The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the 2nd Ministerial Conference on Social Development in the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Cairo on June 5-6, 2023, under the auspices of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The event is held by the Egyptian Ministry of Solidarity and OIC, under the theme: “Social Justice and Social Security.” During the opening session, Turkey handed the conference’s presidency over to Egypt. The second session highlights the efforts of OIC Member States, organs and institutions to combat violence against children, eradicate child labor, empower women and bolster social welfare initiatives for the elderly.
Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of ICESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector, and Ms. Amira El Fadil, Advisor to ICESCO Director-General for External Relations represented the Organization at the conference.
During the senior officials’ preparatory meeting for the conference, ICESCO’s comprehensive approach to social affairs was reviewed, with a particular emphasis on its initiatives focused on children, youth and women in the fields of education, empowerment and protection for brighter knowledge societies.
The two ICESCO representatives called upon Member States and partners to join the Organization’s initiatives aimed at advancing health, social welfare and equality, and promoting policies and programs aimed at empowering women and girls to strengthen our societies.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), reaffirmed that Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature mirrors the great priority that the Sultanate of Oman attaches to culture and creators.
This came in his address, on Tuesday (6 June 2023), during the introductory meeting of the Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature, in its tenth edition, organized by the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in the Kingdom of Morocco, at ICESCO Headquarters, in Rabat, during which representatives of the Sultan Qaboos Higher Center for Culture and Science, supervisor of the award, made a presentation on the award.
At the outset of his address, Dr. AlMalik praised the attributes of the Sultanate of Oman and the Omanis, and the ongoing development in Oman to build the human capital people and the infrastructure, adding that the Sultanate of Oman is full of cultural scenes, which highlight that it is well-educated country.
He explained that ICESCO hosts this introductory meeting as part of the Organization’s cooperation with the Sultanate in the fields of culture, thought and creativity, and stands as an example of ICESCO’s cooperation with its Member States.
For his part, Dr. Said bin Mohammed al-Bar’ami, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Kingdom of Morocco, expressed his thanks to ICESCO for hosting the meeting, stressing that the Sultanate attaches great importance to culture and intellectuals as they reflect its identity, rich culture and glorious history.
Afterward, a presentation was made on Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature, which was launched in 2011 and is supervised by Sultan Qaboos Higher Center for Culture and Science. It was first open for Omanis, then it included Arab nominees as well.
The tenth edition of the award is open to all Arabs in three categories: media and communication studies, film directing, and the novel. Each edition of the Award selects several disciplines falling under the fields of culture, arts and literature.
The two-day training session on “Innovative methods for teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers,” held by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with Keio University in Japan, closed its proceedings. The session is aimed at enhancing the skills of Arabic teachers who teach non-Arabic speakers in Japan, and introducing them to innovative approaches and methodologies in this field, while also providing insights into the unique characteristics of the Arabic language and how to effectively teach it.
In her address during the closing ceremony of the session, Dr. Kaoru Yamamoto, Professor of Policy Management at Keio University, Head of the Arabic Language Laboratory, conveyed her gratitude and appreciation to ICESCO for holding this outstanding session in cooperation with the University for the benefit of Arabic teachers in Japan, noting that she is looking forward to further cooperation in this area.
For his part, Dr. Anas H. Saeed Al-Nuaimi, an expert at the ICESCO Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, delivered the organization’s address in which he highlighted that ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations highlight openness and scientific cooperation with the world’s universities, and strive to the Arabic within the Islamic world and beyond.
The training session saw the participation of over 20 female and male teachers and education officials from various Japanese universities and institutes who are actively involved in teaching Arabic in Japanese universities and institutions. ICESCO’s representative oversaw the organizational aspects of the session on the first day, while Dr. Rawya Jamous, assistant professor of Arabic to non-Arabic speakers at the University of Keio, supervised the proceedings on the second day.
