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.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Farid Chourak, Wali of Marrakech-Safi Region. The Officials discussed cooperation between ICESCO and the Wilaya, as part of celebrating Marrakech as a Capital of Culture in the Islamic World for 2024, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him.
At the outset of the meeting, held today, Thursday 22 February 2024 at the headquarters of the Wilaya in Marrakech, Dr. AlMalik expressed ICESCO’s appreciation for the support of the Wilaya of Marrakech-Safi in ensuring the successful launch of the celebration of Marrakech as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World for 2024, which will continue throughout the year. ICESCO Director-General further emphasized the Organization’s keenness to cooperate with relevant civil society institutions to implement programs, activities, and launch various competitions highlighting the cultural momentum of the Red City.
Moreover, Dr. AlMalik presented the Wali of the Marrakech-Safi Region with a commemorative plate engraved with a poem in Arabic titled “Marrakech of Glories,” which Dr. AlMalik composed himself, on the occasion of the celebration of Marrakech as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World for 2024, and recited at the end of his address during the launch ceremony.
On his part, Dr. Chourak lauded ICESCO’s evolution, and its initiative to select Marrakech as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World for this year, commending the success of the official launch of the celebration last month. The Wali of Marrakech-Safi Region particularly expressed his admiration for the poem presented to him, thanking Dr. AlMalik for the words of beauty, praise, and appreciation it contained, and conveyed about the city of joy, its kind people, and its illustrious history.
During the Meeting, both sides agreed to implement a number of activities aimed at involving youth, women, and civil society organizations, and coordinating the participation of delegations from Islamic and non-Islamic countries in these activities, in addition to forming a team from ICESCO to visit the headquarters of the Wilaya of Marrakech-Safi Region to develop executive plans for cooperation between the two sides throughout the year of celebration.
The International Symposium on Media Education: Horizons and Aspirations, kicked off today, Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at ICESCO headquarters and via videoconference. The Symposium is being held by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in cooperation with the League of Arab States, represented in its Media and Communication Sector—Department of the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Information Ministers, and the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco.
The Symposium, which brought together high-caliber participation from 16 countries, including ministers, prominent international figures, and experts specializing in the field of media, IT and security education, aims to disseminate and consolidate the concepts and principles of media and IT education and works toward integrating them in school curricula to develop critical thinking skills.
The Symposium opened with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by the Address of Dr. Salim. M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, who stressed the central role of media in all fields, noting that the media sector has the power necessary to design, develop and improve the quality of its mechanisms. Moreover, the Director-General highlighted new web media statistics, which show that more than 4.4 billion people, representing 64.6% of the world population, exchange news, and ideas via social media. He also noted that humans spend 15% of their awake time on social networks, with a total of 10 billion hours spent daily in the virtual world.
In the same vein, the Director-General stated that the unfolding waves of new media and the communication revolutions necessitate a closer look at their implications with regard to personal privacy violations and fake news propaganda, to find ways to fight these phenomena and establish for a media education that upholds the values of equality, justice and citizenship.
Speaking next, Dr. Khaled bin Abdulaziz Alharfash, NAUSS Vice-President for External Relations, reaffirmed that the University’s programs aim to translate its interest in the role of media in fighting and preventing crimes into a tangible reality that contributes to promoting the concept of intellectual security. He added that this interest stems from the University’s mission to implement Arab security strategies and plans and prevent crime, expressing his high hopes that this Symposium serve as a stepping stone towards an Arab strategic plan to mainstream media education.
In his address, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco, stressed Morocco’s commitment to addressing the issues of media and communication to promote critical media literacy among all social groups, especially young people, and empower them to positively use different media tools. The Moroccan Minister also highlighted his country’s efforts to promote media education and integrate it in school curricula.
In a recorded address, Mr. Jean Emmanuel Rimtalba Ouedraogo, Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism of the Republic of Burkina Faso, talked about his country’s great interest in media education, casting light on its efforts in this field, which include raising awareness of the proper way to handle social media.
