The Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a workshop on developing students’ Arabic language skills, in Conakry, Republic of Guinea, in cooperation with Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, and the National Commission of Guinea.
The four-day workshop, which concluded on Thursday (February 29, 2024), aimed at developing the competencies of a number of educational officials and Arabic language teachers from Arabic-French educational institutions in Guinea, and honing their teaching skills through the latest developments in educational linguistics.
Dr. Youssef Ismaili, Expert at ICESCO Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, along with a local expert oversaw the workshop, which included presentations on the difficulties facing Arabic language teaching in Guinea and the major modern educational strategies for developing students’ language skills at various levels, as well as the ways to prepare AI-powered supplementary classes to enhance communication in Arabic.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received a Yemeni delegation from the Benevolence Coalition for Humanitarian Relief (BCHR), headed by Mr. Fahmy Salmeen, the Executive Director of the BCHR, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat on Wednesday 28 February 2024. The meeting reviewed the results and developments in the “Girl Dropout Reintegration Project” in Yemen, being implemented by BCHR, funded by Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) and overseen and monitored in its executive phases by ICESCO.
During the meeting, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik renewed ICESCO’s commitment to supporting Yemen in the fields of education, sciences and Culture through the implementation of a set of programs and practical and well-defined activities in cooperation with the competent authorities in Yemen and in coordination with the Yemeni National Commission for Education, Science and Culture.
Moreover, Dr. AlMalik lauded KSRelief for funding the “Girl Dropout Reintegration Project” and expressed appreciation for BCHR’s efforts to implement it.
The delegation of BCHR briefed ICESCO Director-General on the latest developments in the Project, which was implemented in 7 Yemeni governorates, and pointed to its success as it exceeded its goals on all levels. Initially, the Project targeted 19,000 girls, while 21,500 girls have benefited from it thus far. Additionally, the Project aimed to train 350 instructors and will now build the capacities of 500 instructors by the end of the Project in two months. Likewise, the project worked on equipping several classrooms and supporting girls’ families in establishing small income-generating economic activities.
At the end of the meeting, the two parties agreed to continue coordination to explore prospects for implementing the Project in other Yemeni governorates or similar projects in cooperation with the Yemeni Ministry of Education.
The delegation of BCHR handed a memorial shield to Dr. AlMalik in recognition of the efforts of ICESCO to ensure the success of the Project.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Ministry of National Education in Charge of Civics Training and the National Commission of the Gabonese Republic, launched a project to promote women and girls’ literacy and economic empowerment through income-generating projects and activities. The project benefits 50 women and girls at the Literacy Center in Libreville.
The three-month project, which kicked off on Monday, February 26, 2024, aims to consolidate the gains of newly literate girls and women through programs of educational support in reading, writing and arithmetic. It also aims to build their professional capacities through applied workshops on running small income-generating projects, provide them with the necessary modern technical skills in the fields of sewing and embroidery, and supply them with literacy programs’ machinery and equipment, in addition to tools to furnish the training hall.
During the Project’s launch ceremony, Ms. Camélia Ntoutoume-Leclercq, Minister of National Education in Charge of Civics Training, commended ICESCO’s leading roles in fighting social vulnerability, improving newly literate girls and women’s income resources, countering unemployment and investing in marginalized groups’ education.
For his part, Mr. Aziz El-Hajir, Program Director at ICESCO’s Education Sector, stressed the significance of literacy programs, small projects and income-generating activities and highlighted their socio-economic impact in developing countries.
The Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World, affiliated with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), concluded the fourth session of the Open Education Development Program in Member Universities of the Federation. More than 55 professor-researchers from 29 universities in 11 countries took part in the session that aims to enhance their capabilities in designing open educational resources and utilizing them in their educational activities with students.
During the closing ceremony held both physically at the Meshkat Hall, ICESCO headquarters, and via video conferencing on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, emphasized the importance of improving training in open education and utilizing the current technological revolution, which provides significant opportunities in the field.
He added that ICESCO is committed to promoting and ensuring open education by employing modern technologies to serve students and researchers, enhancing knowledge in Member States, especially with the development witnessed in the field of artificial intelligence.
Participants in this session included professors and researchers from universities and higher education institutes in Togo, Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria, Benin, Comoros, the UAE, Mali, Libya, Mauritania, and Morocco. They benefited from six weeks of training on open education, licenses, open data, as well as data protection.
At the end of the ceremony, participation certificates were distributed to the beneficiaries of the Session.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Organization for Education, Science, and Culture (ICESCO), received Dr. Hervé Ndoum Essingone, Gabonese Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Technological Innovation, President of the Gabonese National Commission for Education, Science, and Culture, to discuss the recent advancements in the partnership between ICESCO and Gabon in areas of mutual interest.
