships are allocated as follows: 5 scholarships for doctoral studies, 5 scholarships for master’s degrees, and 20 scholarships for bachelor’s degrees.

    ICESCO affirms that this initiative comes in line with the wise vision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may Allah preserve them, who attach special priority to supporting sisterly Syria in various fields, foremost of which is empowering its youth through quality education.

    Moreover, ICESCO will undertake full coordination with the Syrian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to ensure the selection of students according to the highest standards of academic excellence and the admission requirements of PMU, through the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd Scholarship Program, thereby maximizing the real benefit of these scholarships and ensuring their sustainable impact on capacity building.

    On this occasion, ICESCO calls on universities of the Islamic world in particular, and international universities at large, to follow the example of PMU and contribute by offering scholarships to Syrian students, in order to take part in Syria’s reconstruction. This reaffirms that education is the cornerstone for achieving development, peace, and stability.

    With this initiative, PMU sets a notable precedent as the first university in the Islamic world to grant Syrian students the opportunity to study abroad.

    Strategic Partnership between ICESCO and Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University in Saudi Arabia

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received a high-level delegation from Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University (PMU) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, headed by the University President, Dr. Issa Al Ansari. The meeting resulted in an agreement to build a strategic partnership between the two sides in the fields of knowledge, artificial intelligence, space sciences and their applications, as well as in promoting the standing of the Arabic language globally.

    During the meeting, held on Monday, 8 September 2025, at ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat, in the presence of several leaders and heads of sectors and centers at the Organization, Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s vision and new strategic directions, which focus on innovation, capacity-building, fostering a culture of foresight, and leveraging artificial intelligence in the fields of education, science, and culture.

    ICESCO’s leaders delivered a presentation on the most prominent initiatives and programs launched in recent years to support Member States and enhance the Organization’s standing internationally.

    Dr. Al Ansari underscored the University’s notable achievements in education, scientific research, and innovation, highlighting pioneering projects carried out both locally and internationally that have established it as one of the region’s foremost universities.

    The meeting discussed a set of proposed joint cooperation projects, including: an international conference on artificial intelligence and its ethics; ICESCO’s training workshop on designing an educational satellite (CanSat) at PMU in its next session; ICESCO’s participation in the Maarifa Program launched by PMU, which focuses on publishing and translating valuable books; as well as foresight studies serving the future of the Islamic world.

    To support cooperation, Dr. Al Ansari announced the allocation of scholarships for students from Islamic countries to study at PMU, to be coordinated through ICESCO.

    For his part, Dr. AlMalik expressed appreciation for this gracious initiative and the promising opportunities it offers for complementarity between the two sides, affirming that the partnership between ICESCO and PMU will soon be reflected in the form of joint projects and qualitative initiatives that will benefit the Islamic world.

    ICESCO Concludes First Edition of Content Creation Program at Egyptian Media Production City in Cairo

    Posted on by abdelmohcine.benhlal

    The first edition of the comprehensive media training program, “Content Creation,” concluded on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in partnership with the AbdulAziz Saud Al Babtain Cultural Foundation of Kuwait, the program took place at the Egyptian Media Production City (EMPC) in Cairo, Egypt.

    The program, which was attended by eighteen media professionals over a period of ten days, is part of a cooperation protocol between ICESCO and EMPC aimed to train media professionals from various Islamic countries and enhance their skills.

    The intensive program, held at the Up Skill Training Center at EMPC, included training sessions and professional workshops led by experts in the media industry. The program also included field visits to the headquarters of channels operating in the Media Production City, as well as practical training sessions in studios and open filming areas.

    Implemented and supervised by ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector, the program was designed to hone participants’ media skills in content production by providing practical training in a professional media environment. It also aimed to train participants on the latest audiovisual content production techniques and equip them with directing, filming, editing, media content writing, and effective content management via social media platforms skills.

    At the end of the training session, Mr. Osama Heikal, head of ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector, and Mr. Abdel Fattah El Gebaly, chairman of the board of directors and managing director of EMPC, presented ICESCO trainees with certificates of program completion.

