The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a meeting with the Lebanese National Commission for Education, Science and Culture to discuss prospects for cooperation and partnership between ICESCO and the Lebanese Republic in the field of strategic foresight.
ICESCO was represented in the meeting, held on Thursday (February 16, 2023) via videoconference, by Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of the Center of Strategic Foresight, Dr. Salim al-Habsi, Programs Manager at the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences, and Ms. Rime Jalloul, from the Center of Strategic Foresight, as well as Ms. Hiba Nachabe, Secretary General the Lebanese National Commission, and Ms. Katya Ibrahim, Activity Coordinator at the Commission.
During the meeting, Dr. Hammami reaffirmed that the ICESCO Center of Strategic Foresight seeks to enhance the foresight culture by conducting a series of studies, holding several training workshops, and promoting the adoption of AI strategies in Member States. He also reviewed the programs and initiatives of the Center, most notably the program on the skills and jobs of tomorrow.
For their part, the two representatives of the Lebanese National Commission commended ICESCO’s efforts in the field of strategic foresight and expressed the importance of cooperation and fruitful partnerships in this field.
The Sector of Culture and Communication at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is holding a training workshop in Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan, on safeguarding cultural heritage, in cooperation with Tajikistan National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO. The session benefited 25 specialists and professionals in the field of cultural heritage.
The three-day workshop kicked off Wednesday, February 15, 2023, and aims to promote the productivity of professionals working in the field of cultural heritage protection and build their capacities in terms of the mechanisms of inscribing cultural heritage, filling in forms and preparing national lists and catalogs to contribute to the preservation of the cultural depository of the people of the Islamic world.
During the opening session of the workshop, attended by Mr. Mirza Sharif, Director-General of Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of Culture in Tajikistan, Ms. Zulfiya Burkhon, Secretary-General of Tajikistan National Commission, commended the inscription of two cultural elements from Tajikistan on the Final List of Heritage in the Islamic World and 17 historical and cultural elements on the Tentative List. The Secretary-General also commended the Organization’s efforts to promote cultural and natural heritage in Muslim countries in national and international spheres and ensure its sustainable preservation and protection.
For his part, Mr. Bilel Chebbi, Expert at the Sector of Culture and Communication, stressed the importance of the workshop, which aims to pool efforts to safeguard and promote Tajik cultural heritage. The ICESCO representative also highlighted the vision of the ICESCO Center for Heritage in the Islamic World, which aims to increase the pace of inscribing heritage sites and cultural elements on international heritage lists, notably ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List.
The “Mishkat Al-Arabiya” Hall at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hosted a training session themed: “Preparing basic and supplementary educational material in the field of Arabic for non-Arabic speakers.”
The session, which concluded its proceedings on Thursday, 16 February 2023, and was facilitated by Dr. Ahmed Nawaf Al-Ruhban, Educational Expert and Professor at the Akdeminstanbul Language Center, focused on three main axes: the basic principles and mechanisms for developing educational material, reading comprehension as a model, preparing comprehension questions, and developing supportive activities and enhancing other skills.
The session witnessed the in-person participation of a group of Vietnamese students learning Arabic in Moroccan universities and the online participation of other groups from Chad, Nigeria, Malaysia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Benin, Cameroon, Bashkortostan and Vietnam, along with several stakeholders and interested parties from Morocco, Burkina Faso, Mauritius, France, Mali, Ghana, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire.
The training session is the sixth in the series of ICESCO’s International Programme “Mishkat Al-Arabiya for Continuing Educational Training and Professional Development for Teachers of Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers,” which is part of the cooperation programme between ICESCO and the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance.
The headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) saw the launch of the Ambassador’s Roundtable, a program featuring a series of symposia that host senior figures in the diplomatic corps to talk about their expertise and experiences and hold discussions with ICESCO’s Young Professionals to enrich their knowledge about the field of international relations and diplomacy and allow them to communicate with inspiring diplomatic figures.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, gave the opening remark to the Program, on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, where he welcomed the Program’s first guest, Amb. Astana Abdulaziz, Ambassador of Malaysia to Morocco. Dr. AlMalik also stressed that multilateral diplomacy has become the key lever of development, human rights, and world peace and security, and a necessity in light of the global geopolitical changes, climate and health challenges resulting from epidemics, and other transcontinental issues.