At the outset of the meeting, held on 27 February 2024, Dr. AlMalik warmly welcomed Dr. Essingone to ICESCO headquarters. In attendance were Mr. Sylver Aboubacar Minko Mi Nseme, Ambassador of the Gabonese Republic to Morocco, and the accompanying delegation of the Minister. Dr. AlMalik expressed gratitude for the gracious reception he received during his recent visit to the capital, Libreville. He highlighted the successful meeting he had with General Brice Oligui Nguema, Transitional President of Gabon, which marked a promising start to the cooperation between ICESCO and Gabon in the fields of education, science, and culture.
The Gabonese Minister expressed his appreciation to ICESCO and its Director-General for their keenness to cooperate with his country, stating that his visit to the Organization was in line with the instructions of the President of Gabon to reaffirm the commitment to a fruitful partnership with ICESCO, as previously agreed.
The meeting explored various proposals to enhance the partnership between ICESCO and Gabon, including organizing a meeting for the First Ladies in Libreville, hosting ICESCO’s forthcoming Executive Council meeting in Gabon, and collaborating to prepare for the Summit of the Future scheduled at the United Nations headquarters in New York in September. Additionally, the discussions tackled supporting Gabon’s strategy to promote culture, enhance cultural establishments nationwide, and contribute to the modernization of educational institutions.
At the end of the meeting, both parties agreed to form a joint working team to continue coordinating, developing executive plans, and monitoring the programs and projects of cooperation between ICESCO and Gabon.
Afterwards, an expanded meeting took place involving the Gabonese Minister, his accompanying delegation, and the heads of sectors, centers, and departments at ICESCO. During this meeting, they reviewed the Organization’s ongoing initiatives and programs, as well as ICESCO’s strategic plan for 2024 and 2025. Additionally, they discussed and identified Gabon’s priorities and needs in the areas of education, science, and culture.
Subsequently, Dr. AlMalik accompanied the Gabonese Minister to visit the halls of the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, currently housed at the headquarters of ICESCO in partnership with the Muslim World League (MWL) and the Mohammedia League of Scholars.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance, launched the first phase of the Program, “Promoting the Arabic Language in the Bilingual Education System of the Union of Comoros”.
The program, which was launched at a major ceremony held in Moroni, on Monday, February 26, 2024, features a variety of activities, including a meeting of educational experts and officials, on “Promoting the Arabic Language in the Bilingual Education System of the Union of Comoros”, technical and consultative meetings on revamping the headquarters of ICESCO’s Delegation in Moroni, and educational workshops and meetings in the field of teaching Arabic in Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli, over the period 1-5 March 2024.
At the Program’s launch ceremony, at Imam Chafiou Faculty of Arabic Language and Islamic Studies in Moroni, Mr. Adel Bouraoui, Advisor to the Director-General in Charge of ICESCO’s External Bodies in the Field of Arabic, conveyed ICESCO’s full support for promoting Arabic in bilingual education systems (Arabic-French), noting that the Program comes in application of the outcomes of ICESCO Director-General’s visit to Moroni last July.
For his part, Mr. Suleiman Saleh, Secretary-General of the Ministry of National Education, Scientific Research, Training and Professional Integration in the Union of Comoros, commended ICESCO’s initiative to support Arabic in the Comorian education system, calling for capitalizing on the Program’s launch activities, particularly the meeting of educational experts and officials, to build national capacities in the field of training Arabic teachers and developing specialized national school curricula.
The training session organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in partnership with the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication kicked off on Monday, 26 February 2024, with the rallying call, “Inclusive Wellbeing in Practice.” The training aims to build the capacities of youth centers’ directors and facilitators in Marrakech–Safi region and to train them on psychosocial first aid and skills to deal with vulnerable groups and crisis scenarios.
At the outset of the three-day training, held in El Koudia Youth Center in Marrakech, Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of the Human and Social Sciences Sector, praised the fruitful partnership between ICESCO and the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, stressing the importance of prioritizing psychological and mental health, especially in the post-Covid era and amid the climate change concerns, natural disasters and continuous tensions.
For her part, Ms. Kenza Abourmane, Head of Youth Department at the Ministry, stated that this training is part of the efforts and orientations of the Ministry aiming to advance the status of social and cultural facilitators and ensure their training and continued professional development.
Moreover, Aziz Moatassim, Regional Director of the Youth Sector in Marrakech-Safi, confirmed that the youth centers in the region remain ever-engaged in the dynamism of building capacities and supporting professionals in the field.
Following these opening remarks, the morning sessions tackled the psychological and mental impact of crises and disasters and first aid intervention. In contrast, the afternoon sessions focused on the principles and rules of providing assistance responsibly while observing peace, human rights and dignity.