Dr. Farid El-Bacha, President of Mohamed V University, also gave an address at this key event, on behalf of Dr. Abdelatif Miraoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation in the Kingdom of Morocco, where he addressed the theme of the Symposium, in light of the current world changes.
For his part, Mr. Hicham Bellaoui, Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Public Ministry, addressed the Symposium on behalf of Mr. El-Hassan Daki, King’s Attorney General at the Court of Cassation, President of the Public Ministry in the Kingdom of Morocco, stressing the significance of media education in light of a global context characterized by a technological revolution in the field of media. The Secretary-General stated that media education aims to develop people’s abilities to analyze media messages, highlighting the Kingdom’s efforts in this field.
There followed the address of Mr. Boubker Sabik, Police Superintendent General, Spokesperson for the General Directorate of National Security and the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance, on behalf of Mr. Abdellatif Hammouchi, Director of the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST), Member of NAUSS Supreme Council, who underscored the need to shield society and raise shared awareness of the importance of media education to prevent crime, noting that the Directorate has exerted significant efforts to integrate development plans and modern approaches to collectively promote security.
Over the course of two days, the Symposium’s working sessions will discuss scientific papers on partnerships between the fields of media and education to build a knowledge society and achieve sustainable development; ethics of the freedom of expression in media legislations and charters; leading Arab and international experiences in disseminating media education; prerequisites of media education in Arab school curricula; and AI and the future of media education.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (COMSTECH) and the Songhai Center in the Republic of Benin, are holding an international training workshop on “Innovative Practices for the Development of Sustainable Agricultural Activities” in Porto-Novo, capital of Benin. The workshop aims to raise awareness about achieving food security and to identify sustainable solutions to the challenges facing food and agricultural systems, through the exchange of knowledge and expertise in the fields of science, technology, and smart agricultural techniques, benefiting participants from 17 ICESCO Member States.
During the first day of the workshop, which began on 19 February 2024, and spans five days, Dr. Mohamed Sharif, Advisor in ICESCO’s Science and Technology Sector, explained that this activity is part of ICESCO’s initiative to address food security challenges in the Islamic world, particularly in the Sahel region. He emphasized ICESCO’s special focus on environment protection issues, tackling the challenges of climate change, and promoting the use of modern technologies in sustainable agriculture.
The opening of the training workshop was attended by Mr. José Didier Tonato, Minister of Living Environment and Sustainable Development of Benin, Dr. Godfrey Nzamujo, Director General of the Songhai Center, and several officials and experts in agriculture, environment, and climate change.
Dr. Salim. M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Ms. Saulekul Sailaukyzy, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Morocco, Kazakhstan Permanent Delegate to ICESCO, and together they discussed the latest cooperation developments between the two parties in the fields of education, science and culture.
At the beginning of the meeting, held Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at ICESCO headquarters, Dr. AlMalik commended the special partnership relations between ICESCO and Kazakhstan in areas of mutual interest, expressing his keenness to develop these relations through co-implementing a set of programs and initiatives in Kazakhstan and other Member States.
The meeting discussed the latest cooperation development between ICESCO and Kazakhstan, notably the publication of the academic papers presented during the International Conference, “Al-Farabi and His Contributions Throughout Human History”, organized by ICESCO in its headquarters in October 2023, in cooperation with the Kazakhstani Foreign Ministry, represented by the country’s Embassy in Rabat.
The meeting also discussed the visit of Mr. Yerlan Karin, State Advisor of the Republic of Kazakhstan, to ICESCO headquarters with the aim to develop cooperation between the two parties in the upcoming period.
The meeting was attended by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Sector of Partnerships and International Cooperation; Dr. Marwan Awartani, Senior Advisor of ICESCO Director-General; and Mr. Asim Ismagulov, Consul at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Rabat.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Muslim World League (MWL) and the Mohammadia League of Scholars are delighted to announce the new visiting hours of the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, hosted at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, in Ramadan. The Exhibition will be open to the public from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. throughout the week except on Mondays, starting from Tuesday, March 12, until Friday, April 5, 2024.