Moreover, the Director-General stated that ICESCO seeks to promote civilizational communication among world countries, anchor human values and nurture the sense of belonging and free will, adding that the Organization accords special attention in its Two-Year Action Plan for 2022-2023 to building the capacities and honing the skills of young people and women to address environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Following the opening remark, Mr. Omar Hamed, Head of the Section of Strategic Partnerships at the Sector of Partnerships and International Cooperation, gave an overview of the successful journey of Amb. Astana Abdulaziz, Dean of the Asian Diplomatic Corps in the Kingdom of Morocco.
At the beginning of her lecture, the Malaysian Ambassador to Rabat stated that multilateral diplomacy is an international system that seeks to employ knowledge to resolve conflict, which is an opportunity to deal with individuals, bodies and organizations from various backgrounds. She added that the goal behind creating the United Nations was the preservation of peace and human dignity and the prevention of conflicts, wars and challenges we are facing such as violence, extremism and diseases.
She also commended the Young Professionals Program, which provides the Islamic world youth with the opportunity to explore their views on international issues and challenges, recommending that they keep abreast with international issues and relations to get a better idea about the role of diplomats in achieving sustainable development and promoting human rights.
Moreover, Ms. Abdulaziz stated that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the dire need to promote the system of multilateral diplomacy, given its key role in overcoming and recovering from the crisis through international solidarity and cooperation, noting that Malaysia seeks to capitalize on this form of diplomacy to achieve comprehensive progress and success.
Following the Ambassador’s lecture, Mr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Head of the Department of Legal Affairs and International Standards at ICESCO, moderated a session on the importance of multilateral diplomacy in addressing current world challenges. The Ambassador answered the Young Professionals’ questions and exchanged ideas and views with them on this subject.
A delegation from Dar El-Hadith El-Hasaniah in the Kingdom of Morocco, headed by Dr. Ahmed El Khamlichi, Director of the Foundation, visited the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, which is hosted by the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, received Dr. El-Khamalishi and his accompanying delegation, where he reviewed the key initiatives, programmes and projects that the Organization is currently implementing, stressing ICESCO’s eagerness to build fruitful cooperation and implement joint activities with Dar El-Hadith El-Hassania during the coming period, in light of the Foundation’s great role in introducing moderate Islam, which is in line with ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations aimed at highlighting the civilizational aspect of the true religion worldwide.
ICESCO DG stated that the initiative to host the first edition of the Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic civilization outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the fruit of a strategic partnership between the Organization, the Muslim World League (MWL) and Morocco’s Mohammadia League of Scholars.
For his part, the Director of Dar El-Hadith El-Hasania Foundation commended ICESCO’s efforts in recent years in serving its Member States and Muslim communities around the world, praising the Organization’s action in confronting extremist ideology and introducing the civilizational aspect of Islam.
Following the meeting, the delegation of the Dar El-Hadith El-Hassaniah Foundation, accompanied by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, visited the Exhibition and listened to detailed presentations on the contents of the Exhibition’s various pavilions and the modern display technologies, which virtually take the visitor back to the time of the Prophet (PBUH).
At the end of the tour, Dr. El Khamlichi commended ICESCO’s hosting of the Exhibition, pointing out that it addresses its visitors, especially the youth by using the latest virtual and augmented reality technologies to present the Prophet’s Seerah in a simplified, scientific and encyclopedic way.
The Center for Civilizational Dialogue of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a meeting with the Center for Civilizational Dialogue at the University of Malaya, Malaysia, to discuss ways and mechanisms for building cooperation in the field of promoting civilizational dialogue and organizing joint programs and activities.
During the meeting, held on Wednesday (February 15, 2023), via videoconference, Ambassador Khaled Fathalrahman, Director of ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue, reviewed the salient projects, programs and activities of the Center, stressing the importance of joint action, dialogue and cooperation to promote peace. For her part, Dr Azizan Baharuddin, Director of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue at the University of Malaya, gave a presentation on the goals, programs and activities of the Center and its areas of action, noting the importance of promoting civilizational dialogue to contribute to peacebuilding.
