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Dr. Abdulmajeed bin Abdullah Al-Banyan, President of Naïf Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS), received Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at the University headquarters in Riyadh. The meeting also brought together the vice-presidents of the University and saw the signing of a cooperation agreement between ICESCO and NAUSS.

Dr. Al-Banyan gave a presentation on NAUSS’s future vision on security sciences, which focuses on leadership in training, academic excellence, reference in scientific research, institutional effectiveness, and financial sustainability. He also stressed that NAUSS aspires to be the first Arab university in the areas of security sciences through prioritizing the development of security sciences in the areas of cybersecurity, organized crime, combating terrorism, extremism and forgery, and environmental security, etc.

Dr. Al-Banyan shed light on the potentials and the research and training centers of the University while reaffirming that NAUSS can become one of the top 10 world universities in the field of security sciences.

The meeting also reviewed the most recent programmes and projects that are being implemented in cooperation with international organizations, research centers, and universities, particularly between ICESCO and NAUSS. The focus was also on future cooperation programmes, particularly in the exchange of scientific and academic expertise and capacity-building experiences, the promotion of scientific research and technology transfer, and scholarships for students from Member States.

The two parties also tackled the expansion of scholarships to provide opportunities for more students from the Islamic world to study at NAUSS and benefit from its modern training centers and post-graduate programmes in various security disciplines.

The cooperation agreement that ICESCO DG and NAUSS President signed during his meeting aims at strengthening cooperation between the two parties in academic and scientific fields, research, programmes and activities, training and scientific seminars, capacity-building for decision-makers, policymakers and civil society institutions, and good investment of scientific potentials and resources to promote policies in areas of common interest.

Following the meeting, Dr. Al-Banyan took Dr. AlMalik on a tour of some of the specialized centers, which the University equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, and provided an explanation of their working mechanisms and contribution to the development of security sciences, in accordance with the latest global standards.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), signed on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, a partnership agreement with King Abdulaziz University and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Academy of Arab Poetry of Taif University, at the headquarters of the Emirate of Makkah Region, in the presence of H.R.H. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah Region.  

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), and Dr. Abdulrahman Obaid Al-Youbi, President of King Abdulaziz University, signed the partnership agreement, which provides for cooperation between the two parties to support scientific research in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication. The agreement also aims to hold fora and meetings in the fields of education and science, fund twenty chairs of ICESCO Chairs Programme, provide the necessary technical assistance for conducting and publishing educational and scientific research and studies, implement specific activities and programmes, and encourage creative young talents in the field of scientific research.

Dr. AlMalik and Dr. Yousef Asiri, President of Taif University, signed the MoU, which sets forth cooperation between ICESCO and the Academy of Arab Poetry in supporting Arab poetry, promoting women’s poetry, and celebrating the World Poetry Day through cultural and artistic activities. The MoU also aims at publicizing Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal International Prize for Arabic Poetry, holding an international forum of poetry, networking the academies, associations and clubs of poetry, publicizing the works of great poets, translating poetry anthologies to world languages, promoting the role of poetry and poets in the civilizational dialogue, enhancing the values of tolerance, synergy and solidarity, and sharing scientific and academic expertise and capacity-building experiences.

His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah Al-Mukarramah region, received on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, at the headquarters of the Emirate of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, the Shield of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).

Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), presented the Shield to the prince in recognition of His Highness’ great efforts in the service of the Arabic language and the dissemination and presentation of Arab-Islamic culture.

During the reception by H.R.H. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal of Dr. AlMalik, ICESCO DG reiterated his thanks and gratitude to His Highness for his participation in the great international celebration that ICESCO organized in December 2020 to mark the International Arabic Language Day, under the theme: “The Arabic Language: Foresight in a Changing World.” The DG underlined that the designation of H.R.H. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal as the key speaker of the Conference had a great impact due to the prestigious status of His Highness in all fields.

The DG also presented the main aspects of the Organization’s vision and new action strategy, as well as the most important initiatives, programs, and activities it is implementing to strengthen the efforts of its Member States to achieve sustainable development based on education, culture, innovation, and the use of modern technologies. He also mentioned ICESCO’s proclamation of 2021 as the Year of Women, as well as the main programs implemented in this framework to ensure equal opportunities for girls and women and to eliminate gender discrimination in all fileds.

Dr. AlMalik also presented His Royal Highness with a copy of the report on ICESCO’s achievements during the period from May 2019 to September 2020, and the final report of ICESCO’s celebration of the International Arabic Language Day, which includes all the interventions of the participants and the issues raised during this event.

H.R.H. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal welcomed ICESCO’s choice of His Highness to be the key speaker of the said international conference and praised the central role the Organization plays in the fields of education, science, and culture.

His Royal Highness Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Emir of Makkah Region, received Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO). The meeting touched upon ICESCO’s new vision and action strategy as well as its role in publicizing the true image of the Islamic culture and civilization.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, at the headquarters of the Makkah Municipality, Dr. AlMalik presented to H.R.H. Prince Badr bin Sultan a copy of ICESCO’s achievements report for the period from May 2019 through September 2020. He also reviewed ICESCO’s future programmes and activities, particularly for women in celebration of 2021 as the Year of Women, as well as the International Conference on the Prophet’s Seerah due to be held next May.

