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Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), revealed the Organization’s strategic orientation to digitize transforming girls’ education as indicated in ICESCO’s study, prepared in cooperation with external experts, which features five strategies: capitalizing on the integration of educational technology using a multi-media approach, providing non-conventional and comprehensive educational tools for girls, using artificial intelligence and machine learning, providing girls with basic skills to keep pace with development, and enhancing teachers’ ability to use modern technology.

This statement was part of Dr. AlMalik’s address at the “Transforming Girls’ Education Forum,” held on Wednesday (September 21, 2022), in New York, by the Government of the Republic of Niger, in partnership with ICESCO, UNESCO, the United Nations Population Fund and the Global Partnership for Education, following the United Nations Transforming Education Summit, to raise awareness of the importance of ensuring girls’ right to education, stressing the need to update school curricula, proposing plans and measures to transform girls’ education, and combating their school dropout, especially in conflict areas.

The Forum saw high-level participation, including His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Bazoum, President of the Republic of Niger, Dr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and Ms. Deine Keita, Deputy Executive Director for Programs of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), as well as the representatives of the United Nations agencies, civil society organizations, Nobel laureates, and several educational institutions.

At the outset of his address, Dr. Al-Malik thanked His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco, for his continued support for ICESCO, and commended the constant involvement of the President of Niger in education development, stressing the importance of this forum and noting that investment in girls’ education gives them the opportunity to become effective actors in achieving sustainable development.

Besides, he stressed that girl’s education is not limited to access to school; it should help them acquire modern skills in line with the future labor market to bring about the desired positive change, calling for concerted efforts to mainstream transforming girls’ education, invest in early childhood education, empower and support young women in leadership business, and develop modern curricula.

Moreover, He reviewed ICESCO’s key initiatives and programmes geared toward providing safe educational spaces for students and girls, most notably the girls’ digital laboratories programme and ICESCO children’s libraries and e-learning centers.

During the forum sessions, participants shared the best practices, efforts, achievements and challenges of transforming girls’ education, announced specific plans and commitments to transform girls’ education, and agreed to establish a collaborative network for girls’ education.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Eun Mee Kim, President of Ewha Womans University in South Korea, discussed cooperation prospects between ICESCO and the University in the areas of developing scientific research, granting scholarships and implementing joint programmes to build girls and women’s capacities, as well as exchange experiences with Member Universities of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW).

The meeting was held on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, in New York, following both officials’ participation in the United Nations Transforming Education Summit, where Dr. AlMalik reviewed the key parts of ICESCO’s new vision and strategic orientations, which accord special importance to building the capacities of girls and women and contributing to achieving equality in educational opportunities while stressing the Organization’s eagerness to enhance cooperation and openness to prestigious international universities around the world.

The meeting touched upon cooperation proposals between ICESCO and Ewha Womans University in South Korea, including establishing an ICESCO research chair at the Korean University, launching joint programmes and activities to support girls and women, building cooperation between the University and ICESCO’s FUIW, and granting several University scholarships for female students from the Islamic world. The two parties agreed to coordinate to sign a cooperation agreement covering programmes and activities of common interest.

For her part, Dr. Eun Mee Kim commanded ICESCO’s openness to cooperation with educational and research institutions and its support for scientific research, highlighting the University’s keenness to cooperate with ICESCO. She also invited ICESCO DG to visit the University’s headquarters in Korea.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), underlined that the Organization accords particular importance to protecting children and building their capacities to empower them to lead positive social change, noting that ICESCO, through its programmes and initiatives, adopts strategic policies for enhancing basic services, transforming education, combating violence, and investing in the future.

This statement came in his address on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, during the “Justice for Africa’s Children” Forum, organized by the Global Alliance of Nobel Laureates and World Leaders for Children, in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations’ Transforming Education Summit (TES). The event saw the participation of high-caliber personalities, including ministers, representatives of international organizations, and Nobel Laureates, and is aimed at casting light on the importance of justice for Africa’s children, ensuring equal access to education, and addressing challenges related to climate change and child labour, particularly in conflict and disaster zones.

At the outset of his address, ICESCO DG indicated that the repercussions of deprivation affect children, families, communities, and nations and that ensuring healthcare, education, human dignity and security for children contributes to achieving sustainable development.

He added that the African continent needs special attention, given the large demographic growth that it is witnessing, and the sharp increase in its child population, who is still vulnerable to poverty, school dropout, and violence. “If we join hands to bring justice to Africa’s children by scaling up investment in basic services, education, healthcare, and protection, we will empower them to enhance the socio-economic conditions in the continent,” noted ICESCO DG.

Dr. Al-Malik stressed that ICESCO is committed to supporting children, youth, and women, and is working to develop their creative skills by building their leadership capacities through its pioneering programmes, namely the Leadership Training in Peace and Security (LTIPS). It is worth noting that fifty male and female candidates representing 45 countries were selected to participate as peace ambassadors in the 2022 edition of the programme.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, held a meeting to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between ICESCO and Pakistan in the field of education.

The meeting was held on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, in New York, following both officials’ participation in the United Nations Transforming Education Summit, and was attended by the ICESCO delegation. The Director-General seized this opportunity to congratulate Dr. Hussain on his new position as Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training in Pakistan, wishing him success in his new mission.

The meeting focused on several ongoing ICESCO programmes and projects, and the possibility for Pakistan to benefit from them. The two parties also agreed on launching the Project to Improve Water and Sanitation Services in Rural Schools in Pakistan, as part of a project currently being implemented by ICESCO in many of its Member States to improve these services in a thousand rural schools.
Moreover, the two parties agreed to hold training sessions and workshops for Pakistani teachers and to cooperate in the field of “greening education,” by capitalizing on modern technology, setting up digital libraries to support children’s education and developing online education.

At the close of the meeting, ICESCO Director-General invited the Pakistani Minister to take part in one of ICESCO’s upcoming conferences on education, an invitation the Minister promised to accept soon.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Moussa Faki Mohamed, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the Organization and the Union in areas of common interest.

During the meeting, held in New York, on Monday (September 19, 2022), on the sidelines of the United Nations Transforming Education Summit, organized in parallel with the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the main axes of ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, and its major initiatives, programmes and activities to consolidate the values of peace, coexistence and civilizational dialogue, build the capacities of youth and women, encourage Member States to invest in modern technology, and benefit from their opportunities in developing education, science and culture.

The meeting also touched on the areas of common interest and points of convergence between the priorities of ICESCO and the African Union. The two parties stressed their willingness to build a fruitful partnership and agreed to sign a cooperation agreement, which includes the implementation of joint practical programmes and activities, and the participation in international conferences and forums of each party.

The meeting brought together Dr. Mohamed El-Hassan Ould Labat, President of the Cabinet, Advisor for Strategic and Political Relations; and Ambassador Fatima Kyari, Head of the African Union Mission to the United Nations; as well as Dr. Barry Coumbou, Head of ICESCO Education Sector; Ms. Amira Al-Fadil, Head of ICESCO Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor at ICESCO Science and Technology Sector.