The meeting also discussed practical proposals for cooperation between ICESCO and the University of Malaya to strengthen the organization’s role in the civilizational dialogue. The two parties also agreed to continue coordination to hold an international conference on the concept and applications of civilizational dialogue, encouraging civilizational diplomacy, and making cultural diversity an incentive to achieve harmony among civilizations.
The meeting saw the presence of Dr. Sidra Tariq Jamil, expert at the Center for Civilizational Dialogue of ICESCO, in addition to Dr. Asmawati Muhamad, Deputy Director of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue at the University, Mr. Chang Lee Wei, Senior Research Officer, and Mr. Ahmad Mohamad, Program Officer.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held the first meeting of the Coordinating Committee for the implementation of the “International Professional Teaching Certificates” Project in the Arab Republic of Egypt. The meeting is aimed at examining the project’s implementation plan, launching its first phase, and discussing the roles of the co-implementing partners under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in August 2022 between ICESCO, the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and the Saleh Abdullah Kamel Humanitarian Foundation (SAKHF).
During the meeting, which was held on Monday, 13 February 2023, via videoconference, the Committee members welcomed the plan’s contents and the general design of the project, which will benefit two thousand (2,000) male and female teachers in several pre-selected Egyptian governorates.
At the close of the meeting, the Committee agreed on convening a second meeting in Cairo in March 2023.
Mr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Director of ICESCO’s Legal Affairs and International Standards Department, Committee Chair, Ms. Sally Mabrouk, Director of ICESCO DG’s Cabinet, Committee member, and Ms. Rana Al-Asbhi from the Legal Affairs and International Standards Department, Committee Rapporteur, represented the Organization at the meeting, which brought together representatives of King Saud University (KSU) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, sponsor of the project’s academic section, representatives of the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, and representatives of the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Education and Technical Education.
It is worth noting that the “International Professional Teaching Certificates” Project aims to build a comprehensive system for equipping teachers and education specialists with the necessary competencies in their various fields of specialization to achieve and develop the objectives set out in curricula.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and a delegation of the Organization’s officials, paid a visit to the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Rabat, on Monday, 13 February 2023, to offer condolences following the devastating earthquake that claimed thousands of lives and injuries in Türkiye.
Ambassador Omer Faruk Dogan, Turkish Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, conveyed his thanks and gratitude to ICESCO DG and his accompanying delegation for the visit, noting that the massive earthquake which struck an area of over 700,000 square kilometers had grievous consequences and affected more than five (5) million Turkish citizens.
Dr. AlMalik, for his part, and on behalf of all ICESCO staff, extended his sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and the Turkish government and people, stressing that the Organization stands ready to provide all the needed support and assistance in its areas of competence.
The training session on writing local African languages in Arabic script, which was held by the Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Yusuf Al-Khalifa Center for Writing Languages in Arabic Script at the International University of Africa (IUA), concluded its proceedings.
Hosted at IUA headquarters, the two-week training session benefited over forty (40) participants from twenty (20) African countries.
The beneficiaries were introduced to the latest developments in language computerization and the educational strategies and technical steps for computerizing local oral languages and writing them in Arabic script. They then presented various research projects on local idioms, proverbs and stories, some of which they translated and wrote in Arabic script.
The training session, which was facilitated by experts in linguistics, language computerization and educational sciences, comes in the implementation of the terms of the cooperation agreement signed between ICESCO, IsDB and IUA, which is aimed at responding to the needs of Member States in preserving the local languages of Muslim African communities by writing them in Arabic script.
Dr. Saber Abdullah Mohamed, Director of the Training Department at IUA supervised the organization of the training session. The beneficiaries received certificates of participation at the close of the session.
During their participation in the 1st ICESCO Forum “Women in Sport,” high-level officials and internationally renowned champions in various sports unanimously agreed on the importance of strengthening women’s participation in sports and encouraging girls to become leaders in this sector as it plays an important role in achieving social cohesion, combating violence and extremism and supporting vulnerable categories.