    During the ceremony, Mr. Heikal thanked Dr. Salim AlMalik, ICESCO’s Director-General, for his interest in the program. He also thanked the Al Babtain Cultural Foundation for partnering with ICESCO to implement the program. Mr. Heikal also expressed his appreciation for EMPC’s efforts and mobilization of all their capabilities to the program.

    Mr. Heikal said that the training session marks the beginning of a distinguished partnership with the EMPC stating that it will positively impact the media landscape in the Islamic world. In his turn, Mr. El Gebaly expressed his delight in cooperating with ICESCO, given its prominent role and influence in education, science, culture, and communication in the Islamic world.

    Dr. Barakat Al Wegyan, director of Communication at the Media and Communication Sector, and Dr. Amany Farouk, director of the Training Center at EMPC, attended the ceremony.

    ICESCO Named Best Innovative Knowledge Institution in the Middle East and North Africa for 2025

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) won the Global MIKE Award for the best innovative knowledge institution in the Middle East and North Africa for 2025. The Award honors leading institutions that transform knowledge into innovation and sustainable value.

    The Global MIKE Award International Committee (GMAIC) stated that ICESCO’s selection reflects the Organization’s exceptional accomplishments in fostering knowledge, cultivating an innovative culture, and advancing education. They also noted that this award highlights ICESCO’s significant role in promoting knowledge within its Member States through various initiatives and activities that support innovation and knowledge in the Islamic world.

    ICESCO Director-General Dr. Salim AlMalik expressed his great satisfaction with this international Award, noting that it is one of many international awards and accreditations that ICESCO has received in recent years in recognition of its pioneering achievements in promoting innovation and knowledge. He thanked the Organization’s staff for their hard work.

    It is worth mentioning that the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the International Institute of Intellectual Property in Macau launched this prestigious Award in 1998. Several renowned institutions from around the world have won this Award, and its jury includes experts in efficient knowledge management and innovative practices.

    ICESCO Deputy Director-General Takes Part in Dar Dmana International Forum for Dhikr and Samaa in Morocco

    Posted on by mohamed.elmajdouby

    Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), took part in the Fifth Edition of the Dar Dmana International Forum for Dhikr and Samaa, held in Ouazzane, Kingdom of Morocco, on 28–30 August 2025. The Forum was organized under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, as part of the celebrations marking the Revolution of the King and the People and Youth Day.

    During the intellectual session on “Spiritual Challenges and Stakes in Tomorrow’s World,” Dr. Benarafa delivered a keynote address in which he emphasized the central role of spirituality in addressing today’s global change. He noted that current crises extend beyond the economic and political spheres, striking at the very essence of human existence.

    Addressing the spiritual stakes in the age of artificial intelligence, Dr. Benarafa also warned against reducing humans beings to mere data and algorithms, underscoring that true human uniqueness lies in spiritual awareness and contemplative experience, which cannot be programmed or replicated.

    The ICESCO official further highlighted the need to advance a humanistic and spiritual civilizational project rooted in universal values and enriched by the Sufi and philosophical traditions, which, he believes, offer a glimpse into the human spirit and restore its compass of meaning.

    The 2025 edition, held under the theme, “The Spiritual Question in Tomorrow’s World”, was organized by the Safaa Association for Madih, in cooperation with several partners.

    The event featured performances by Moroccan and international Sufi music groups, alongside scholarly and spiritual discussions that brought together leading thinkers, scholars, and cultural figures.

    Conclusion of the Second International Youth Forum for Multiculturalism in Baku

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    After five days of intensive workshops, lectures, and rich discussions on intercultural dialogue and the promotion of multiculturalism, the Second International Youth Forum for Multiculturalism concluded today, Wednesday, 27 August 2025, in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Forum was organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre, under the theme “Youth as Ambassadors of Peacebuilding in a Multicultural Environment”

    It witnessed high-level participation from ministers, officials, and experts in peacebuilding, along with broad youth engagement of around 70 participants from over 50 countries.

