Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Mohamed Ben Amor, Director General of the Arab Information and Communication Technologies Organization (AICTO), to discuss prospects for cooperation between the two organizations to support the efforts of countries in the Islamic world in digital transformation and cybersecurity, and strengthen the presence of the Arabic language on the Internet.
During the meeting, which took place on Tuesday 30 May 2023 in the presence of the delegation accompanying Mr. Ben Amor and several ICESCO sector heads and department directors, the two parties affirmed their willingness to build fruitful cooperation on issues related to digitization, notably the strengthening of digital trust, to encourage countries to digital transformation and contribute to bridging the digital divide existing between them, and consequently achieve digital inclusion.
The meeting discussed specific proposals for cooperation between ICESCO and AICTO, notably capacity-building for young people and new generations in the fields of technology to keep pace with their rapid evolution, promoting Arabic digital content and the presence of the Arabic language on the Internet, and contributing to strengthening the protection of personal data on the Internet in the light of developments in artificial intelligence.
In conclusion, it was decided to pursue consultation and coordination to agree on a number of programs and projects to be implemented by the two organizations within the framework of a practical agreement including said programs and projects.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) signed a new cooperation agreement with the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS) to strengthen the existing partnership between the two institutions in areas of common interest. The agreement aims to support scientific research in education and teaching, promote initiatives in the fields of open education, publications and translation, and create networks for the promotion of technical and vocational education and development of educational systems in the Islamic world.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Organization, and Dr. Abdulrahman bin Muhammad Al-Assimi, ABEGS Director-General, in the presence of Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, and a number of the Organization’s heads of departments and centers.
At the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik emphasized that the agreement strengthens the fruitful partnership between the two institutions. For his part, Dr. Al-Assimi stated that the partnership between ICESCO and ABEGS will go beyond the implementation of the projects and programs provided for in the agreement.
The agreement provides for co-organizing international workshops, seminars and symposia in the fields of education and teaching; launching training programs and sessions for teachers; conducting studies in this field; promoting consultation between the two parties, particularly in areas of common interest; collecting statistical data; and cooperating in technical studies, particularly in the fields of educational technology and artificial intelligence.
A meeting was held before the agreement signing between Dr. AlMalik and Dr. AL-Assimi, in which the two officials discussed ways to strengthen the partnership between ICESCO and ABEGS, and agreed to pursue coordination and joint action to ensure optimal benefit from programs and projects to be implemented, in support of Muslim countries’ efforts to modernize their education systems.
In this connection, Dr. AlMalik pointed out that ICESCO proclaimed its Year of Youth, which will be marked by the launch and implementation of a series of initiatives and programs to build the capacities of young people in the Islamic world in the fields of leadership for peace, technology, innovation, space sciences and the awarding of scholarships at prestigious universities.
For his part, Dr. Al-Assimi commended ICESCO’s efforts, stressing that the Islamic world had recently changed its view of the Organization, given its remarkable efforts in service of its Member States, particularly in the fields of education, science and culture.
Following the signing, Dr. AlMalik accompanied Dr. Al-Assimi on a tour of the Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, currently housed at the Organization’s headquarters. The ABEGS delegation received detailed explanations on the treasure troves exhibited at the various pavilions and sections of the Exhibition and Museum, presented using modern display techniques, which recount and document in detail our Prophet’s Seerah.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Medaires, Director-General of the KSA-based UNESCO Regional Centre for Quality and Excellence in Education (UNESCO RCQE), held a meeting to discuss ways to promote cooperation between ICESCO and the Center to improve the quality of education, anticipate its future, consolidate the values of coexistence, and promote citizenship education and shared human values.
During the meeting, held on Monday, May 29, 2023, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, Dr. Al-Malik highlighted the main axes of the Organization’s vision and strategic orientations, stressing that ICESCO designs and implements programs and projects based on the priorities and needs of its Member States to ensure the achievement the desired results.
The DG added that ICESCO adopts capacity building for youth and women in the fields of leadership for peace and security, technology and innovation, artificial intelligence and space science applications, and works to hone their skills to keep pace with the needs of tomorrow’s professions.