The Sector of Education at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a training workshop in the field of designing and developing training and e-learning projects and preparing online courses. The workshop was held on Monday, June 5, 2023, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in cooperation with the National Commission for ICESCO and the Virtual University of Côte d’Ivoire, under the patronage of Dr. Adama Diawara, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, President of the Ivorian National Commission.
The workshop aims to build the capacities of the participants, including teachers, university professors, educational staff and trainers in teacher training centers, in the fields of designing and developing training and e-learning projects, preparing online educational courses, and highlighting mechanisms for preparing and managing distance education and training platforms, by capitalizing on the latest online applications.
In his address at the opening of the four-day workshop, Mr. Aziz El-Hajir, Director of Programs at ICESCO’s Education Sector, accentuate the pioneering roles of educational technologies in providing quality and innovative education that keeps pace with modern developments, ensuring the quality of the educational process, and provides ample learning opportunities.
The second conference on “The Challenges of Teaching Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers: Development and Cooperation Opportunities,” organized in partnership between the ICESCO Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers and Al-Akhawayn University, at the Al-Akhawayn University’s headquarters, in Ifrane, Kingdom of Morocco, in cooperation with specialized institutions from the United States of America, Canada, Britain, Spain and Côte d’Ivoire, concluded its proceedings.
The conference, held on 1-3 June 2023, comes within the framework of the “First International Spring University: Values of Education and Education on Values.”
In his address during the opening session of the conference, chaired by Dr. Amine Bensaid, President of Al Akhawayn University, Dr. Majdi Haji Ibrahim, Head of ICESCO Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, welcomed the Spring University project, which is an opportunity to launch an alliance based on education, values, fairness and quality, and stressed the Center’s willingness to join this alliance.
During the working sessions, Dr. Youssef Ismaili, Expert at ICESCO Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, delivered two interventions on “Cultural Aspects of Teaching Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers” and “Teaching Arabic in Muslim Countries Speaking Other Languages: Challenges and Efforts.”
The conference made several recommendations, most notably the need to coordinate the efforts of institutions and centers in organizing and holding training sessions, the importance of providing opportunities for consultation and training, and establishing an international database of Arabic language proficiency tests for various purposes.
On June 5, the world celebrates the World Environment Day to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable practices in preserving and promoting the environment. The theme of this year is “Combating Plastic Pollution.” the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) siezes this opportunity to call on countries, regional institutions and international organizations to join efforts to combat plastic pollution, warn against its dangers, encourage the production and distribution of recyclable products, and invest in scientific research to develop sustainable and safe means and mechanisms for the use of plastic.
Given the negative impact of pollution in general, and plastic pollution in particular, on health, society and the economy, ICESCO stresses the importance of mobilizing the international community’s efforts to preserve the environment and biodiversity worldwide, and warn against the scale of this type of pollution.
Indeed, global statistics indicate that more than 20 million tons of plastic are dumped into the world’s rivers and oceans every year, forming microplastics that pose a dangerous threat to the planet and its food chain.
In this context, ICESCO strives to consolidate the culture of environmental protection and recycling in Muslim countries through the development and implementation of programs, projects and workshops that focus on supporting scientific research, technology and innovation in environmental protection. These include workshops to build the capacity of young people and women in the Islamic world in the field of the circular economy, the green economy and the blue economy in order to promote entrepreneurship, training sessions on solid waste recycling and environmental awareness of the dangers of climate change, as well as international conferences and symposia to promote the concept of smart, sustainable and resilient cities.
The Pavilion of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) at the International Book and Publishing Fair in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, welcomed today, Saturday, June 3, 2023, wide numbers of visitors who actively interacted with the organized activities.
The pavilion opened its activities by releasing the second edition of the book “Peace 360°,” which bears the subtitle: “From Words to Action: Achieving Synergy and strengthening partnerships for Peace.” The book was recently published by ICESCO and features a foreword by His Excellency Mr. Ghazali Othmani, President of the Union of the Comoros, in which he commended the choice of the values of peace, security and social cohesion as contents of the book, in reflection of the Organization’s efforts to promote these principles in the Islamic world.
