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A delegation from the Lalla Asmaa Foundation for Hearing Impaired Children and Youth in the Kingdom of Morocco visited, on Thursday, March 23, 2023, the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, currently housed at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, received the delegation consisting of 66 children and young people and several supervisors from the Foundation. Dr. Benarafa stated that the Exhibition welcomes the visits of children and youth in order to contribute to introducing them to the civilizational aspects of the Prophet’s Seerah and the values of moderation celebrated by Islam, noting that the Exhibition relies on the use of the latest technology and artificial intelligence techniques to highlight the Prophet’s Seerah in a simplified manner that attracts the attention of visitors.

During the tour, the children and youth received a detailed presentation, in sign language, on the contents of the Exhibition’s various pavilions and sections, which all rely on modern technology to narrate and document the Prophet’s Seerah and take the visitor on a virtual journey to his time. The delegation was also introduced to treasures of civilizational heritage, which highlight the strong link between Muslims and their Prophet and his kith and kin.

The hosting of the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat is the fruit of a strategic partnership between ICESCO, the Muslim World League and the Muhammadia League of Scholars in the Kingdom of Morocco, and is the first stop of the Exhibition outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Science and Technology Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) launched the 2nd edition of the Youth Training Programme on the establishment and development of startups in the field of technology and innovation, in the Republic of Tunisia, in partnership with the business incubator Gitex Startup, and in the State of Libya in partnership with the business incubator of the University of Tripoli, to support the creative economy in the countries of the Islamic world and to promote startups in the field of technology.

At the start of the 2nd edition of the Programme, which kicked off on Saturday, March 18, 2023, in person, in Tunis, Dr. Muhammed Sharif, Advisor in ICESCO Science and Technology Sector, explained that this Programme aims at enhancing the skills of youth in the Islamic world and investing in human capital in science and entrepreneurship, noting the great success in the Programme 1st edition.

For his part, Dr. Adel Smaida, Expert in ICESCO Science and Technology Sector, stressed, at the outset of the Programme 2nd edition, which kicked on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, the importance of the Organization’s training Programme in building a work environment that encourages the youth of the Islamic world in the field of creativity and innovation, as well as in upskilling their talents and promoting their ambitions.

The Programme, which benefits 10 ICESCO Member States, includes holding a two-day training camp and an intensive session that lasts between 4-6 weeks to allow participants to apply the training in establishing their projects. A specialized arbitration committee will select the best three teams that submitted projects from each country to participate in the final stage and present project ideas in front of donor institutions and investors to provide the necessary funding for their implementation. The Programme aims at launching more than 150 startups by 2025.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) launched its new programme “Mishkat Pioneers” under the theme “Let us express in Arabic the diversity of our cultures” for the benefit of Arabic language students speaking other languages, within the framework of “Mishkat Al-Arabiya for Non-Arabic Speakers.”

The programme, launched in cooperation with Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance, aims to introduce the various roles that ICESCO plays in many fields, including the field of Arabic for non-Arabic speakers, to enable non-Arab students studying Arabic in Moroccan universities to discover different work environments of international organizations by hosting them at the Organization headquarters.

In the first activity of the programme, Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of ICESCO, received several Chinese students studying Arabic at the Faculty of Arts at Mohammed V University, in Rabat, where he presented an overview of ICESCO’s vision, its action strategy and the roles it plays in consolidating the values of excellence and innovation, and the attention it attaches to the Arabic language as a language of dialogue and acquaintance.

After that, “Mishkat Al-Arabiya Hall” hosted an educational and cultural forum, which saw the participation of Chinese students as well as a number of professors via videoconference, from the College of Oriental Languages at Shanghai University for International Studies, the University of Foreign Studies in Guangdong, and the University of Languages and Culture in Beijing. The representatives of ICESCO’s sectors, departments and centers explained the working mechanism of the Organization and its major programmes and projects for the benefit of Member States.

In the discussion session moderated by Mr. Adel Bouraoui, Advisor to ICESCO Director-General for External Centers and University Chairs in the field of Arabic Language, the Chinese professors and students expressed their great appreciation for ICESCO’s initiative to launch this programme, and called for building continuous cooperation relations between ICESCO and Chinese universities.