For his part, Dr. Al- Medaires shared the Center’s strategy, efforts in the field of quality education, and programs and projects, which focus on achieving SDG 4.
The meeting discussed partnership proposals to implement programs and projects, particularly in the fields of anticipating the future of education, promoting scientific research in the field, building capacities for workers in the education sectors, addressing the challenges of educational loss, and cooperating in organizing international forums to discuss the latest developments in education.
At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to continue coordination for the signing of a cooperation agreement to provide for the implementation of programs and projects with positive impact.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Fatima Al-Ruwais, Assistant DG of the UNESCO RCQE, and Ms. Sally Mabrouk, Director of the Office of ICESCO DG.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Marwan Awartani, the Palestinian Minister of Education, to explore ways to strengthen the existing partnership between ICESCO and the State of Palestine in the field of education, capacities building of education professionals and foresight.
At the outset of the meeting, which took place on Monday, May 29, 2023, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, in the presence of Dr. Dawas Dawas, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, Chairman of ICESCO Executive Council, and Ambassador Jamal Al-Shobaki, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Kingdom of Morocco, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed the Organization’s eagerness and relentless endeavor to support the educational sector in Palestine through many programs and projects aimed at developing educational institutions and providing the necessary tools and means for the success of the educational process and ensuring its continuity, in coordination with the Palestinian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.
He explained that ICESCO, under its new vision and strategic orientations, adopts a new communication approach with the authorities in its Member States to identify their orientations and needs and design tailor-cut programs and projects for each country, noting that the Organization accords special importance to building the capabilities of youth and women in various fields.
For his part, Dr. Awartani commended ICESCO’s roles, stressing the Education Ministry’s keenness to build further fruitful cooperation with the Organization, mainly the signing of a framework agreement for capacity-building of teaching professionals and training some of the Ministry’s officials at ICESCO Headquarters.
The meeting touched upon reviewing ICESCO’s key initiatives, programs and projects to serve its Member States and Muslim communities around the world in its fields of competence, with a focus on encouraging investment in space science and artificial intelligence applications, supporting entrepreneurship in the field of technology and innovation, promoting a culture of foresight and foresight studies and developing youth skills to keep pace with tomorrow’s jobs.
The Palestinian Minister of Education expressed his desire for the Palestinian youth to participate in all of ICESCO’s initiatives and programs, and ICESCO’s Director General welcomed their participation.
At the close of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik presented a memorial shield to Dr. Awartani, in appreciation of his efforts in the field of education.
Following two days of brainstorming and exchange of views and ideas on foresight mechanisms in order to lay down the most effective scenarios to face future challenges, the International Conference on the State of Foresight Studies in the World, held by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Policy Center for the New South and Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University (PMU), concluded its proceedings on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Rabat, with several recommendations to promote the culture of strategic foresight.
The Conference, which saw high-level participation including prominent international foresight experts, issued many recommendations stressing the need to increase investment in scientific research in the field of foresight, promote socio-economic development through foresight, and encourage the launch of an international platform to spread its culture. The Conference also recommended promoting strategic cooperation and international partnerships in the field of foresight studies, exchanging experiences among countries, and preparing a foresight guidebook for the benefit of the countries of the Islamic world.
The second day of the conference saw a discussion session on translating visions of the future into action plans, in which speakers stressed the need to build individual and institutional capacities, establish fruitful partnerships in the field of foresight, and embrace modern technology and artificial intelligence applications while being cautious about its risks.
The second session focused on the role of think tanks in achieving strategic diplomacy. Participants pointed to the importance of these entities in training young generations on foresight tools to achieve this goal and to carry out forward-looking studies. In the third session, speakers discussed the concept of artificial intelligence and its history, contributions to the field of foresight, and ways to capitalize on its applications to anticipate future events and develop scenarios to meet challenges.
The sessions featured discussions, in which the attendees asked some questions and expressed their visions, transforming these sessions into brainstorming activities on the importance of foresight studies and their role in decision-making.
In his statement at the closing session, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, stressed the importance of integrating strategic foresight in school curricula, holding more workshops on this key field for the benefit of young people, and training them on the importance of resilience and having a positive attitude towards modern technology and artificial intelligence.
