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The Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) co-organized three training sessions in the field of teaching Arabic in the Kingdom of Thailand, in cooperation with the Center of Arabic Language Proficiency Testing and Skills Development of Prince Songkla University, the Institute of Religious Missions from Jala Province, Thailand, and Dhad Language Educational Company from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The training sessions benefited 180 participants, including teachers of Arabic for non-Arabic speakers, academics, and diplomatic staff.

The first training session, held on 18-20 July 2023, in Bangkok, in cooperation between the Center of Arabic Language Proficiency Testing and Skills Development and the Dhad Language Educational Company, touched upon “Arabic language for international communication,” for the benefit of 50 academics and diplomatic staff from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Brunei and Saudi Arabia.

The second training session, held at Prince Songkla University, on 22-23 July 2023, tackled “Skills for teaching Arabic for non-Arabic speakers,” and benefited 70 participants from various educational institutions in southern Thailand.

The third training session, held at the Institute of Religious Missions, on 23-24 July 2023, focused on modern strategies for developing Arabic language skills for non-Arabic speakers, for the benefit of more than 60 teachers of Arabic language and religious education from the Institute.

Dr. Majdi Hajj Ibrahim, Head of ICESCO Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, and Dr. Youssef Ismaili, Expert at the Center, co-supervised the training sessions, along with a host of local and international experts.

The Education Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the International Workshop on Challenges and Measures for Effective Multilingual Education organized in Abidjan by the UNESCO International Bureau of Education in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Literacy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

ICESCO Education Sector was represented in the workshop today, Thursday (20 July 2023), by Mr. Aziz El-Hajir, Program Director at the Sector. In his intervention, Mr. El-Hajir reviewed ICESCO’s efforts and vision in supporting the development of multilingual curricula from the perspective of integrating information and communication technology into these curricula. He also explored the partnership project between ICESCO and the UNESCO International Bureau of Education regarding the implementation of the master’s curricula project for teacher training institutions on the sidelines of the symposium.

The workshop, which was organized as part of international workshops designed to build capacities and exchange experiences in curriculum transformation, aims to share best practices related to multilingual curricula to improve the quality of teaching and learning outcomes, seize opportunities and address challenges facing the integration of multilingualism into the curricula to prepare a guide for developing an orientation framework for curriculum transformation.

The workshop saw the participation of national and international experts and curriculum officials in Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Guinea, Haiti, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad, as well as the participation and several leading civil society organizations in the field of multilingual curricula.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Mohamed Idrissi Meliani, Director-General of the Digital Development Agency (ADD) of the Kingdom of Morocco, and together discussed ways to promote cooperation, as part of the agreement signed between the two institutions on June 2, 2023, at GITEX Africa 2023 in Marrakech.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, in the presence of officials from both institutions, Dr. AlMalik stressed ICESCO’s keenness to strengthen cooperation with the Agency in areas of common interest. He added that the Organization seeks to contribute to strengthening cooperation between the Islamic world and other countries in the field of digital transformation and promoting the exchange of expertise and successful experiences in this field, by creating e-platforms that support knowledge transfer.

For his part, Mr. Meliani commended ICESCO’s efforts to serve the interests of its Member States, expressing the Agency’s keenness to develop partnerships with the Organization and, through it, with the rest of the Islamic world.
The meeting discussed practical proposals for cooperation between the two parties, including the launch of an award in the field of digital development, and the strategic partnership in organizing GITEX Africa 2024, to be held in Marrakech next May. It also discussed holding a meeting of ministers in charge of technology and communications in the Islamic world, in conjunction with GITEX Africa 2024.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to form a joint working group to follow up on the developments of their partnership relations and agree on the programs and projects to be implemented in cooperation between them.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the OIC Cultural Week 2023 (OIC-CA 2023), held from 7 to 14 July 2023 in Indonesia, under the theme “Embracing Diversity and Advancing Harmony for the Brighter Future Society,” aimed at highlighting the long-standing history of Indonesia, the multiple aspects of its rich culture, and the abundant instances reflecting the values of coexistence among followers of different religions in this country.

Ms. Fahmida Faiza, Director of Programs at the Sector of Human and Social Sciences, represented ICESCO at this cultural event, held by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in partnership with the Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sports. The ICESCO representative highlighted the Organization’s initiatives geared towards addressing new cultural and globalization challenges, and promoting the exchange of best practices, stressing the Organization’s keenness to develop partnerships with the Indonesian government, especially in the field of capacity building for youth and women.

The program of the cultural week featured discussions, lectures and seminars on issues of interfaith dialogue and new cultural challenges in the era of globalization, in addition to art exhibitions, sports contests and workshops attended by experts, government officials, local youth, students, civil society leaders and religious associations. The Cultural Week also shed light on aspects of cultural diversity in Indonesia and other OIC Member States.

