Category: Front Page

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the 49th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which was held in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, under the theme: “Moderation: Key to Security and Stability,” in the presence of 40 foreign State Ministers.

Ms. Amira El-Fadil, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Advisor to the ICESCO Director-General for Partnerships and International Cooperation, Supervisor of the Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences, represented ICESCO at the Session, which concluded its activities on Friday, March 17, 2022.

The Session’s participants commended ICESCO’s successful programmes and projects implemented for the benefit of its Member States in the fields of education, science and culture, highlighting Organization’s openness and cooperation with international partners.

The Session touched upon several political, economic, cultural, social and humanitarian issues related to OIC and its member states, followed by a discussion on moderation, in addition to the adoption of a set of draft resolutions on several key issues.

The Sciences and Technologies Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in an international symposium on Smart City in Light of Digital Transformations of Territorial Domains, which was held by the Berkane region prefecture in the Kingdom of Morocco, in cooperation with several concerned institutions and authorities, and in the presence of many experts and international specialists in the field.

During the two-day symposium, which concluded its activities on Thursday, March 16, 2023, Dr. Adel Smeda, Expert in ICESCO Sciences and Technologies Sector, highlighted, via his videoconference participation, the key challenges resulting from demographic growth in cities, mainly: the exploitation of natural resources and environmental pollution, as well as the role of smart, flexible and sustainable cities and modern technologies in mitigating the consequences of climate change.

ICESCO’s representative delivered a presentation on ICESCO’s efforts in supporting its Member States in their pursuit of green and sustainable policies that put the preservation of the environment and natural resources at the heart of their priorities, through initiatives, projects and workshops on using modern technologies in addressing environmental protection challenges.

The “Mishkat” hall at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hosted a training session on Arabic fluency and accuracy for non-Arabic speakers, which benefited 164 professionals in the field of teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers from Chad, Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, Malaysia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Bashkortostan, Vietnam, Senegal and Morocco.

Dr. Samir Jaafar, an Educational Training Expert, moderated the two-day training session which concluded on March 16, 2023. The session cast light on the importance of fluency and accuracy in teaching Arabic and aimed to enable participants to differentiate between the two concepts. It also sought to help participants achieve complementarity between different language skills and to develop their students’ speaking and writing abilities both inside and outside the classroom.

It is worth noting that this training session is the seventh in the series of ICESCO’s International Program “Mishkat of Arabic for Continuing Educational Training and Professional Development for Teachers of Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers,” which is part of the cooperation program between ICESCO and the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance.

For the fourth successive year, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) streams during the holy month of Ramadan, as part of its comprehensive initiative “ICESCO Digital Home,” the videos series “Ramadan Whiffs” and “Intellectual Sparks,” through the Organization’s platforms on social media.

In these clips, which have achieved tremendous success over the past three years, a host of prominent intellectual, cultural and religious figures from the countries of the Islamic world and beyond present their thoughts and views on the most important contemporary intellectual and religious issues.

Through this initiative, ICESCO aims to spread focused and meaningful messages that highlight the essential role played by both women and men in reforming society and entrenching enlightening cultural and religious values that are based on peace, tolerance and coexistence between communities.

The Organization also aims to raise the most important issues and discuss new ideas that enrich cultural life and contribute to renewing the fields of thought, culture, knowledge, literature and science; endeavors to promote the values of peace and the dissemination of knowledge; and enhance religious, cultural and intellectual communication between eminent personalities and the public to support spiritual and intellectual exchange.

On the advent of the holy month of Ramadan and given the large and increasing number of visitors to the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, currently held at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in Rabat, the Exhibition will adopt a new work schedule: the first period starts before Iftar from midday until 3:00 pm while the second period starts after Iftar from 9:00 pm until 1:00 am from Tuesday until Sunday.

The Exhibition, being held under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, has received large numbers of visitors of all age groups from different Moroccan cities, including residents and guests of the Kingdom of Morocco, eager to learn more about the biography of the Prophet (PBUH).

The Exhibition, since its launch on November 28, 2022, which has crowned the strategic partnership between ICESCO, the Muslim World League, and the Mohammadia League of Scholars, is the first of its kind outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia seeking to showcase the message of Islam and its values of justice, peace, mercy, tolerance, coexistence and moderation from the Holy Quran, the noble Sunnah and the bright Islamic history.

The Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), concluded its four-day workshop, on Thursday (March 16, 2023), held in cooperation with the Arabic Language Studies and Debate Center of Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih University, in Istanbul, on using modern linguistics in teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers.

The workshop benefited more than 50 educational officials and teachers of the Arabic language from various Turkish educational institutions. It included educational presentations on applied educational linguistics and various strategies and modern methods in language teaching and learning.

