Category: Front Page

On May 21st of every year, the world celebrates the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, which is an opportunity to highlight the essential role of intercultural dialogue in upholding the values of coexistence and peace, capitalizing on the richness and diversity of the world’s cultures, and building a continuous dialogue to ensure the achievement of sustainable development.

On this occasion, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) reaffirms its commitment to support all programs and initiatives aimed at promoting the various forms of cultural expressions, benefiting from the enormous potential of modern technology applications, promote understanding between people of different cultures, and contribute to achieving peace worldwide through dialogue and diplomacy.

In line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, ICESCO, in coordination with its partners, endeavors to encourage sustainable cooperation in the fields of education, science, technology, culture, civilizational dialogue, youth capacity-building and women training to build bridges of dialogue between cultures inside and outside the Islamic world.

Aware of the importance of bridging the gap between cultures as a prerequisite for building peace and achieving stability and development, the Organization reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the efforts of its Member States to develop strategies, which are compatible with the best practices in this field, and contribute to embracing and protecting cultural distinction and introducing different cultural expressions in innovative ways, through the use of digital media and information and communication technology.

Furthermore, ICESCO stresses its willingness to cooperate with all countries, international organizations and civil society institutions to integrate the cultural dimension into the initiatives aimed at supporting the most vulnerable groups and coordinating joint action to promote the values of tolerance, coexistence and civilized dialogue to overcome economic and social challenges and achieve sustainable development.

The Culture and Communication Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the meeting of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Group of Experts to discuss the possible establishment of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Platform for the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage in the Islamic World. This two-day meeting kicked off on Tuesday 16 May 2023, at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the OIC, in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Sector of Culture and Communication was represented at this meeting by Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Director of the Sector, and Dr. Nami Salihi, Supervisor of the Islamic World Heritage Centre. The meeting also brought together the delegations representing some OIC Member States and subsidiary centers.

During the meeting, ICESCO delegation made a presentation supported by data and figures on the efforts of ICESCO Centre for Heritage in the Islamic World in its various fields, including inventorying, restoration and enhancement, field training and the establishment of a portal and an observatory, in addition to the establishment of the Islamic World Heritage Committee, which has inscribed so far more than 430 historical sites and cultural items on ICESCO Islamic World Heritage List.

In this connection, ICESCO delegation reaffirmed that the Islamic World Heritage Centre aims at serving as a mechanism to meet all the relevant needs of Member States, stressing that the Centre is willing to host the OIC platform and provide it with a database containing the various forms of tangible and intangible heritage in the Islamic world.

The participating experts agreed to take concerted efforts to develop the said platform, ensure its effectiveness and avoid any overlapping.

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.