Category: Front Page

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the International Conference on “Linguistic and Literary Studies and Arabic Language Teaching: Theoretical and Applied Issues”, held by the Higher School of Education and Training and the Literary, Linguistic and Didactic Studies Laboratory at Sultan Moulay Slimane University, in Beni Mellal, Kingdom of Morocco.

Dr. Sana Lahlali, Coordinator of Mishkat Platform, represented ICESCO in this conference, held on 17-18 May 2023. In her speech at the opening session, she highlighted the importance that the Organization attaches to Arabic language, as part of its vision and strategic orientations, which aim to enhance the roles of Arabic language in consolidating identity and promoting civilizational dialogue.

During the first session, Dr. Lahlali presented a scientific paper on ICESCO’s Mishkat Platform for educational training and professional development in the field of teaching Arabic for non-Arabic speakers, launched in cooperation with Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance.

The Center of Strategic Foresight of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, held a training session on strategic foresight for decision-making, in Cairo, for the benefit of a group of leaders from several Egyptian ministries and national institutions.

Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of the Center of Strategic Foresight, represented ICESCO in the two-day training, which concluded its proceedings on Tuesday (16 May 2023). In the opening session, he pointed out in his address that the Center seeks to promote scientific and cultural dialogue to contribute to achieving sustainable development and finding solutions to the challenges facing the Islamic world, providing current and future generations with the necessary tools to make better decisions and promoting a culture of foresight and anticipation.

For his part, Dr. Mohamed Samir Hamza, Head of the Cultural Affairs and Missions Sector at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Supervisor of the Egyptian National Commission, denoted that the training focuses on the main factors that affect the development of foresight, and identifies the tools, concepts and methods of strategic foresight.

In his address, Mr. Assayed Al-Absi, Assistant Secretary-General of the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, explained that foresight is one of the main tools for shaping the future in light of the rapid global movement as a result of the huge stream of digital data.

The Director of ICESCO Center of Strategic Foresight supervised the training, which included a theoretical and a practical part. Dr. Hammami reviewed the development of the methods used in the field of strategic foresight as well as the concepts related to strategic planning, highlighting the importance of promoting a culture of anticipation to ensure a better future.

The Science and Technology Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the German-Jordanian University (GJU) in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, held an international seminar on the impact of digital currencies on international trade and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as a training session on blockchain technology and its role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, to contribute to supporting digital transformation and encouraging the Islamic world countries to join the digital economy.

During the seminar, which was held on Monday, May 15, 2023, with the participation of several local and international experts in the fields of technology, digital financial services and economics, Dr. Adel Smeda, Expert at ICESCO Science and Technology Sector, highlighted the importance of introducing the potential of cryptocurrencies and finding innovative solutions to enhance the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and help them in keeping pace with the developments and challenges of the digital era.

In his address during the training workshop, which was held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, Dr. Smeda delivered a presentation on the Fourth Industrial Revolution opportunities and challenges as well as the promising prospects it provides to youth, pointing out ICESCO’s efforts in supporting several projects in the fields of digital transformation and information technology, as part of the Organization’s conviction in the pivotal role they play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Workshop aimed at training youth on ways and mechanisms to take advantage of the opportunities offered by digitization in the fields of economy, entrepreneurship and innovation, and introducing the concepts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the key technologies, mainly artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of things and blockchain technology.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) announces the appointment of Mr. Anar Karimov, former Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as Head of the Partnership and International Cooperation Sector of the Organization.

Mr. Karimov was chosen to assume this position due to his successful experience and career. He holds the highest diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan in 2000, where he held various diplomatic positions at the Embassy of Azerbaijan to the Kingdom of Belgium and in its Mission to the European Union. He held the position of Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to UNESCO in Paris for 6 years starting in 2014 before being appointed Deputy Minister of Culture and then Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan until December 2022.

Mr. Karimov will lead ICESCO’s Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector to enhance the Organization’s partnerships with various institutions in its Member States, as well as with international organizations and bodies, to contribute to increasing its outreach worldwide and mobilize the necessary financial resources to support its programs in the fields of Education, Science, Culture and communication.

ICESCO’s General Directorate congratulates the Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector on assuming this position, wishing him success in his mission to contribute to the achievement of the Organization’s noble goals.