The Forum, held on Friday, February 10, 2023, at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat, kicked off with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by an opening address by Mrs. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of ICESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector, in which she stated that the Forum aims at encouraging women’s participation, enhancing the role of women’s leadership in sport, promoting the exchange of experiences and highlighting the role of sport in social development, peacebuilding and the fight against all forms of violence.
The Forum’s opening session began with an address by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, in which he emphasized that enabling girls to participate in sports is a social responsibility, stressing that the Organization’s vision considers sport as a powerful tool for positive change and for building peace and security. He added that sport-related modules have been integrated into ICESCO’s “Peace 360” approach and the Youth and Women Leadership Training in Peace and Security Programme (LTIPS).
He also highlighted the huge participation in the first edition of ICESCO Marathon and commended the role of the Organization’s programme for the rehabilitation of children in vulnerable situations through relying on football in strengthening the protection of children, providing them with educational opportunities and combating violence.
The Director General concluded his address by announcing that ICESCO has dedicated an award to the most innovative and inclusive community sports initiatives, which aim to support research and awareness efforts in sports. He also expressed the Organization’s intention to launch its International Youth Sports Volunteer Program.
In his address, Dr. Chakib Benmoussa, Moroccan Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports, stressed that sport is a cornerstone in building society and training productive individuals. He reviewed the efforts of the Kingdom in encouraging women’s sports activities.
For his part, Mr. Mustapha Messaoudi, Secretary General of the Department of Youth at the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, stressed that the Ministry works to increase the percentage of women’s participation in sport, to enhance their achievements in this field and to allow them to occupy leadership positions in sports federations.
In a recorded speech, Ms. Fatma Samoura, FIFA Secretary General, congratulated ICESCO for holding the Forum, stressing that sport contributes to overcoming barriers, building a more equal world and rehabilitating women at the physical, economic and social levels.
For her part, Ms. Thobi Etame Ndedi, Secretary General of CONFEJES, stressed in her address that the contribution of men is essential to the development of women’s sport, and called for the support of girls in practicing sport, while Mr. Massimiliano Montanari – CEO, International Center for Sport Security, reaffirmed in a recorded address that women’s sport has overcome several challenges, noting that the participation of women in leadership can create a safer sports environment.
In her address, Ms. Kanizat Ibrahim, Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), called for reflection on how to support women in the field of sport in terms of practice, management and leadership.
Ms. Laura Stéphanie Georges, Secretary General of the French Football Federation (FFF), delivered a speech in which she commended the Forum, which was an opportunity to exchange views in support of women’s participation in sport, in the presence of inspiring women who have accomplished several athletic achievements.
Mr. Yankhoba Diattara, Senegalese Minister of Sports, in a speech delivered on his behalf by Ms. Coumba Senghor, Advisor to the Ministry, praised ICESCO’s Forum and stated that it will help support women in sport as a socio-economic lever. Similarly, Mr. Didier Drogba, former Ivorian international footballer, commended the Forum and reaffirmed the importance of sport in consolidating social cohesion and achieving sustainable development. He also stressed the need to train women and youth as builders of the future.
After the opening session, the first session started with a debate with the participation of Ms. Kanizat Ibrahim, CAF Vice President, Ms. Filomena Fortes, IOC member, President of the Cape Verdean National Olympic Committee, and Ms. Honey Thaljieh, FIFA Corporate Communication Manager, first captain of the Palestinian Women’s National Team, in addition to a group of young people. The participants discussed the exchange of experiences to enrich the intergenerational dialogue.
The second session focused on lessons learned from initiatives to encourage the contribution of women in sport, with the participation of Ms. Laura Stéphanie Georges, FFF Secretary General, Ms. Dina Musharraf, Egyptian international table tennis champion, and Ms. Miriam Walker-Khan, international sports journalist.
At the close of the Forum, ICESCO’s Director General called on the concerned stakeholders to work together for the development of women’s sports, underlining ICESCO’s support for these efforts and its full readiness to cooperate with all actors in order to achieve this goal.
