Category: News update

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) will participate, on March 8, 2021, in the International Virtual Symposium that the Permanent Delegation of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva will hold, under the theme: “Challenges and Measures Taken Concerning Women and Girls in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic.” The symposium will be held in cooperation with UNESCO, the World Health Organization (WHO), the University for Peace (UPEACE), and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

Dr. David Fernández Puyana, UPEACE representative to the United Nations in Geneva, will moderate the colloquium, which will be held through a videoconference at 11:00 a.m. (CET). The event will feature interventions by Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations in Geneva, Ms. Stefania Giannini, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Education, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Antimicrobial Resistance, Ms. Somia Djacta, Head of ICESCO’s Office and Permanent Representative to UNESCO, OIF and OECD, and Dr. Afnan Al- Shuaibi, President of the Board of Directors of the International Arab Women’s Forum.

The colloquium aims to analyze the measures taken in the area of human rights, which must also be applied after the COVID-19 pandemic, highlight the importance of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education, promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, and examine the measures taken to strengthen the role of women in society in the face of the pandemic.

The event also seeks to shed light on the initiative of ICESCO’s 2021 Year of Women, under the theme “Women and the Future,” in support of the 5^th Sustainable Development Goal on Gender Equality Sustainable Development Goal (SDG5) by 2030. The symposium also aims to identify possible actions in the field of education in conflict and post-conflict situations that contribute to the promotion of Goal 16 that focuses on building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies for sustainable development, as well as SDG5.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hailed the efforts and leadership of Saudi Arabia in serving Islam and Muslims and anchoring the values of tolerance, moderation, middle stance, and coexistence among world nations. The Organization also hailed the Kingdom’s major role in combating extremism and terrorism, fostering constructive intercultural dialogue, and supporting Arab and Islamic issues at the international scene.

The Organization also stressed the significance of the closing statement of the International Conference on Saudi efforts in serving Islam and Muslims and consolidating values of moderation, that the Imam Mohammed Bin Saud Islamic University held on March 3-4, 2021, under the high patronage of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, stating that the document is a key reference in promoting joint international action to anchor human values.

ICESCO also commended the recommendations of the Conference, which brought together ministers, scholars, and specialized researchers from different countries. The recommendations included calling on universities, centers, and research institutions to sustain their contributions to eradicating extremist thought through conducting studies and academic research and preparing documentaries highlighting the origins of religious extremism and terrorist thought in societies.

The Organization noted that it is preparing the first guide on dismantling extremism discourse targeting schools, universities, and research centers, in cooperation with the Mohammedan League of Scholars and the Muslim World League. ICESCO also announced that it is preparing an encyclopedia of extremism discourse deconstruction, noting that the first volume on the “Deconstruction of the Intellectual Backgrounds of Extremism Discourse” is ready.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held two separate videoconference meetings with the Malian and Ugandan National Commissions for UNESCO and ICESCO respectively. The aim is to review the implementation mechanisms of the ICESCO programme for the promotion of water, sanitation and hygiene services in 1000 rural schools in the Islamic world, which will benefit four countries at the first phase, namely Morocco, Senegal, Mali, and Uganda.

During the meetings, the participants reviewed the components of the ambitious program and agreed to begin developing the main mechanisms necessary to launch the program in Mali and Uganda, after setting out the conditions for the participation of the parties concerned in the two countries (20 to 30 schools in each country).

Through the program, ICESCO aims to assist the Member States to achieve the goals of sustainable development, implement its projects in remote areas, provide safe and drinkable water in rural schools and raise awareness. ICESCO also aims to organize training sessions in the adoption of healthy practices for teachers, students, and schools.

Dr. Raheel Qamar, Director of the Science and Technology Sector and his team, and Ms. Zineb Iraqi, Supervisor of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences, represented ICESCO. The Malian and Ugandan National Commissions for UNESCO and ICESCO were represented respectively by their Secretaries-General, Dr. Diallo Kadia Maiga and Ms. Rosie Ajoi.

ICESCO’s Regional Educational Centre in Chad hosts two simultaneous distance training sessions on Friday, March 5, 2021, at the Centre’s headquarters. The sessions are spread over six days and are held in academic cooperation with the International Center for Trainers’ Training and Educational Innovation (CIFFIP) in Tunisia.

The two sessions are part of the project to exchange experiences between Chad, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and Tunisia. The first session focuses on the use of ICTs in teaching the Arabic language and is attended by 15 educational officials specialized in teaching the Arabic language. During the first session, participants learn about the use and exploitation of several technological applications and digital teaching programs to improve the quality of pedagogical performance in the teaching of Arabic language subjects in Chadian educational institutions, such as methods for processing texts, images and videos, and their use in the language lesson.

The session aims at developing the professional skills of Arabic language teachers by teaching them how to use digital educational programs, especially about the scientific and objective preparation of tests and evaluation exercises.

The second training session, held under the theme: “Modern techniques of teacher training to prepare competent teachers in the field of Arabic education“, benefits 12 educational executives working in the field of teacher training and curriculum development in Arabic education in Chad.  During six days of training, participants will learn the educational approaches in use in preparing teachers of language subjects, including the field of preparing teachers of the Arabic language. The training aims to provide Chadian officials with the methodological and cognitive tools that will enable them to scientifically and accurately review the training programs for teachers of the Arabic language in Chadian faculties and higher institutes.