The Education Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is holding in Dhaka, capital of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, a workshop on education for global citizenship and sustainable development, in cooperation with the National Commission for UNESCO and the Ministry of Education in Bangladesh. The event is aimed at equipping 100 teachers from religious schools in the capital with fundamental knowledge pertaining to the workshop’s thematic focus and introducing them to innovative educational and cultural approaches.

The opening of the three-day workshop, held on Tuesday, 16 May 2023, witnessed the notable attendance of distinguished officials, experts and stakeholders in the field of education. The event highlighted the importance of integrating principles of tolerance into the daily lives of individuals and societies, exemplifying this through the teachings of Islam and the remarkable life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which abound in ethical values and virtues.

The attendees lauded ICESCO’s commendable endeavors to advance educational systems, bolster expertise, refine teachers’ competencies and promote the integration of information technology in education. They also underscored the need to cultivate an understanding of the foundations and concepts of education for global citizenship and sustainable development among students, and encourage them to apply these principles in their daily lives to ultimately foster a prosperous world and achieve peaceful coexistence among societies.

On 18 May of each year, the world celebrates International Museum Day, which was proclaimed by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in 1977 to highlight the importance of museums, raise awareness about their role in achieving sustainable development and strengthen links between museums and society through various cultural activities. This Day is an occasion for the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) to reiterate its commitment to support museum institutions in the Islamic world.

Under this year’s theme: “Museums, Sustainability and Well-being”, ICESCO reaffirms its support for the efforts of its Member States to strengthen policies for the safeguarding and valorizing museum collections and calls on the competent authorities to develop display methods and enhance the pivotal role of museum institutions in preserving identity, strengthening social cohesion, consolidating the values of solidarity and highlighting cultural diversity, which contributes to the well-being of societies, that has become an urgent demand in light of the accelerating challenges the world is witnessing.

In this context, ICESCO is hosting, at its headquarters in Rabat, the International Museum and Exhibition of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, in partnership with the Muslim World League and the Mohammedia League of Scholars of the Kingdom of Morocco, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, which was inaugurated by His Royal Highness Prince Moulay El Hassan, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Morocco. The Exhibition documents the origins of the true religion and the details of the Prophet’s Seerah (PBUH) and Islamic values ​​based on mercy, justice, coexistence and peace through using the latest display technologies with more than one-and-a-half million visitors in five months.

In line with the importance of museums in the countries of the Islamic world, where there are nearly 3,000 museums, as functioning institutions in preserving social memory and contributing to the achievement of sustainable development, ICESCO confirms, as part of its vision and strategic orientations, the continuation of implementing its programmes and initiatives of capacity-building for heritage professionals and expanding the network of museums in the Islamic world to facilitate knowledge exchange and multicultural dialogue.

The Education Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) holds a training session for Arabic-Islamic education staff in Conakry, Republic of Guinea, in cooperation with the Guinean National Commission for ICESCO, for the benefit of a number of counselors and inspectors.

The session, which kicked off on Tuesday (May 16, 2023) and lasts for four days, aims to rehabilitate Arabic-Islamic education staff, including teachers, counselors, and administrators, provide them with the necessary skills, address the obstacles to the development of Arabic-Islamic education, and modernizing teaching methods in relevant institutions as well as strengthening its role in education on peace, coexistence and social cohesion, and devising a unified vision on the mechanisms of investment in information and communication technology.
During the opening session, Mr. Ibrahim Bah, Assistant Secretary-General for Religious Affairs, Mr. Ibrahim Sanusi, Representative of the Minister of Pre-University Education and Literacy, Mr. Malik Bah, Director of the Institute of Curricula and Pedagogical Activities in Guinea, and Mr. Mohamed Ali Sow, National Correspondent of ICESCO in Guinea, member of the Organization’s Executive Council, commended the roles that ICESCO fulfills in its Member States to advance and develop educational systems, including the Republic of Guinea.

In his statement, Dr. Youssef Abou Dakka, Programs Manager at ICESCO Education Sector, stressed the importance of the workshop, hoping that it would achieve its goals of promoting the roles of Arabic and Islamic educational institutions in raising awareness and strengthening their roles in education on peace, coexistence and social cohesion, and serving as a means of cultural and civilizational outreach.

The Science and Technology Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is holding a training workshop on addressing food security challenges in the Sahel region, in partnership with the Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (COMSTECH) and the Islamic Organization for Food Security. The workshop is also held in cooperation with the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel, with the participation of 12 countries from the region.