    The closing session of the Forum opened with an address by Mr. Ravan Hasanov, Executive Director of the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre, in which he emphasized that the ideas and energy demonstrated by the young participants during the Forum proved their vital role in preserving peace and promoting diversity and mutual respect among nations, cultures, and religions.

    He pointed out the importance of forums that aim to strengthen the role of youth in instilling the values of peace in their societies in light of the serious challenges facing the world today, such as the spread of racism and extremism, while also highlighting Azerbaijan’s distinctive model of respecting and supporting multiculturalism.

    For his part, Mr. Farid Gayibov, Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, stated that his country’s government, under the leadership of His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev, accords special priority to youth through the implementation of various initiatives and activities for their benefit. He praised the Forum, which offered the participants an opportunity to gain comprehensive insights into Azerbaijan.

    Meanwhile, Ms. Maryam Gafar-zada, Assistant Director of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku, affirmed that peace is a fundamental value deeply rooted in our Islamic faith, and that ICESCO’s approach reflects this value through the implementation of purposeful programs and initiatives aimed at strengthening the values of intercultural dialogue and coexistence. Mr. Noufal Abboud, Director of the Nordic Center for Conflict Transformation, also expressed his gratitude to the Government of Azerbaijan for its generous hosting of the Forum’s activities.

    The Forum, organized in coordination with ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku and in cooperation with the African Union’s African Observatory for Migration and the Nordic Center for Conflict Transformation, included panel discussions, interactive sessions, and training activities on the role of youth in peacebuilding and understanding, the characteristics of the Azerbaijani model of multiculturalism, and the role of religion as a mediator in conflict resolution.

    On the sidelines of the Forum, a delegation of participants visited the headquarters of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku, where they were given detailed presentations on the office and its role in serving the fields of education, science, and culture in the Organization’s Member States in Central Asia.

    Baku Hosts Second International Youth Forum on Multiculturalism with Participation from 50 Countries

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    On Saturday, 23 August 2025, the Second International Youth Forum on Multiculturalism kicked off in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Forum is organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre, under the theme «Youth as Ambassadors of Peacebuilding in a Multicultural Environment.»

    Around 70 young participants from over 50 countries are taking part, with the aim of promoting the values of multiculturalism, encouraging intercultural dialogue, and strengthening interfaith understanding.

    The Forum, organized in coordination with ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku and in cooperation with the African Union’s African Migration Observatory and the «Nordic Center for Conflict Transformation,» will run for five days.

    It includes discussion panels, interactive sessions, and training activities, during which participants will explore mechanisms and approaches to enhance youth leadership and their engagement in peacebuilding initiatives within their communities and beyond.

    It also aims at shaping a generation rooted in the culture of peace and the values of tolerance and coexistence, celebrating and safeguarding cultural heritage diversity, and showcasing reconstruction efforts in Azerbaijan’s liberated historic lands.

    During the opening session of the Forum, Mr. Ravan Hasanov, Executive Director of the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre, stressed that the second edition of the Forum focuses on strengthening the role of youth in achieving peace in their communities and building bridges of dialogue and understanding among cultures, as they are the driving force toward a better future.

    For her part, Dr. Dinara Guliyeva, Expert at ICESCO’s Human and Social Sciences Sector, affirmed that empowering youth is achieved through the development of systems of education, culture, science, and creativity, noting that the organization of this Forum falls within the fruitful partnership between ICESCO and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

    Meanwhile, the interventions of both Dr. Namira Negm, Director of the African Migration Observatory, and Mr. Noufal Abboud, Director of the Nordic Center for Conflict Transformation, highlighted the importance of providing an international platform to foster cooperation among youth in various fields, with a view to mobilizing capacities, supporting innovation and creativity, advancing societies, and achieving development.

    Following the opening session, the Forum, which was attended by a delegation from the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) of Saudi Arabia, hosted a workshop entitled «Diversity: Youth as a Driving Force for Peace and Understanding.» The workshop addressed the role of cultural diversity in the peacebuilding process and the significance of youth participation in this regard.

