The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Tahqiq scientific platform, organized a virtual training session titled “The Islamic Manuscript: From Paleography to Critical Text Editing,” benefiting hundreds of researchers and specialists in Islamic manuscripts from 54 countries.

In the opening session of the three-day training, which concluded on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, said in a recorded address that serving the Islamic manuscript requires careful and continuous analysis of its components, drawing inspiration from its values and ideals, publishing it through sound scholarly methods, and ensuring its protection and preservation.

Dr. AlMalik stressed the importance of nurturing generations of researchers who are aware of the value of this heritage and equipped with the necessary scholarly tools and methodologies. He also commended the role of ICESCO’s Calligraphy and Manuscripts Center in this regard and expressed his satisfaction with the strong interest in the training session, given its important topic.

The training featured five scientific lectures covering the geography, codicology, paleography, and cataloguing of manuscripts, as well as the fundamentals of critical editing, auxiliary sciences, and supporting technologies. The lectures were delivered, respectively, by Dr. Idham Hanash, Head of ICESCO’s Calligraphy and Manuscripts Center; Dr. Ahmed Abdelbaset, expert at the Center; Dr. Mustapha Toubi, Professor of Manuscript Studies at Mohammed V University in Morocco; Dr. Nizam Yaquby, a Bahraini researcher and editor of manuscripts; and Dr. Bashar Awad Marouf, an Iraqi scholar specializing in Islamic heritage studies.

The closing session witnessed strong engagement from participants. It featured a number of proposals for future training sessions and activities.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has published a scientific policy recommendation titled “The Role of Digital Technologies in Inclusive and Sustainable Development: Focus on SMEs and Cooperatives.” The publication was supervised by ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector and prepared with contributions from experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Zeroe, and Act4Community.

This publication draws on practical experience and the views of international experts to provide a strategic reference for leveraging digital technologies to strengthen the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and cooperatives in creating employment opportunities, supporting social cohesion, and fostering sustainable economic growth.

The publication aims to support the efforts of policymakers and institutions to develop inclusive digital transformation strategies capable of responding to local needs. It also seeks to place SMEs and cooperatives at the heart of national development agendas in order to promote the inclusion of women, youth, and communities in technological advancement.

It is worth noting that this recommendation reflects ICESCO’s commitment to supporting scientific research and innovation and to enhancing the participation of SMEs in achieving economic and social development.

The scientific recommendation can be accessed via the following link:

https://icesco.org/en-ki5b

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) launched the ICESCO Quantum Science Experts Network to strengthen collaboration in scientific research and innovation in quantum technologies, promote knowledge exchange, and build the capacities of professionals working in the field across the Organization’s Member States. The launch took place during a high-level dialogue held virtually on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, with the participation of 30 experts, researchers, academics, and specialists in quantum technologies from 21 countries.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Yergaliyev Kuanysh, Head of the Science and Environment Sector at ICESCO, stressed the importance of raising awareness of quantum technologies and advancing their application. He noted that the launch of the network marks an important step toward establishing a collaborative quantum technology ecosystem across the Islamic world and developing human capital in this strategic field.

During the first session, Dr. Adel Smeda, expert at the Science and Environment Sector of ICESCO, explained that the ICESCO Quantum Science Experts Network operates within the framework of the ICESCO Center for Quantum Technologies. He outlined the Center’s roles, strategic objectives, and action plan, highlighting the establishment of the ICESCO Quantum Technologies Alliance Platform and the assessment of Member States’ readiness in this area among its key priorities.

In the second session, participants delivered presentations on recent developments in quantum technologies, quantum computing, quantum algorithms, and cybersecurity, as well as the principles and ethics governing cooperation in the field of quantum technologies.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held an introductory meeting to present its new “Culture International Smart City” project on Wednesday, 22 July 2026. The meeting was organized in cooperation with the General Delegation of Wallonie-Bruxelles in Morocco, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University of Saudi Arabia, and the Arts et Métiers Institute of Technology (ENSAM) in Paris. It brought together 40 representatives of ICESCO National Commissions, along with a number of experts from the Organization.

The virtual meeting, chaired by Ms. Chiraz El Fassi, General Delegate of Wallonie-Bruxelles in Morocco, opened with remarks by Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of ICESCO’s Culture Sector. In his address, he reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to developing innovative cultural policies founded on international cooperation, digital transformation, and sustainable development. He noted that the new program represents a major step in implementing ICESCO’s strategic vision of positioning culture as a driver of development.

This was followed by a detailed presentation on the “Culture International Smart City” project delivered by Dr. Mohamed Amine Hammami, an expert in cultural and creative technologies, and Mr. Christophe Claramunt, a professor at ENSAM in Paris. They explained that the project seeks to harness digital technologies and artificial intelligence to support the preservation, valorization, and promotion of cultural heritage while stimulating the creative economy and fostering innovation across ICESCO Member States.

The presentation emphasized that the project goes beyond the digitalization of cultural heritage. It aims to establish a smart cultural ecosystem in which heritage, innovation, scientific research, cultural entrepreneurship, and citizen participation interact within an integrated and holistic framework.

