The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) mourns the death of His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait, may Allah have mercy on him, who passed away on Saturday (December 16, 2023).
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, for himself and on behalf of all the Organization’s staff, expresses sincere condolences to the ruling family and the people of Kuwait, beseeching Allah Almighty to bestow his mercy on the late Emir and grant him the highest paradise.
At this sorrowful moment, ICESCO Director-General commended the great role the deceased fulfilled in serving cultural issues and developing the fields of science as well as his keenness to strengthen humanitarian action and promote sustainable development, pointing out to the great development of cooperation between ICESCO and the competent Kuwaiti authorities during his reign.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the International Space University in France have signed an Agreement to establish the ICESCO Chair for “Space Engineering and Space Sciences” at the University. This Agreement seeks to enhance scientific research and training in the field of space systems engineering and space sciences, establish standards for documenting studies, exchange information in the field, and facilitate collaboration among professors and researchers in universities and institutions specialized in space sciences.
The Agreement was signed by Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General, and Dr. Nicolas Peter, President of the International Space University, on Friday 15 December 2023, through teleconferencing. Dr. Taiwo Tejumola, Chair’s Director, and Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor in the Science and Technology Sector at ICESCO, also participated in the signing.
In his remark, Dr. Al-Malik underscored that this Chair addresses the imperative to cultivate the capabilities of researchers and enhance collaboration among those working in space engineering and sciences.
Moreover, he affirmed ICESCO’s commitment to support space exploration efforts and the development of modern sciences and technology to improve life on Earth, preserve the planet facing numerous challenges, and promote knowledge and innovation. On the other hand, Dr. Peter reiterated that the International Space University, through its partnership with ICESCO, attempts to nurture the skills of youth and elevate their aspirations, recognizing that talents transcend geographical boundaries.
According to the terms of the Agreement, the ICESCO Chair at the International Space University in France aims to contribute to the completion of several scientific research projects in the field of space sciences. It also seeks to raise awareness of professional development opportunities in the field of space engineering, foster collaboration between the University and the Organization in advancing higher education curricula in engineering and space sciences for ICESCO Member States, and encourage knowledge exchange.
Following the signing of the Agreement, the ICESCO Director-General addressed the young graduates during the graduation ceremony at the International Space University via teleconferencing. He extended warm congratulations and offered words of encouragement, urging them to persist in their endeavors to contribute to the development of space sciences in order to tackle future challenges with a combination of scientific passion, an inquisitive spirit of exploration, and love for knowledge.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held an information day on international professional teaching certification in Cairo on Thursday, on 14 December 2023, in partnership with the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, the Egyptian Ministry of Education and Technical Education and King Saud University of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as part of the final preparations for implementing the first phase of the project, to be launched next Saturday in the Greater Cairo Region.
The information day saw the participation of Dr. Reda Hegazi, the Egyptian Minister of Education and Technical Education, Dr. Reem Derbala, the project coordinator from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Dr. Mohammed Al-Natheer, a representative of King Saud University, as well as Mahmoud Abdullah Khedr, a representative of the Board of Trustees of Saleh Abdullah Kamel Humanitarian Foundation, in addition to 60 trainers from the two ministries.
In his address, Dr. Reda Hegazi stressed the importance of international certifications in promoting quality in education and motivating teachers to achieve excellence. He also highlighted the role of education in training people to use modern technologies and adapt to the constant changes in different areas of development.
for his part, Mr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Head of ICESCO Legal Affairs and International Standards Department, stated that the project aims to train qualified teachers and deliver international professional certifications with the view of enabling educational practitioners to efficiently discharge their duties internationally. He further reiterated ICESCO’s commitment to implement the project in a number of its Member States, noting its unwavering support for them in its areas of expertise, notably in SDGs achievement and capacity building.
The International Professional Teaching Certification Project is part of the MoU signed between ICESCO, the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the Saleh Kamel Humanitarian Foundation to train 2000 teachers from different governorates and provide them with the necessary competencies to develop and achieve the objectives of educational curricula.