At the close of the Conference, Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector at ICESCO, read out the recommendations of the Conference, which the participants contributed to drafting, commending the rich discussions that took place in the sessions.
Afterward, the participants set out to ICESCO Headquarters, where they visited the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, currently housed at the Organization’s headquarters, where they listened to detailed explanations about the pavilions and sections of the Exhibition and the Museum, which adopt modern display techniques to narrate and document in detail the Seerah of our Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the first International Forum of Ibn Battuta for Tolerance and Rapprochement between Peoples, which was held in Tangier, Kingdom of Morocco, to highlight the role of the Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta in spreading noble human values and enriching travel literature.
Mr. Najib Rhiati, Cultural Advisor to ICESCO Director-General (DG), represented the Organization, and was a guest of honor at the forum, on Friday, 24 February 2023. In his intervention on culture and rapprochement between peoples, he noted that Ibn Battuta’s travels across the world are an example of the art of living and living together, emphasizing that they are a model for human relations and rapprochement between peoples and nations, respect for difference and the combat against all forms of intolerance.
The ICESCO official added that Ibn Battuta embodies the Islamic tolerant values and good moral character which we need to build a peaceful world.
It is worth noting that the forum marks one year since the exhibition space of Ibn Battuta’s memory was inaugurated at Borj En-Naam in Tangier’s old medina, which marks the 719th birth anniversary of the great traveler.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and UNESCO’s Regional Office in Rabat held a meeting, on Friday 24 February 2023, to discuss the implementation mechanisms of a joint project to support and strengthen the presence of women and girls in the field of science.
ICESCO was represented at the meeting by Ms. Amira El-Fadil, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Advisor to the Director General for Partnerships and International Cooperation, Supervisor of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences, Dr. Koumbou Boly Barry, Head of the Education Sector, Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of the Science and Technology Sector, Ms. Sally Mabrouk, Director of the Office of the Director-General, Ms. Fahmida Fayza, Programs Manager at the Social and Human Sciences Sector, and Ms. Doha Mghabbar, from the Center for Strategic Foresight. UNESCO Office for the Maghreb was represented by its Director, Mr. Eric Falt, and Mr. Mohamed Alaoui, Science Program Specialist.
During the meeting, ICESCO representatives reviewed the main axes to be included in the said project as well as the implementation means and schedule.
For his part, Dr. Falt stressed the willingness of the Office to make every effort, within the framework of the strategic partnership with ICESCO, to ensure the success of the project in order to fulfill the objectives and aspirations of both parties and strengthen the status of women in science.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Institute of Silk Road Strategy Studies (ISRSS) of the Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) in the People’s Republic of China signed a memorandum of understanding and an action plan for cooperation, to promote the values of coexistence, peace and civilizational dialogue, as well as to enhance knowledge in higher education, scientific research and cultural exchange.
In his speech delivered at the signing ceremony on Friday, 24 February 2023, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director General, welcomed this strategic cooperation and partnership between the two parties, as part of the Organization’s policy of opening up to universities and higher institutes, and its contribution to consolidating the values of peace and tolerance and promoting civilizational dialogue. He also stressed the importance of this partnership in enhancing the Silk Road’s historical dimension and achieving coexistence between civilizations.
For his part, Mr. Jiang Feng, SISU Chairman of the Board, expressed his satisfaction with the signing and reviewed the missions of the University and the great importance it accords to youth capacity building and the development of research, through cooperation with its international partners and knowledge networking. He also stated that the Memorandum of Understanding and the Action Plan signed with ICESCO will open up broad perspectives on Chinese civilization for the countries of the Islamic world.
The memorandum and the action plan were signed by Mrs. Amira El Fadil, Head of ICESCO Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Ma Li Rong, ISRSS Dean, with the attendance of several Heads of Sectors and Departments and Experts of ICESCO, as well as officials of the Institute.
In her speech, Mrs. Amira El Fadil stressed the importance of implementing the terms of the memorandum and the procedures contained in the action plan to achieve tangible results to consolidate the cooperation between ICESCO and the Institute. For his part, Dr. Ma Li Rong reviewed the terms of the memorandum and the areas of cooperation, stressing the Institute’s eagerness to sustain this fruitful cooperation with ICESCO.