The book also features messages from ICESCO’s Young Peace Ambassadors, who graduated from ICESCO’s LTIPS, a program for training women and youth in leadership for peace and security. Likewise, the book includes several statements made by prominent world figures having taken part in the Program.
Afterward, the Pavilion held a signing ceremony for the book “The New ICESCO: The Civilizational Conscience of the Islamic World,” by Prof. Abdelkader Al-Idrissi. Dr. Jamal Eddin Al-Hani, Dean of the Faculty of Letters and Humanities in Rabat, and Dr. Al-Mahjoub Bensaïd, Media and Cultural Advisor to the Muslim World League, gave a reading on the book’s highlights.
The two speakers stated that the book traces the major and strategic development that ICESCO has witnessed over the last four years at all levels, as summed up by its title. They pointed out that ICESCO was able to overcome great challenges during this new phase, thanks to the wisdom and clear-sighted guidance of Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General, and the experience and perseverance of his work team and advisors.
In “Saudi Literature and Historical Turns,” Dr. Hassan Muhammad Al-Nami, Literature Professor at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, gave a lecture in which he emphasized that Saudi literature underwent several transformations, notably during the era of the establishment of the Kingdom. He further explained that the early writings, such as the Hijaz Literature, reflect this spirit of unity and manifest its orientations. The Saudi intellectual added that the great transformation in Saudi literature was brought about by the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which provided the impetus, gave way to new paths for expression and offered an opportunity for literature to launch to broader horizons, in light of the great change that the Saudi society is witnessing.
ICESCO’s pavilion concluded its day of activity with a series of meetings on a number of the Organization’s publications, namely Naima Barrada Kannoun’s book, Si les murs de Fès pouvaient parler, and Dr. Muhammad Zinelabidin’s book, “Trialogues,” with readings by prominent literary figures, namely, Professors Fathi Khaled, Sanaa Ghawati, and Bouazza Benashir. The Pavilion also featured the presentation of the book “The Secret Literature of the Muslims of Late Spain: The secret literature of the Moors.”
The Headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat hosted the 10th edition of the annual Scientific and Educational Exhibition, on Saturday, June 3, 2023, which is organized by the Collège Scientifique Agdal-Rabat in the Kingdom of Morocco, in cooperation with ICESCO, to develop students’ talents, creativity and scientific thinking.
In his Address at the opening of the Exhibition, Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, stressed the Organization’s eagerness to encourage creativity and innovation among students in order to train a generation capable of contributing to comprehensive and sustainable development. Afterward, Dr. Koumbou Barry, Head of ICESCO’s Education Sector, and Dr. Ayman Abd El-Karim, Director of the Collège Scientifique Agdal-Rabat delivered opening remarks.
Two hundred students and a large number of their parents, as well as members of the jury in charge of evaluating projects and innovations, and experts from the ICESCO Education Sector, attended the exhibition.
After the opening ceremony, the Scientific Committee, consisting of award-winning inventors at international forums, professors specializing in scientific research, and experts, was introduced and started evaluation by reviewing the projects of innovations and inventions. The Committee then met for deliberation, before announcing the results and handing over the awards.
The International Scientific Symposium “Civilizational Diplomacy… Intersectional Readings”, held by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with Cadi Ayyad University, concluded, on Saturday (June 3, 2023), by issuing Marrakesh Declaration towards Shaping the Concept of Civilizational Diplomacy.
The declaration stressed the importance of preserving ICESCO’s intellectual property rights, particularly the concept of “civilizational diplomacy”, which offers many effective solutions to the dilemmas of the international civilizational system, and called on all international actors to exert more efforts to put an end to racist policies and tendencies.
Moreover, the declaration called on think tanks and institutions of higher education and scientific research to enhance the concept of civilizational diplomacy through sound criticism likely to consolidate its foundations and enrich its vocabulary. The declaration also reaffirmed the organization of the international symposium on a regular basis, in partnership between ICESCO and Cadi Ayyad University.