Representatives of the National Commissions welcomed the innovative initiative and expressed their interest in implementing it in their respective countries. Discussions focused on mechanisms for appointing focal points between ICESCO and its Member States to identify pilot cities, mobilize local partners, and develop a joint action plan to ensure the gradual implementation of the program at the national level.

The “Culture International Smart City” project is part of ICESCO’s broader efforts to place culture at the heart of digital transformation by developing an innovative model for smart cultural cities capable of strengthening cultural heritage protection, supporting the creative economy, and promoting scientific research.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the Transforming Education Summit (TES+4), organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its headquarters in Paris, on Friday, 10 July 2026. The Summit, themed “System Transformation and Resilience for SDG 4,” brought together a distinguished group of ministers, officials, representatives of international and regional organizations, and education decision-makers.

Speaking during the high-level panel discussion titled “Persisting Gaps and the Way Forward,” Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Head of the Education Sector at ICESCO, called for accelerating the transition from international commitments to tangible impact in education. He noted that the next phase requires building education systems capable of preparing learners to address climate change challenges and strengthening their ability to contribute to sustainable development.

Dr. Albanyan presented ICESCO’s vision of the key challenges facing efforts to accelerate the development of climate-ready education systems, drawing on the Organization’s regional expertise and its monitoring of progress in Member States.

Additionally, Dr. Albanyan emphasized that the four years following the TES have seen notable progress in positioning climate education within policy priorities, strengthening international cooperation, and launching national initiatives to support education transformation. He noted that the main challenge is no longer securing political commitments, but translating them into concrete educational practices.

Subsequently, Dr. Albanyan reviewed the Greening Education Partnership (GEP) Dashboard for Member States, developed jointly by ICESCO and UNESCO. He highlighted key findings of ICESCO’s regional report titled “Beyond the Transforming Education Summit: From Commitments to Action,” which monitors progress made by Member States in implementing their commitments and identifies areas of advancement, particularly in digital transformation, governance and financing, equity and inclusion, and teachers’ professional development.

In closing, Dr. Albanyan called for focusing on integrating climate education within national education systems, strengthening monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and enhancing the exchange of data and expertise.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the second edition of the International Solidarity Culinary Arts Festival, held on Saturday, 16 May 2026, at the National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco in Rabat, with the participation of diplomatic missions and international organizations.

The opening of the festival was attended by Ms. Naima Ben Yahia, Minister of Solidarity, Social Inclusion and Family; Mr. Abdelilah Bouzidi, President of the Agdal-Riad District Council; and Ms. Oniel Obolo, President of the Diplomatic Club in Morocco, along with a number of ambassadors and representatives of foreign missions.

ICESCO’s participation in this edition reflected the cultural richness and diversity that characterize the countries of the Islamic world and highlighted the importance of using culinary arts as a means of cultural exchange and support for social action. This year’s participation also featured a dedicated children’s area with a variety of awareness-raising and educational activities, traditional games, and the screening of the animated film “Show Me Your Smile,” produced by ICESCO as part of its program to combat bullying in schools. Children were given an explanation of the phenomenon and received motivational gifts.

The festival, the proceeds of which were allocated to support a project of the Girls’ Schooling Committee, was organized within the framework of promoting the values of solidarity and rapprochement among peoples through the use of culinary arts as a means to enhance cultural exchange and support social and humanitarian initiatives.

The training program “Utilizing of AI Tools in News Writing and Quality Content Creation”, organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the KUNA Media Development Center, kicked off on Sunday, February 1st, 2026, with the participation of 16 media professionals and content creators from eight Member States of the Organization.

The training program, sponsored by Kuwait Airways and Bukhamseen Holding Group – Crowne Plaza, aims to raise awareness of ways to employ artificial intelligence tools in news writing and digital content creation, foster ethics in the use of artificial intelligence in media and meaningful content creation, and develop participants’ skills in big data analysis through a series of lectures, panel discussions, and practical training sessions.

The five-day training program began with a lecture on the basics of artificial intelligence technology and its applications, presented by Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Khamis, director and expert in creative artificial intelligence, in which he reviewed the opportunities and challenges of mainstreaming the use of artificial intelligence in various professional fields.

At the end of the first day, Dr. Barakat Al Wegyan, Director of Communication Department at ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector, stressed the need to hone young people’s skills to keep pace with rapid technological developments, given their pivotal role in renewing media work.

For his part, Mr. Thamer Al-Furaih, Head of the Kuna Media Development Center, pointed out the importance of developing cooperation between international organizations, institutions, and training centers to build a promising generation of media professionals in the Islamic world.

As part of the program’s activities, participants met with officials from the General Department of International Media of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information. They reviewed the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen cooperation with countries from the Islamic world and mechanisms for communicating with media professionals and experts.

This is the second training program organized by ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector for media professionals, content creators, and content creators in the Islamic world as part of the Sector’s strategic plan to enhance the capacities of media professionals to keep pace with media and technological developments.