Participants in both sessions belong to ICESCO’s Regional Educational Center in Chad, the Higher Institute for Teacher Training in N’Djamena, and the National Curriculum Center (CNC) in Chad.  The work of both sessions is supervised by three CIFFIP educational experts. 

Mr. Habib Omar, National Coordinator of the Experience Exchange Project in Chad, and Dr. Ali Mohamed Qamar, Director of the ICESCO Regional Pedagogical Center in Chad, provided organizational supervision.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held today, Friday, March 5, 2021, a coordination meeting with the Ministry of National Education of Gabon to explore prospects of cooperation in training teachers of Arabic as a foreign language in Gabon.

Representing ICESCO in the meeting were Dr. Majdi Hajji Ibrahim, Head of Center of Arabic for non-Arabic Speakers, and Dr. Youssef Ismaili, Expert at the Center. Mr. Nguema Ndong, Inspector General of Language Teaching at the Ministry of Gabon, represented the Ministry.

During the meeting, Mr. Nguema Ndong discussed in detail the challenges facing teachers of Arabic in Gabon and the dire need to improve teachers’ performance, build their capacities, and equip them with the proper skills.

The ICESCO officials highlighted the major role the Center of Arabic for non-Arabic Speakers plays in providing institutions and individuals with technical counseling and specialized educational services. They added that the Center also supports the development of references, curricula, and teaching methods and tools, and encourages the use of technology and specialized mediums.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to review prospects of cooperation to promote Arabic learning in Gabon.

As part of the Programme of the Capital of Islamic Culture of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Celebration of Doha as the Arab Region’s Capital of Islamic Culture for 2021, will kick off next Monday, March 08, 2021, under the theme “Our Culture is Light,” under the high patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar. The Celebration includes over 70 programmes and activities that reflect the heritage of Qatar, which will be implemented throughout 2021.

Since its launch in 2005, ICESCO’s Programme of the Capital of Islamic Culture aims to celebrate three cities each year in the Islamic world, which have a prominent cultural history. The goal is to highlight their cultural and civilizational heritage, promote cultural and civilizational dialogue, and consolidate the values ​​of coexistence and understanding among peoples. Each city represents one of the three geographical regions of the OIC Member States (Arab region – African region – Asian region).

The Qatari Ministry of Culture and Sports will hold the celebration, in cooperation with the Qatari National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, and in partnership with several ministries and authorities in Qatar, including the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Qatar Museums, Katara Cultural Village, and Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.

The Celebration’s programmes and activities constitute a platform for promoting creativity in various intellectual, artistic, and cultural fields, highlighting the role of the State of Qatar in the cultural fields as well as its cultural richness and heritage, and encouraging creativity and innovation as cultural values ​​that enrich Islamic civilization.

ICESCO has chosen Doha as the Arab Region’s Capital of Islamic Culture for 2021 for its long history and heritage knowing that Doha is the land of dialogue and a crossroads of civilizations.

As part of the strategic partnership between the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Muslim World League and the Rabita Mohammedia of the Ulemas, the follow-up team representing the three organizations convened on Friday, February 26,  2021. The goal of the meeting was to prepare for the International Conference on the Civilizational Values in the Seerah (Biography) of the Prophet (PBUH), which the organizers plan to hold in mid-Shawal 1442 H, (May 2021).

The team was briefed on the progress of the “Encyclopedia on Deconstructing Extremist Discourse,” the first volume of which is devoted to “Deconstructing the Intellectual Contexts of Extremist Discourse” has been completed.

The team also reviewed the progress in the preparation of the guides for immunization against extremist discourse in the form of an integrated pedagogical kit of approaches and guidelines. This work is due to be completed shortly.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Cultural Advisor to the Director-General of ICESCO, Ambassador Khalid Fatalrahmane, Director of the Department of Dialogue and Cultural Diversity, and the two Deputy Secretaries General of Rabita, Dr. Abdessamad Ghazi, Head of the Center for Observation and Prospective Studies, and Dr. Mohamed Al-Muntar, President of the Center for Quranic Studies attended the meeting at ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, concluded its two-day training session on strategic foresight in service of decision-making, held at its headquarters, in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation.

The second day of the training featured the lecture of Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of Strategic Foresight Center of ICESCO, wherein he reaffirmed the importance of foresight as a baseline towards a better future. He also stressed the need for opening up to the field, particularly in the Islamic world. The first day explored and discussed the participants’ ideas and opinions.

The participants were divided into small groups for practical work, sharing ideas and proposals on developing various future scenarios, developing scientific foresight mechanisms, and highlighting the importance of detailed information on such scenarios for decision-makers in various fields.

  At the close of the training, 60 students from the Faculty of Law, Economics, and Social Sciences of Mohammed V University and the Institute of Advanced Studies of Rabat (HEM) as well as the interns, who are spending their training period at ICESCO’s Sectors and Departments as part of the leadership training programme, received certificates of participation.

The training session is part of the programme of the Strategic Foresight Center, which aims to hold similar training sessions for students and staff of universities, companies, and civil society institutions in Member States on decision-making in their areas of action. The measure is in line with the new vision of ICESCO, which is based on the culture of pro-action and capacity-building to anticipate the future, particularly with the COVID-19 pandemic that has proved the efficiency of foresight in addressing changes.