The International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, originally based in Al Madinah Al Munawwarah and held under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, is the first of its kind outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Exhibition uses modern technologies to showcase the message of Islam and its values of justice, peace, mercy, tolerance, coexistence, and moderation, based on the teachings of the Holy Quran, the noble Sunnah, and the bright Islamic history.
The International Exhibition and Museum comprises three pavilions; the “International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization”, the “Panorama of the Noble Prophet’s Chamber”, displayed for the first time in history using 3D and virtual reality technologies under the supervision of MWL, and the “Exhibition on the Attachment of Moroccans to the Noble Prophet, a Symbol of Love and Loyalty,” which is supervised by the Mohammadia League of Scholars in the Kingdom of Morocco.
The exhibition witnesses an impressive turnout, since its launch on 28 November 2022, from different categories inside and outside Morocco, as it attracted nearly five million satisfied visitors who declared it a preferred destination for those interested in delving deeper into the details of the noble Prophet’s Seerah.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), affirmed that the Organization adopts a participatory approach with its Member States’ national commissions, recognizing the pivotal roles of these commissions and seeking to achieve integration and solidarity between them and ICESCO. This was clearly evident during the 44th session of the Organization’s Executive Council, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in mid-January in Jeddah. The session was preceded by a consultative meeting that included brainstorming sessions between ICESCO leaders and the delegations of national commissions regarding future action plans.
Dr. AlMalik made these remarks during his participation in the ordinary session of the General Assembly of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science, and Culture, which was held on 16 February 2024, at the headquarters of the Regional Academy of Education and Training in Rabat. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Chakib Benmoussa, Minister of National Education, Vocational Training, and Sports, and President of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science, and Culture, and attended by members of the General Assembly of the Commission, its Secretary-General, and representatives of UNESCO and ALECSO in Morocco.
Dr. AlMalik added that the General Assembly meeting of the National Commission is an opportunity for assessment, reviewing achievements, and envisioning ways to enhance cooperation and integration among ICESCO and the Moroccan National Commission, and its partners from international organizations. Moreover, he stressed the support received by the Organization from His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and the Moroccan Government.
Dr. AlMalik also pointed out the celebration of Marrakesh as the capital of culture in the Islamic world 2024, which began last month under the high patronage of His Majesty. ICESCO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication and all relevant ministries, is working to make its program a cultural event worthy of the standing of Marrakesh.
It is worth noting that the ordinary meeting of the General Assembly of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science, and Culture featured the distribution of the Commission’s awards in the fields of education, scientific research, vocational training, and culture.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Mohsen Al-Mandalawi, First Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi House of Representatives, and his accompanying parliamentary delegation, during their visit to ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat.
At the outset of the meeting, held on Friday 6 February 2024, in the presence of Dr. Botan Dizayee, Chargé d’affaires of the Iraqi Embassy in Rabat, and Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of ICESCO, Dr. Al-Malik reviewed the main axes of the Organization’s vision and strategic directions. His Excellency emphasized that they take root in the Organization’s openness and cooperation with all, for the benefit of its Member States and all Muslim communities worldwide.
Moreover, the Director-General pointed out that ICESCO has become an innovative organization that promotes the culture of foresight, builds the capacities of women and youth in all fields. Dr. AlMalik furthermore noted that the Organization encourages its Member States to invest in space science and its various applications, supports their efforts to benefit from the potential offered by modern technology, and works to anchor the values of coexistence, peace and civilizational dialogue.
On his part, Mr. Al-Mandalawi reaffirmed Iraq’s support for ICESCO’s efforts and the Country’s keenness to develop cooperation with the Organization in its areas of competence, praising the multi-faceted remarkable role in contributing to the development of education, science and culture in its Member States.