The declaration expressed thanks to Cadi Ayyad University and its Legal Research and Policy Analysis Laboratory at the Faculty of Law, for their academic and organizational efforts, and appreciated the efforts of the Kingdom of Morocco to promote dialogue and civilizational alliance at the regional and international levels.
The second day of the symposium featured the third working session, entitled “ICESCO, the Institutional Actor in the Formation of Civilizational Diplomacy”, during which Ambassador Khaled Fathalrahman, Head of the Organization’s Center for Civilizational Dialogue, stressed that ICESCO’s concept of civilizational diplomacy is an applied and practical vision going beyond theory, highlighting the Organization’s efforts in the field of civilizational dialogue to spread the values of coexistence and tolerance, and build the leadership capacities of youth and women for peace and security.
Afterwards, Dr. Hatem El-Jawhary, Professor of Cultural Studies at Egyptian universities, gave an intervention on civilizational diplomacy, in which he indicated that it is one of the major tools for addressing the clash of civilizations.
For his part, Dr. Abdelfattah Balaamchi, Research Professor in international relations at the Faculty of Law of Marrakech, tackled the challenge facing international governmental organizations in the production and development process.
At the end of the session, Dr. Mohamed El-Ghali, Director of the Laboratory of Legal Research and Policy Analysis, gave an intervention on the role of joint action diplomacy in promoting cultural knowledge.
The International Scientific Symposium “Civilizational Diplomacy, Intersectional Readings,” which is being held by ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue, in partnership with Cadi Ayyad University, kicked off on Friday (June 2, 2023), in Marrakesh, with the aim of enriching research and discussing the theoretical framework of “civilizational diplomacy.”
The opening session of the symposium, which will last for two days at the headquarters of the Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences of Cadi Ayyad University, witnessed a high-level presence of parliamentarians, diplomats and distinguished academics in the field of diplomacy and international relations.
In his speech, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, said that the Organization derived its new concept “civilizational diplomacy” from the developments in public diplomacy, pointing out that civilizational diplomacy does not present itself as an alternative to diplomacy, but as a mean to consolidate civilizational action in the world of diplomacy. ICESCO is pleased to demonstrate the complementarity between theory and practice to have insights on this concept.
Dr. AlMalik stressed that the global transformations and changes, especially with the spread of social media and AI technologies, question the future of traditional diplomacy as a large number of diplomats today use social media to communicate with the public and conduct public diplomacy activities.
For his part, Dr. Moulay El Hassan Hbid, President of Cadi Ayyad University, thanked ICESCO and stressed, in a speech delivered on his behalf by Dr. Fatima Zahraa Iflas, Vice President of the University, his keenness to develop scientific research by building partnerships with international and regional organizations.
Dr. Abdelkarim Al-Talib, Dean of the Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences, commended the topic of the symposium, which will address the multiple angles of “civilizational diplomacy,” its relationship with technological development and artificial intelligence, and its contribution to reducing its risks.
In his speech, Dr. Said Aghreeb, Head of the Department of Public Law at the Faculty, indicated that the concept of civilizational diplomacy aims to spread the values of coexistence and tolerance among peoples, while Dr. Muhammad El Ghali, Director of the Legal Research and Policy Analysis Center, highlighted the importance of this concept.
In his introductory speech, Ambassador Khaled Fathalrahman, Director of ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue, reaffirmed that the concept of civilizational diplomacy falls within the Organization’s new strategic vision and orientations, indicating that the new concept attempts to transform civilizational dialogue from a theoretical vision to an applied practical vision.
In his speech, Dr. Prof. Fayez bin Abdullah Al-Shehri, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Shura Council in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reviewed the historical dimensions and future vision of civilizational diplomacy, the challenges facing this concept and the mainstreaming opportunities. The first working session tackled the contributions to the theoretical framework of the concept of civilizational diplomacy while the second working session discussed the roles of civilizational diplomacy actors.