The memorandum and the plan include setting up a Chair for Silk Road Studies to enrich the civilizational discourse between China and the Islamic world, holding a joint exhibition on Silk Road heritage, international forums and workshops for youth in this field, as well as harnessing modern technology to enhance the educational capabilities of youth in China and ICESCO Member States, in addition to publishing joint articles on Silk Road studies.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the official opening ceremony of the Intangible Heritage Museum in Jemaa el-Fna Square in Marrakesh, Kingdom of Morocco. The museum was established at the former headquarters of Bank Al Maghrib in partnership between Morocco’s National Museum Foundation in and ICESCO, in implementation of the partnership agreement signed between the two parties in October 2020, and in cooperation with a number of partners.
This new pioneering museum combines tourism, culture, heritage preservation and collection valorization with a view to achieving sustainable and comprehensive regional development. It will operate under the auspices of Morocco’s National Museum Foundation, chaired by the artist Mehdi Qotbi, and under the museological and scientific supervision of Dr. Abdelaziz El Idrissi, Director of the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat.
Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of ICESCO’s Culture and Communication Sector, represented the Organization at the opening ceremony, which was held on Thursday, 23 February 2023, during which he perused the museum’s archeological and art collections and the displayed photographs and videos on the history of Jemaa el-Fna, its rich intangible heritage and its oral artistic, literary, performative practices.
The museum will contribute to promoting Marrakesh as a global tourist destination through a cultural tourism space on Jemaa El-Fna Square as a meeting point between the city and the Kasbah Makhzenia that encapsulates a unique legacy that has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1997 as well as on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List.
The headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hosted a major ceremony to select the three winners out of the 10 finalists in the first edition of “My Thesis in 1000 Words” contest, organized by ICESCO’s Federation for the Universities of the Islamic World. The candidates had five minutes to present a summary of their doctoral theses in front of a jury and an audience and compete for the three first spots. Out of ten contestants, the jury selected the first and second winners while the audience selected the third through live online voting.
The grand finale of the contest kicked off on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by the opening remarks by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, FUIW Secretary-General, who stated that organizing this contest aims to test the ability of Ph.D. students in the Islamic world to present their theses in a condensed manner. He added that mastering and fully grasping the topic of the thesis is reflected in the ability to convey complex thoughts in a simplified manner to a non-specialized audience in few minutes.
Moreover, the Director-General stressed that ICESCO and FUIW organized this contest to encourage universities to adopt this approach in training students on presentation skills, capturing the audience’s attention and managing to convey difficult ideas in a simple way without compromising the requirements of sound scientific research.
In his address, Dr. Omar Halli, Advisor to ICESCO Director-General for the FUIW, stated that the Prize aims to provide students with networking opportunities and highlight the positive progress made by the universities of the Islamic world.
For his part, Dr. Khalid Berrada, Head of the Prize Jury, stated that 181 student researchers from 17 countries participated in this contest, creatively presenting their theses in less than 1000 words in one of ICESCO’s working languages (Arabic, English or French). He added that they each presented video segments and thesis abstracts, noting that the selection of the ten finalists was carried out in a consistent and unbiased manner.
Following the opening remarks, the ten finalists from universities in the State of Qatar, Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Morocco, Malaysia, Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Tunisia proceeded to present their theses to the jury and the audience within the five-minute time limit.
After the jury’s deliberations and the closing of the online voting, Khalsa Al Bahri from Sultan Qaboos University in the Sultanate of Oman won first place, while Nisrine Nouj from Ibn Zohr University in the Kingdom of Morocco won second place. As for the audience choice, Chaymae Fouikhri from Hassan II University in the Kingdom of Morocco won third place.
At the close of the ceremony, Dr. AlMalik presented the prizes to the three winners, which consisted of commemorative shields and monetary awards standing at USD 2,000 for the first winner, USD 1,500 for the second, and 1,000 for the third. The other finalists were also presented with 500-dollar monetary rewards.