H.R.H. Prince Badr bin Sultan commended the roles of ICESCO while stressing that the Organization’s selection of H.R.H. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Emir of Makkah Region, as the guest of honor of the International Conference on Arabic Language, held under the theme “Arabic language… Foresight in a changing world,” crowned the intellectual and cultural efforts of His Highness, particularly in serving Arabic language.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received the shield of King Abdulaziz University (KAU) in Saudi Arabia from Dr. Abdulrahman Obaid Al-Youbi, KAU President, in recognition of ICESCO’s distinguished efforts to support its Member States in facing the adverse repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Having received the shield at the university’s headquarters in Jeddah on February 15, Dr. AlMalik held a meeting with Dr. Al-Youbi during which they exchanged views on future cooperation, while reaffirming their keenness to develop cooperation between ICESCO and the University. The cooperation, the two parties underscored, will pave the way for constructive and vital collaboration between universities in Member States through the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW) of which ICESCO DG is the ex-officio Secretary-General.

Discussions during the meeting also touched on the pandemic’s impact of the university system with and ways to empower future universities to cope with crises. The two parties also examined ICESCO’s programmes relevant to scholarships, academic chairs, and the importance of the cooperation agreement which the two parties will sign tomorrow under which many of ICESCO’s academic chairs will be supported.

Established in 1967, KAU is one of the most prominent higher education institutions in Saudi Arabia and worldwide in terms of the number of enrolled students and the variety of integrated theoretical and practical disciplines. The University offers educational programmes adapted to the evolving requirements of society thus being ranked on top of the Islamic world’s universities in many global university rankings.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Bandar Hajjar, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB), explored the prospects of cooperation between the two parties in many areas, primarily education.

During the meeting, held on Monday, February 15, 2021 at IsDB’s headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with the participation of a number of the Bank officials, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the major achievements that ICESCO has made since May 2019. He also highlighted the initiatives, programmes, and activities ICESCO launched and implemented to support the efforts of Member States to counter the negative repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the major programmes and activities of the celebration of 2021 as the Year of Women.

Dr. Hajjar reviewed the fruitful activities and programmes of IsDB during the COVID-19 pandemic, which are ongoing in many countries.

The meeting also touched upon the prospects of cooperation between ICESCO and IsDB in several areas, including the integration of technology in education, scholarships for students from the Islamic world, focusing mainly on future occupations. The cooperation prospects also included the study of ICESCO on post-COVID-19 education, as well as the programmes of humanitarian and social assistance and environmental conservation.

Dr. AlMalik also shed light on the leadership incubators that ICESCO launched at its headquarters, in Rabat, and 10 other future incubators to support young people in the Islamic world with the required future leadership skills in the fields of education, science and culture. The meeting also tackled the prospects of cooperation of IsDB with ICESCO in the leadership incubators to expand its scope to many Muslim countries.

The two parties agreed on holding technical virtual meetings to examine and identify cooperation programmes and projects.

At the close of the meeting, ICESCO DG expressed his thanks to the Chairman of IsDB for his kind welcome and willingness to develop constructive cooperation between the Organization and the Group.

Mr. Saleh Mansour, Executive Assistant of IsDB Chairman for Africa Region; and Dr. Thamer Baazeem, Director of Marketing and Communication at IsDB, attended the meeting, which also brought together Dr. Abdulhakim Elwaer, Executive Assistant of IsDB Chairman for Partnerships; and Mr. Elwalid Hamour, Head of IsDB Regional Office in Rabat, through videoconference.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Youssef bin Ahmad Al-Othamimeen, Secretary-General (SG) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and together they explored several issues of mutual interest. The two parties stressed the importance of keeping the working committee that they set up to coordinate between the two organizations.

During the meeting held on Monday, February 15, 2021, at the OIC headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the two parties reaffirmed the complementary relation between the two organizations. They also discussed the significance of specialized sector-based conferences and the need to consider the geographical distribution in selecting the venues for these conferences.

Dr. AlMalik highlighted the key programmes the Organization implements including programmes for training and building the capacities of young people in the Islamic world through leadership incubators. He also discussed ICESCO’s proclamation of 2021 as the Year of Women, stressing the importance of the OIC participation in the year’s activities and programmes as well as the participation of the Organization for Women Development in OIC Member States.   

The two parties agreed to implement several joint programmes to be set through the Joint Committee, which holds its meetings annually to coordinate between the two organizations. They also agreed to hold the Committee’s meeting soon to review the details of these programmes.

At the close of the meeting, ICESCO DG expressed, on his and the Organization’s behalf, his thanks and appreciation to the OIC SG for his keenness to sustain constructive cooperation between the two parties.

Several OIC officials attended the meeting namely, Ambassador Tariq Bakhit, Assistant SG for Humanitarian, Cultural and Social Affairs; Dr. Amina Obeid Al-Hajri, DG of the Department of Cultural and Social and Family Affairs; and Dr. Maha Aqil, Director of the Department of Family Affairs. 

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Hamad bin Muhammad Al Sheikh, Minister of Education of Saudi Arabia, and together they explored prospects of developing cooperation between ICESCO and the Ministry.

During the meeting, held Sunday, February 14, 2021, at the headquarters of the Ministry in Riyadh, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the Organization’s major achievements and work carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the field of education. The DG also discussed the aids ICESCO provided for vulnerable Member States to support their efforts to ensure the continuity of schooling.

The two parties discussed ways to overcome several educational challenges witnessed during the pandemic including the growing education wastage and the evaluation of technical education platform. They also reviewed distance education programs and Saudi Arabia’s successful experience in the field and explored the possibility of transferring the experience in several ICESCO Member States, especially in Africa.

The DG and the Saudi Minister agreed to work towards developing cooperation between the Organization and the Ministry over the next period.