As part of celebrating its Year of Youth, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is delighted to announce the names of the candidates who have been selected as the third cohort of its Leadership Training for Peace and Security Programme (LTIPS) for 2023-2024. The 100 young from 68 countries were selected out of more than two thousand applicants to participate in the program and receive training that, upon successful completion, will qualify them to become ICESCO Ambassadors for Peace.
This edition of the LTIPS Programme has seen a continued increase in the number and diversification in the nationality of applicants, as the selection jury received applications from 2023 young males and females hailing from 68 countries, including 47 from ICESCO Member States and 21 from non-Member States. This is a substantial increase from the previous edition, which received 1700 applications from 48 countries, including 37 from ICESCO Member States and 11 from non-Member States.
Moreover, specialized committees announced the list of selected candidates after a thorough examination of the nomination forms received through ICESCO’s official website and the National Commissions for Education, Science and Culture in the Member States of the Organization.
The date and location of this training will be announced soon. It is noteworthy that this edition will be held with the rallying call “Sowing the Seeds of Peace by Mobilizing Youth and Women” and will see the participation of inspirational leaders, officials and experts in various fields to train the 100 youth, 55 of whom are females and 45 males, to become ICESCO Ambassadors for Peace. This will add to the 80 ambassadors who have graduated from the previous edition of the Programme.
ICESCO’s Leadership Training for Peace and Security Programme aims to build the capacities of youth and foster their leadership skills through 10 holistic training modules that adopt ICESCO’s 360o approach to peace while focusing on the different dimensions of peacebuilding and promotion and providing youth with the opportunity to dialogue with inspirational cross-generational leaders from various countries and through Youth Peace Incubator sessions.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mrs. Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, Mayor of Marrakech, Minister of National Territory and Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy of the Kingdom of Morocco. The two parties reviewed ways of ensuring the success of the celebration of Marrakech as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World for the year 2024, under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him.
During the meeting, held this Friday, February 23, 2024, at the headquarters of the Ministry of National Territory and Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik underlined ICESCO’s commitment to implementing a rich and distinctive program highlighting the artistic and cultural elements that distinguish the Red City. This program aims not only to strengthen the city’s cultural capital, but also to contribute to the promotion of its historic status as a global cultural destination, promoting the values of coexistence and dialogue.
The Director General of ICESCO noted that the Organization is working to implement numerous activities and programs, including cultural and artistic competitions, training workshops and symposia on the heritage of Marrakech, as well as international conferences on the values of coexistence, peace and civilizational dialogue. For her part, Ms. El Mansouri welcomed the celebration of Marrakech as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World, and reaffirmed her full commitment to cooperating in the implementation of the year-long celebration program, in line with the city’s historical and cultural status.
At the end of the meeting, it was agreed to maintain coordination between ICESCO and Marrakech City Council to ensure the success of this major cultural event.
Following two days of working sessions and rich scientific discussions on the concepts, values and latest developments in media and information education, the International Conference, “Media Education: Horizons and Aspirations”, concluded its proceedings with a series of practical and applicable recommendations. These include the importance of consolidating the values of global citizenship to help build a more just and peaceful world through the development of media education, calling for the development of a series of guidelines to strengthen the presence of this type of education, raising young people’s awareness of digital ethics in the production and circulation of content, and establishing a professional, legislative and ethical code of honor for the use of artificial intelligence in the media field.
ICESCO and the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia organized this two-day conference at ICESCO headquarters, in cooperation with the League of Arab States represented by the Information and Communication Department of the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers of Information, and the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication in the Kingdom of Morocco. The conference produced a series of recommendations, including calling on educational authorities to integrate media education into curricula in order to raise a generation capable of understanding the media field; training curriculum developers, teachers and media professionals; capitalizing on artificial intelligence to produce responsible media content; and supporting research and studies in the field of media education.
The recommendations of the international conference, attended by eminent international figures and specialized researchers from 16 countries, stressed the importance of coordination and cooperation between the media and educational and security institutions, consolidating the role of the media in promoting human values, urging media institutions to contribute to media education programs, and creating interactive digital spaces that bring young people together.
The second day of the conference opened with a session on, “Prerequisites for integrating media education in the education system”, followed by a session on, “The foundations for the conscious management of media, social networks and information sources”, and a session on “Artificial intelligence and the future of media education”. During these sessions, scientific papers were presented and rich discussions took place in which participants exchanged ideas and proposals on media education.
At the closing session, Dr. Ahmed AlBanyan, Head of the Section of Education for All at ICESCO’s Education Sector, read out the conference’s recommendations. Dr. Koumbou Barry, Head of the Sector, along with Dr. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Alharfash, Vice President for External Relations at Naif Arab University, gave closing remarks commending participants’ valuable input and the quality of the Conference’s recommendations.