The first phase of the project, to be officially launched next Saturday, will benefit 120 teachers, aged between 30 and 45, in the Greater Cairo Region, who were selected under international standards of excellence, efficiency, ability to change, and technology literacy.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the University of Tehran held a symposium and a workshop, on 10-12 December 2023, at the University’s headquarters, in Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran, on capacity-building in genomics and awareness-raising about the ethical, legal and social dimensions of genomics-related research and developing job opportunities in this field.
In his presentation, Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of Science and Technology Sector at ICESCO, reviewed the salient discoveries in human DNA, detailing the history of genomic migrations and highlighting the role of genomics in anticipating diseases and finding appropriate treatments.
The representative of ICESCO reviewed the Organization’s efforts to support studies and encourage scientific research in universities and research centers in Muslim countries, and its establishment of a set of scientific chairs in several prestigious universities around the world.
For his part, Dr. Hussein Mahdavi, Dean of the Faculty of Biotechnology at the University of Tehran, stressed that the symposium and workshop constitute an opportunity to discuss ways and mechanisms for developing professional competencies in the field of genomics, building the capacities of specialists in the field of modern technology, and exchanging experiences between professors, researchers and specialists on the latest discoveries in genomics.
In his presentation, Dr. Abbas Sadri, Director of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Tehran, commended the Organization’s efforts geared towards enhancing technology-related scientific research and innovation through a number of programs and projects implemented in its Member States.
The Science and Technology Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held two symposia on cybersecurity in the age of artificial intelligence and science diplomacy and its outcomes respectively, within the framework of the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things, organized by the University of Dubai and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on December 10-12, 2023, with a view to discussing ways and mechanisms to benefit from artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things.
The participants in the first symposium discussed the role of cybersecurity in the age of artificial intelligence and ways to protect digital infrastructure, in addition to the challenges, strategies, and best practices for enhancing cybersecurity amid the growing global reliance on digital applications.
The second symposium touched upon the science diplomacy and its outcomes, as well as the role of science in promoting international cooperation, achieving peace, and finding collective solutions to contemporary global issues.
Dr. Adel Smeda, expert at ICESCO Science and Technology Sector, who moderated the two events, via videoconference, highlighted the importance of international cooperation in the field of science to contribute to achieving the security of Muslim societies, developing health care, technology and environmental protection, underscoring the role of the Organization in encouraging science diplomacy among its Member States through a number of activities and initiatives in the fields of science, technology and scientific research.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) welcomed with great appreciation the Danish parliament’s passing of a law on the “prohibition of inappropriate treatment of religious texts,” which bans and criminalizes the burning and defiling of the holy Quran and other sacred texts. The law is a token of responsibility towards the disdain of holy texts and a sign of the seriousness of the Danish authorities in containing extremist and racist speech that incites hatred.
ICESCO acknowledges this historical and well-informed decision and calls on other countries where holy places and texts are being desecrated to follow the paths of Denmark, which is the optimal path for societies to restore peace and security.
On this occasion, ICESCO calls on wise voices, decision-makers, and influential members of the international community to raise their voices in defense of sacred texts and acknowledge the historic decision of Denmark, which promotes an atmosphere of trust conducive to mutual understanding beyond the intricacies of intolerance and insularity.
The bill was passed with 94 votes in the 179-seat Folketing following lengthy discussions, stipulating that those violating the new law faces fines or up to two years imprisonment.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) invites researchers, university professors, institutes, research centers, and postgraduate students to contribute to scientific research in one of the five themes of its international conference, “Dictionary and its Uses in Teaching Arabic for Native and Non-Native Speakers: Evaluation and Development,” due to be held at its headquarters, in Rabat, on May 22-23, 2024, in cooperation with the Doha Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language, affiliated with the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in the State of Qatar. The conference’s themes, one of which each participant must address, include:
Approaches to the relationship of dictionaries to language teaching
Traditional dictionaries and their educational uses for Arabic and non-Arabic speakers
Standards for developing an Arabic dictionary aimed educationally at Arabic and non-Arabic speakers
The Doha Historical Dictionary and the prospects for its educational uses for Arabic and non-Arabic speakers
Contemporary dictionaries and their educational uses for Arabic and non-Arabic speakers Participants are required to meet several requirements in the submitted research works, namely:
The research must be original, prepared specifically for the conference, and has never been partially or completely published in any publishing medium, or presented at a conference.