    ICESCO Expresses Solidarity with Pakistan Following Devastating Floods

    Posted on by abdelmohcine.benhlal

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) expresses its deep sorrow and sincere condolences to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, its leadership, government, and people, over the devastating floods that claimed hundreds of lives, displaced thousands, and caused unprecedented destruction to property and infrastructure. A disaster of such scale calls for solidarity and support from all countries of the world, so that the people of Pakistan may overcome the tragic conditions left behind by the catastrophe.

    While commending the responsible efforts made by the Pakistani authorities to mitigate the consequences of this painful calamity, the Organization conveys its full solidarity and support, affirming the depth of the ties binding ICESCO and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and reiterates its readiness to provide assistance that reflects its genuine stance during these difficult times.

    ICESCO Director-General and Syrian Minister of Religious Endowments Discuss the Project for Reviving the Aleppo Manuscripts and Its Waqf Library

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Mohammad Abu Al-Khair Shukri, Syrian Minister of Religious Endowments, at the conclusion of His Excellency’s official visit to the Syrian Arab Republic, during which he headed a high-level delegation from the Organization.

    The discussions, held on Thursday, 21 August 2025, in Damascus, focused on avenues of bilateral cooperation for the implementation of the project to revive Aleppo’s manuscripts and its Waqf Library, as well as on convening an international conference to support efforts aimed at restoring the Aleppo Library and its counterparts in other Syrian cities.

    Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to supporting the revival of both the tangible and intangible heritage of Aleppo. He highlighted the scholarly and historical significance of the city’s Waqf Library and its wealth of invaluable civilizational legacy, underscoring the urgency of proceeding with its revival through restoration and digitization, in order to reinstate its enlightening cultural role.

    For his part, the Syrian Minister of Religious Endowments commended ICESCO’s initiatives in the field of manuscript preservation and revival, affirming the Ministry’s readiness to cooperate with the Organization in this regard.

    The meeting was attended on behalf of ICESCO by Dr. Adham Hamawiya, expert at the Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, while from the Syrian side it was attended by a number of directors of departments at the Ministry of Religious Endowments.

    During his Meeting with Minister of Education in Damascus: ICESCO Director-General: We Are Keen to Contribute to Rebuilding Educational System in Syria

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Mohammed Abdulrahman Turko, Syrian Minister of Education, Chairman of the National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, discussed ways to enhance their cooperation with a view to rebuilding the educational system in Syria. The discussions included reconstructing damaged schools, capacity-building for teachers, standardizing curricula, and reintegrating school dropouts.

    During this meeting, held on Monday 18 August 2025 at the Ministry’s headquarters in Damascus, Dr. AlMalik underlined the Organization’s support for the development of education in Syria, emphasizing its commitment to contributing to the reconstruction of the Syrian educational system. He also highlighted several ICESCO programs implemented to promote education in its Member States, most notably the “Remedial Education Project for Dropout Girls in Yemen”, benefiting 19,000 girls, besides the project aiming to provide “Educational and Social Support for Displaced and Boarding School Girls” in the Republic of Burkina Faso.

    The ICESCO Director-General highlighted the importance of integrating artificial intelligence applications into educational curricula, emphasizing that science and artificial intelligence are at the core of the Organization’s concerns. This has prompted ICESCO to issue the Riyadh Charter on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence for the Islamic World and to devise programs and activities that keep pace with the latest developments in the digital field. He also proposed ICESCO’s participation in a conference on educational curricula development in Syria, with the aim of showcasing success stories from countries that made progress in this regard and benefiting from international best practices. The Director-General expressed the Organization’s readiness to receive a group of Syrian youth for training at its headquarters and participation in its various capacity-building programs.

    During the Meeting, the two parties agreed to form a joint committee to study the needs of the Syrian Ministry of Education, in coordination with the Syrian National Commission, and to explore ways for ICESCO to contribute to providing the needed resources for educational development, in accordance with the identified priorities.

    For his part, the Syrian Minister of Education indicated that the Ministry’s current priority is building schools, followed by devising and standardizing curricula and training teachers. He emphasized Syria’s openness to successful international experiences to keep pace with the developments, especially in the digital and artificial intelligence areas.