The workshop, supervised by Dr. Youssef Ismaili, expert at ICESCO Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, aimed to enhance the teaching skills of the participants through modern linguistics and introduce the educational strategies in teaching various Arabic language subjects and ways to prepare pedagogical materials for teaching language subjects.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Amb. Nazim Samadov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Kingdom of Morocco, who presented his credentials as Permanent Delegate of his country to ICESCO.

During the meeting, held on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, Dr. Al-Malik stressed the Organization’s keenness to develop its strategic partnership with Azerbaijan, which is reflected in the implementation of a number of joint projects and programs. The Director-General also commended Azerbaijan’s support for many of ICESCO’s initiatives.

Moreover, the two parties discussed a number of ideas and proposals to strengthen partnership relations between ICESCO and Azerbaijan in the upcoming period, within the framework of the action plan between the two parties.

For his part, Ambassador Samadov reaffirmed that his country’s keenness to appoint him as Permanent Delegate to ICESCO confirms the importance Azerbaijan attaches to partnership with the Organization, stating that he will strive to develop this relationship in support of ICESCO’s great role in promoting the fields of education, science and culture.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Samir Belfkih, Director of the National Higher School of Arts and Crafts (ENSAM) affiliated with Mohammed V University in the Kingdom of Morocco, to examine prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and the School in the fields of scientific research and granting Scholarships for the youth of the Islamic world.

At the outset of the meeting, which took place on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik congratulated Dr. Belfkih on assuming the position of ENSAM’s Director, wishing him success in his new mission.

ICESCO DG reviewed the Organization’s vision and strategic orientations, which adopt an open door policy to universities, develop mechanisms of scientific and academic communication and cooperation with them, implement several programmes and projects to build the capacities of women and youth, promote innovation and scientific research and invest in the applications of modern technologies and artificial intelligence to contribute to the development of educational systems in the Member States.

The meeting touched upon proposals for cooperation between ICESCO and ENSAM in the fields of developing scientific research and the possibility of providing scholarships for youths from ICESCO Member States to study at the School.

For his part, Dr. Belfkih commended ICESCO’s efforts to support its Member States in the fields of education, science and culture and reaffirmed the School’s eagerness to build fruitful cooperation with the Organization.

At the close of the meeting, ENSAM Director presented the School’s Shield to ICESCO DG, in appreciation of his efforts in the fields of education, science and culture.

The Coordinating Committee of the International Professional Teaching Certificates Project in the Arab Republic of Egypt, composed of representatives of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture and King Saud University, held a meeting in Cairo to study the executive plan of the first phase of the project in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed between ICESCO, the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the Saleh Kamel Humanitarian Foundation.

ICESCO was represented in this meeting, held on Tuesday (March 14, 2023), at the headquarters of the Egyptian National Commission, Mr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Director of Legal Affairs and International Standards Department, Chairman of the Coordination Committee, and Ms. Sally Mabrouk, Director of the Office of ICESCO Director-General, member of the Committee, as well as the representatives of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of Education and Technical Education of Egypt, King Saud University, the academic sponsor of the project, in addition to members of the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture.

The meeting discussed the tasks of each partner for implementing the first phase of the project, which will benefit 2000 male and female teachers in Egypt by providing professional international certificates in the field of teaching to provide educational practitioners with the necessary competencies in their various disciplines to achieve the goals of educational curricula.

The participants in the meeting emphasized that the advantages of international professional teaching certificates consist in improving the outputs of academic institutions, especially in the practical aspects, and contributing to the development of educational knowledge and skills.

After the meeting, the Coordinating Committee visited the headquarters of the Professional Academy of Teachers, affiliated with the Egyptian Ministry of Education and Technical Education, which will host the training activities of the project.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with Mali’s Institute of Rural Economy (IER), the Malian National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO, is holding a regional symposium on the medicinal, therapeutic and cultural value of Arab camel products in the African continent. The event is aimed at enhancing the breeding skills of camel breeders and subject matter experts in Mali.

Dr. Ismaila Diallo, Expert at ICESCO’s Science and Technology Sector represented the Organization at the three-day symposium which kicked off on Tuesday, 14 March 2023, in Bamako. During his intervention at the event, Dr. Diallo highlighted ICESCO’s commitment to supporting the natural resource management efforts of its Member States. He noted that camels are crucial to achieving food security, particularly in rural areas which are deteriorating due to climate change.

The ICESCO representative emphasized that young people and women are the productive human capital that should be trained in camel breeding through workshops and training sessions on agriculture and modern technologies.