The research must be submitted fully, provided that its total words range between 6,000 and 8,000 words, including footnotes and references.
A summary of the researcher’s scientific biography in Arabic, in about 70 words, should be attached to the research Persons wishing to participate must send their research to mujam.con@gmail.com, no later than 10 March 2024. The selected research works will be contacted no later than March 31, 2024. The conference concept note and participation form are accessible via: https://icesco.org/g57n
A scientific jury will evaluate the submitted research works and select the winner to participate in the international conference, in May 2024. The winning research will be published in the conference book.
The Training Session on Strategic Foresight and Building Young Leaderships concluded its proceedings in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. The session was organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Ministry of Education of Oman, represented in the Omani National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, and Oman Youth Centre.
During the two-day session, Dr. Kais Hammami, Head of ICESCO Center for Strategic Foresight, session supervisor, highlighted the significance of foresight in building a better future, calling for capitalizing on this tool to identify and prepare for the factors of change. He added that foresight is a multi-faceted approach that relies on economic, social and planning theories.
The session benefited a number of Omani young people and featured theoretical and practical components with the aim of developing participants’ strategic foresight skills, introducing them to the latest concepts and mechanisms in the field and promoting the culture of anticipation and foresight as a key element in decision-making and planning. It also aimed to build a shared vision of the future, train the youth to be responsible for attaining their future aspirations, and provide them with strategic foresight concepts, terminology, principles and major methodologies.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with H.E. Mustafa İlker Kılıç, ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the Kingdom of Morocco, to explore prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Türkiye in the fields of education, science, and culture.
At the outset of the meeting, held on Tuesday, 5 December 2023, at ICESCO headquarters in the presence of a host of heads of sectors at the Organization, Dr. AlMalik congratulated H.E. İlker Kılıç on assuming the position of Türkiye’s ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, wishing him success in his mission.
Dr. AlMalik reviewed the main lines of the Organization’s vision and strategic orientations, its programs and projects geared towards capacity-building of youth and women, instilling the values of coexistence and civilizational dialogue, as well as encouraging investments in the fields of technology, innovation, artificial intelligence and space sciences. Moreover, Dr. AlMalik noted that ICESCO held several projects with Turkish institutions in space sciences and teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers.
For his part, the Turkish Ambassador expressed his keenness to develop cooperation between ICESCO and various Turkish institutions in the fields of education, science and culture, and the Embassy’s readiness to coordinate and facilitate communication between the Organization and the competent bodies.
Following the meeting, H.E. İlker Kılıç took a tour to the different pavilions and sections of the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, currently housed at ICESCO headquarters in partnership with the Islamic World League, and the Mohammedia League of Scholars.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with H.E. Mr. Li Changlin, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Morocco, to explore prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and several Chinese institutions in the fields of education, science, and culture.
At the outset of the meeting, held on Monday, 4 December 2023, at ICESCO Headquarters, Dr. AlMalik noted the success of the Silk Road International Conference, organized by ICESCO in partnership with the Institute of Silk Road Strategy Studies (ISRSS) of the Shanghai International Studies University (SISU). The Conference witnessed high-level participation of officials, professors and experts in the field.
Dr. AlMalik reviewed the main lines of the Organization’s vision and strategic orientations, founded on openness and cooperation with all, to benefit its Member States and Muslim communities worldwide and promote communication between countries and the Islamic world, allowing non-member States to join as observers.
Moreover, Dr. AlMalik underscored ICESCO’s efforts to shape and develop the skills of youth across all fields through its initiatives and programs, encourage them to delve into space sciences, modern technology, and entrepreneurship and promote dialogue and tolerance to build the societies we want and contribute to sustainable development.
For his part, the Chinese Ambassador lauded ICESCO for its efforts in its areas of expertise, noting the importance of this meeting to discuss future cooperation programs between ICESCO and various Chinese bodies in the fields of education, science and culture, thus bringing China and the Islamic world together.
