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Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stressed the importance of adopting a forward-looking and proactive vision, and integrating foresight in educational curricula from the early years to build a generation that anticipates the future and capable of developing proactive scenarios to keep pace with the transformations of the education sector and job market, and bridge the digital gap, which is a multi-dimension dilemma, noting that ICESCO gives foresight a high priority through its programs and workshops to develop the capacities of the new generations.

This was part of Dr. AlMalik’s address during the Thirteenth Conference of Arab Ministers of Education, held by Arab League of Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), on Wednesday (May 31, 2023), in Rabat, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, in partnership with the Moroccan Ministry of National Education, Primary Education and Sports, and the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, under the theme “Future of education in the Arab world in the era of digital transformation”. The event witnessed rich discussions on many educational issues.

At the outset of his address, Dr. AlMalik commended the theme of the conference, which bears the seeds of renewal and modernization as it brings together the leaders of educational action to discuss the future and the digital revolution, explaining that a proactive vision is necessary to avoid the dangers of technology and Internet, which ICESCO focuses on its recent international conference on the reality and foresight studies that brought together experts from around the world.

He added that ICESCO is interested in foresight through its vision that it presented before the United Nations Education Transformation Summit, in New York, in September 2022. “ICESCO is preparing to hold a comprehensive conference in the presence of education ministers of Muslim countries and the representatives of international organizations to discuss the future of education through a forward-looking vision and new thinking strategies.

ICESCO DG concluded his address by pointing out that despite the statistics indicating a regression in education in the Islamic and Arab world, the capacities of our students reflect their excellence and the future would be promising if we reconcile ourselves with it.

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.