The five-day workshop, which kicked off on Monday (May 15, 2023) both in person in Niamey, Republic of Niger and via videoconference, aims to exchange knowledge and experiences in the field of food security, cooperate in developing innovative strategies to overcome food-related challenges in the Sahel region, and discuss ways to disseminate best practices to address the impact of climate change.

During the opening session of the workshop, Dr. Alambedji Abba Issa, Nigerien Minister of Agriculture, highlighted his country’s sustained efforts to enhance food security and contribute to achieving community solidarity and sustainable development.

For his part, Dr. Muhammed Sharif, Advisor at ICESCO’s Science and Technology Sector, stressed the need to find sustainable solutions to achieve food security as it is a key element in achieving peace and sustainable development, highlighting ICESCO’s endeavor to deal with food security challenges through several initiatives in the fields of climate change, smart agriculture and resilient cities.

A number of directors of research centers, officials, experts and specialists in the field will participate in the workshop to assess the food security situation in the Sahel region, discuss sustainable agricultural practices and techniques to enhance food production and improve adaptability to climate change, and review regional policies for food security management.

The Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) released the second series of academic studies in the field of teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers, as part of the Center’s supersized “specialized studies” project.

The project aims at enhancing ICESCO’s presence in the field of scientific research and publication, consolidating scientific and educational research, keeping pace with educational and cognitive developments in Arabic language teaching curricula, courses and educational means, and strengthening the Center’s relationship with researchers specialized in teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers from inside and outside ICESCO Member States.

The ten publications of the second series revolve around the topic of teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers, from various aspects and different perspectives co-authored by a group of experts from different universities representing nine countries: Nigeria, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Japan, Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Qatar and Malaysia.

These publications are titled are follows:- Arabic conjugation and its importance in teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers.

– Contextual dictionary of feminine words in Arabic for non-Arabic speakers.

– Teaching Arabic culture to non-Arabic students: issues, experiences and applied models.

– Teaching Arabic for health purposes for non-Arabic learners: a theoretical study and designing a model educational unit.

– Strategies for developing morphological awareness among non-Arabic learners.

– How to transfer non-Arabic learners from the beginner level to the distinguished level in light of the standards of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).- Arab-Islamic education in Nigeria: its developments and future bets.

– Enrichments of the levels of reading text in virtual reality applications and their mechanisms for language use: the application of Second Life as a model.

– Critical thinking and its applications in teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers: a vision in theory and practice.- Applications of language blogs in learning and teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is delighted to announce its Year of Youth under the patronage of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt. This year-long initiative will encompass a wide range of initiatives and activities implemented by ICESCO starting from the year’s official launch through a major international celebration soon to be organized in Egypt. The program will focus on enhancing the capabilities and skills of youth in ICESCO Member States, in coordination with competent authorities in each country.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), conveyed gratitude and appreciation to President al-Sissi for graciously endorsing the Organization’s Year of Youth, commending his unwavering support for youth empowerment and skill development in Egypt and beyond, as exemplified by his remarkable proposal during the 14th session of ICESCO’s General Conference held in December 2021 in Cairo. The proposal included the establishment of the Education and Talent Support Fund in the Islamic World, along with the provision of scholarships in Egyptian universities, Al-Azhar University and private universities for young individuals hailing from ICESCO Member States.

Dr. AlMalik pointed out that the detailed program for ICESCO’s Year of Youth will be announced during its official launch, adding that this initiative aims to equip the younger generation with the necessary skills for future professions and enable them to keep pace with global technological advancements and contribute to the consolidation of values such as coexistence, peace and civilizational dialogue. He noted that the Organization has dedicated a year to young people in recognition of their pivotal role in achieving sustainable development and building a better future.

It is worth mentioning that ICESCO, in line with its vision and strategic orientations established three years ago, attaches particular importance youth and implements several ambitious programs and projects geared towards enhancing their capacities in coordination with National Commissions for Education, Science, and Culture in the ICESCO Member States. Notable initiatives include the Young Professionals Program (YPP), the Leadership Training in Peace and Security (LTIPS), model satellite design (CanSat) workshops, the program for training and supporting young people in establishing and developing projects in the field of technology and innovation and the “Ebda3” incubator for cultural and creative projects.