His Excellency Dr. Arif Rahman Alvi, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Chancellor of the Quaid-i-Azam University, presented an honorary doctorate from the University to Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in a grand ceremony at the presidential palace in Islamabad on March 22, 2023. The ceremony was attended by the University’s Vice Chancellor, college deans, faculty members, as well as the Head of the Higher Education Commission and the Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan.

Quaid-i-Azam University, one of the largest universities in Pakistan, awarded this prestigious degree to Dr. AlMalik in recognition of his commendable contributions to advancing education, science and culture, as well as his distinguished efforts to promote educational, scientific and cultural cooperation among the countries of the Islamic world. It is worth noting that since its inception in 1967, the University has granted honorary doctorates to only ten individuals, including presidents and Nobel Prize-winning scientists.

ICESCO DG expressed his great delight at receiving this prestigious degree from Quaid-i-Azam University from the Pakistani President who personally presented the degree, which is a recognition of ICESCO’s valuable contributions to its areas of competence as well as its efforts to modernize its vision and strategic orientations over the past three years.

Following the ceremony, Dr. Alvi and Dr. AlMalik held a meeting, where ICESCO DG reviewed the Organization’s vision and action strategy, along with its programs and projects implemented in cooperation with competent authorities in its Member States, particularly those geared towards equipping youth and women with the necessary capacities to face future challenges, and investing in space science and modern technology and harnessing their potential to advance education and culture in light of the fourth industrial revolution.

The Pakistani President praised ICESCO’s roles and the projects it implements to best serve the countries of the Islamic world, emphasizing Pakistan’s keenness to support the Organization’s various programs.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met Dr. Ibrahim Hassan, Minister of Higher Education of the Republic of the Maldives, and discussed ways to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and the Maldives in the fields of education, science and culture, especially Arabic language teaching.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday (March 21, 2023), in Islamabad, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s keenness to develop cooperation with the Republic of the Maldives through a number of joint programmes and projects that meet the priorities and needs of the Maldives in the Organization’s areas of action, calling on the Minister to kindly submit the CVs of several Maldivian experts to select one of them to work at ICESCO.

ICESCO Director-General reviewed the Organization’s major programmes and projects implemented within the framework of its vision and strategic orientations through an open-door approach to serve its Member States and Muslim communities around the world.

For his part, Dr. Hassan commended ICESCO’s role geared towards strengthening the efforts of Member States in the fields of education, science and culture, stressing his country’s keenness to develop cooperation with the Organization, especially in the field of disseminating the Arabic language.

The meeting also discussed proposals for future cooperation projects and programmes and the two parties agreed to co-organize several conferences and activities in the Republic of the Maldives.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Muhammad Tabassum Afzal, Rector of the University of COMSATS Pakistan, held a meeting at the University’s headquarters in Islamabad, to discuss prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and the University in the fields of scientific research, scholarships, and the development of a project to address the dangers of electronic games.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023), Dr. AlMalik stated that ICESCO’s vision stresses the importance of developing fruitful cooperation relations with various prominent universities inside and outside the Islamic world, creating several scientific chairs at these institutions, and supporting their modernization endeavors and efforts to adopt advanced and non-traditional educational curricula.

For his part, Dr. Tabassum Afzal praised ICESCO’s efforts in the field of education and scientific research, expressing the university’s readiness to provide a number of scholarships for the benefit of the youth from ICESCO Member States to study at COMSATS, particularly in the fields of science, technology and space science.

Following the bilateral meeting, the ICESCO Director-General and the Rector of COMSATS University chaired a meeting attended by an ICESCO delegation and a group of university officials and faculty members. The two parties put forth proposals for cooperation and discussed the aspects of a joint project between ICESCO and COMSATS University to address the dangers of electronic games that are at odds with ethical and civilizational values and have negative impact on youth and children.

At the close of the meeting, the University Rector presented the Director-General with the University’s shield in appreciation of his efforts to promote scientific research.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), accompanied by Mr. Najib Rhiati, Cultural Advisor to ICESCO Director-General, took part in the award ceremony of the fourth edition of the National Award, “Lalla Al-Muta’awina” for the best ideas to develop a women’s cooperative project. The ceremony was organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts and Social and Solidarity Economy, and the Cooperation Development Office of the Kingdom of Morocco, under the theme, “Towards leading women’s cooperatives.”

During the ceremony, held on Monday, March 20, 2023, 31 women’s cooperatives from different regions of Morocco received awards for their projects, which focused on a variety of fields including agriculture and fisheries, handicrafts, food and cosmetics, and sewing and embroidery.