During the event, the Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports received ICESCO’s representative, who highlighted the Organization’s vision, action strategy and key programs.

 The Education Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is holding a workshop on integrating Islamic values into school curricula in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, as part of the celebration of this city as the 2023 Culture Capital in the Islamic World. The workshop targets a number of workers in the field of education and is held in cooperation with the Mauritanian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, under the patronage of the Commission President, the Minister of Culture, Youth, Sports and Relations with the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

The four-day workshop, which kicked off on Monday, July 17, 2023, aims to train education specialists on the mechanisms of integrating Islamic values into educational curricula and teaching methods and highlighting their role in shaping minds. It also aims to provide participants with the necessary advanced experiences and skills to consolidate the values of moderation and moderation in educational curricula.

Mr. Mohamed Ould Sidi Abdallah, Secretary-General of the Mauritanian National Commission, Mr. Naji Ould Said, Inspector General of Education representing the Ministry of National Education and Reform of the Educational System, and Mr. Cheikh Ould Ahmedou, Director-General of the National Institute of Education in Mauritania, spoke at the opening of the workshop, all highlighting the roles ICESCO assumes in developing educational systems and building the capacities of their staff, through the support it provides to its Member States, including the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

The Secretary-General of the Mauritanian National Commission delivered ICESCO’s address, which referred to the significance of this workshop in strengthening the mechanisms for integrating Islamic values into educational curricula in Mauritania, and strengthening the roles of its professionals in anchoring a culture of peace.

The Science and Technology Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the International Conference on Transforming Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, held on 14 July 2023, by Mohammed V University at its premises in Rabat, in cooperation with the Tamkine Foundation and the Moroccan School of Engineering Sciences, to examine the opportunities of artificial intelligence and the challenges it faces in the educational process.

In his address to the Conference, Dr. Adel Smeda, expert in the Sector, reviewed the challenges of artificial intelligence applications and their role in promoting education in the countries of the Islamic world, the importance of digital technology in facilitating teaching and the educational integration of pupils and students.

Conference participants, including university teachers, experts and specialists in education, modern technology and artificial intelligence, explored the means and mechanisms for adapting education and higher education to technological developments to benefit from their applications.

They also discussed the need to raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges involved in integrating artificial intelligence applications into the educational process and to promote innovation among children and young people.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), took part in the first edition of the “Dawayer” Cultural Festival, held in Cairo from 6 to 15 July 2023. The Festival saw the participation of over 25 Arab and Egyptian publishing houses, and the organization of a large number of cultural activities, including writing workshops, colloquia, open meetings and book presentations, in the presence of a large number of Egyptian and Arab intellectuals.

The Festival, organized in cooperation between the “Diwan” and “Tanmia” publishing houses, aimed to foster direct communication between various stakeholders and cultural circles and boost efforts to foster interest in reading and culture, in addition to broadening the fields of knowledge and highlighting the value of culture in raising public awareness and encouraging creativity at different levels and among different age and social groups.

During the specialized discussion panel, held on Friday evening (14 July 2023), Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa reviewed the stages of his verification and editing of Ibn al-Arabi’s “Al-Diwan Al-Kabir,” published in four large volumes. The session was moderated by the Sufi scholar Mustafa Nassr.

The event also included an exhibition of original books, in addition to a parallel exhibition of second-hand books which included over three thousand works in various fields, and several practical workshops were held on creative writing, scriptwriting, mini-series writing, and more.

On July 11, 2023, in Dakar, Republic of Senegal, a national seminar was held by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) to discuss literacy policies and programs for women’s empowerment. The Seminar is being held in cooperation with the Senegalese National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO, under the patronage of Mr. Cheikh Oumar Anne, President of the National Commission, Minister of National Education of the Republic of Senegal.

The four-day seminar saw the participation of several decision-makers at the level of the ministries in charge of education and women’s issues, non-governmental organizations, as well as women’s organizations and experts specialized in the fields of literacy and non-formal education.

The seminar aims to assess literacy and non-formal education policies and programs targeting women in Senegal, highlight best practices and innovations, and identify current challenges facing these policies and programs. It also seeks to propose recommendations and identify future prospects for women’s literacy programs in Senegal.

In his opening address, Mr. Aliou Ly, Secretary General of the Senegalese National Commission, commended ICESCO’s leading roles and sustained support to the Republic of Senegal through a number of programmes and projects falling within its areas of competence.

Representing ICESCO, Dr. Koumbou Barry, Head of the Education Sector, along with some sector experts, took part, via videoconference, in the opening session of the Seminar. The Head of the Sector delivered the Organization’s address, which stressed the importance of combating illiteracy and promoting women’s socio-economic empowerment to enable them to assume their roles and contribute to comprehensive sustainable development.