ICESCO’s participation comes within the framework of the Organization’s interest in empowering women, improving their social and economic conditions, and encouraging them to develop income-generating projects.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister of Education and Vocational Training of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and discussed ways to develop cooperation between ICESCO and Pakistan through several programs and projects in the field of education.

During the meeting, held on Monday (March 20, 2023), at the office of the Pakistani Minister in Islamabad, in the presence of a number of the Ministry’s officials, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s keenness to enhance the great cooperation with Pakistan for strengthening the educational process through new programmes, projects and activities, which are in line with the priorities and needs of the Pakistani Ministry of Education.
ICESCO Director-General explained that the Organization’s vision and strategic orientations are based on active communication with the competent parties in the Member States to identify their priorities and needs for designing appropriate programs and projects for each country.

For his part, Dr. Hussain commended ICESCO’s role in serving its Member States in the fields of education, science and culture, reviewing the major programmes and projects in which Pakistan needs to cooperate with ICESCO.

The meeting discussed the details of the programmes and projects proposed for partnership between the two parties in the field of education, most notably the ICESCO Programme for the Improvement of Water and Sanitation Services in several rural schools in Pakistan, ICESCO Digital Library, as well as the rehabilitation of some classrooms, especially in Islamabad.

At the end of the meeting, the ICESCO Director-General and the Minister of Education and Vocational Training of Pakistan exchanged honorary shields.

As part of its efforts to encourage its Member States in investing in the field of space science and its applications, keeping pace with the great boom in this field and contributing to building a prosperous future for the Islamic world, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) signed a cooperation agreement with Pakistan’s Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), which is one of the leading institutions in the field of space science internationally, to support and strengthen the partnership in developing programs, projects and workshops in the fields of scientific research, modern technologies and space technology.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director General (DG), and Major General Amer Nadeem, SUPARCO Chairman, signed the agreement on Monday, March 20, 2023, in Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

During the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik commended the importance of the agreement between ICESCO and SUPRACO, stressing that the Organization accords special importance to encouraging its Member States to invest in the field of space science and its applications, signing several agreements to exchange experiences and knowledge related to space science and organizing many training sessions for the youth of the Islamic world to design Model Satellite (Cansat).

For his part, Major General Amer Nadeem noted that this agreement is in line with the Agency’s mission, which consists of developing space science and technology, as well as youth’s capacities and their integration in the field, to contribute to achieving economic and social development in Pakistan.

The Agreement terms provide for cooperation between the two parties in supporting the skills development of professionals in the field of space science, building the capabilities of technicians through practical training sessions, holding training sessions for students, and promoting research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the field of science, and jointly organizing conferences, seminars and workshops.

SUPRACO was established in recognition of the importance of space science and technology applications for sustainable national development. Through its various departments, the Agency conducts research to develop the field of space science and technology and its applications for peaceful purposes and social and economic development by relying on its latest research and development technologies in the field of space science and its applications, as well as the design and manufacture of satellites.

Commemorated this year under the theme “Accelerating Change,” World Water Day is held annually on March 22nd as a reminder of the importance of safe drinking water access for all, as well as the need to support Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) which aims to ensure universal access to water and sanitation.

On this occasion, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) reaffirms its commitment to supporting programs and initiatives to ensure access to safe and clean water for all and establish good water governance. This is key to achieving sustainable development goals related to water quality and management, particularly as current statistics reveal that over 2 billion people around the world do not have access to safe drinking water, while 4.2 billion people lack sanitation services. This alarming situation underscores the paramount importance of establishing good water governance and strengthening sanitation infrastructure, especially since climate change is exacerbating both water scarcity and water-related hazards such as droughts in various countries.

In this perspective, ICESCO calls upon countries to consolidate their efforts with those of international and regional organizations, institutions, and research centers to take effective, coordinated action and implement policies, programs and projects based on modern technology, innovation, and renewable energy to address environmental challenges and water scarcity.

It is worth noting that ICESCO attaches particular importance to water issues and has launched various programs to help improve water resource management in its Member States, namely the Program for Water and Sanitation Services Improvement implemented in 1000 rural schools across different countries of the Islamic world.

On World Water Day, ICESCO reiterates its unwavering support to its Member States for investing in water management systems, sanitation and public hygiene services to achieve water security, ensure social and economic development and achieve food security in the Islamic world.