Category: News update

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and Ibn Zohr University in Agadir, Morocco, signed a partnership agreement to create an ICESCO Chair on Argan Trees at the said University. The Chair aims at supporting, encouraging, and supervising research works on Argan trees and their means of preservation, as well as dedicating awards to outstanding research works in the field of Argan trees development and preservation.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG); Dr. Said Amzazi, Minister of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research, President of the Moroccan National Committee for Education, Science and Culture; Dr. Driss Ouaouicha, Minister Delegate in Charge of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Morocco and Dr. Abdelaziz Bendou, President of Ibn Zohr University, signed the agreement yesterday, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at the headquarters of the Center of National Trainings and Meetings, in Rabat. Mr. Jamal Eddine El Aloua, Secretary-General of the Moroccan National Commission well as several presidents of Moroccan universities, officials and directors at the Moroccan Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research attended the signing ceremony.

In his address at the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik stated that the Chair aims to encourage research works on Argan trees since it is considered an intangible cultural heritage, a medical plant found in abundance in the southern regions of Morocco and an environmental treasure which offers investment opportunities, especially for the rural women through engaging in Argan products cooperatives.

The DG added that the establishment of the Chair is part of ICESCO’s new vision which adopts an open-door policy, noting that the Organization has created an International Network of Chairs for Science, Thought, Letters and Arts to support research works in these fields.

Dr. Amzazi explained that the Chair will oversee research works on Argan trees preservation and development mechanisms in addition to launching awards to encourage outstanding research works in the field.

The agreement provides for selecting scientific research topics on Argan trees, overseeing their completion and execution, organizing calls for proposals on research works related to the Chair’s topic, as part of an awards program, as well as assigning a jury to select outstanding works. In addition, the agreement provides for presenting the National Commission with the necessary information to prepare periodical reports to be submitted regularly to ICESCO, which will support the chair’s activities.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), reaffirmed the Organization’s readiness to support, within the framework of its strategy and new vision, the efforts of its Member States to ensure the continuity of the educational process and to support them in facing the numerous challenges undermining younger generations’ right to education, welfare, and development. He also noted that despite the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the educational situation in many parts of the world, there are many opportunities available compared to the risks and challenges.

Dr. AlMalik made the statement in his address at the ceremony of distributing electronic tablets to several students in the region of Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Morocco, on Saturday, July 24, 2021. The ceremony was attended by Dr. Saaïd Amzazi, Minister of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research, President of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture; Dr. Driss Ouaouicha, Minister Delegate in Charge of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Kingdom of Morocco; Mr. Lamine Benomar, Wali of the Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab Region; Mr. Jamal Eddine El Aloua, Secretary-General of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture; Dr. Abdelaziz Bendou, President of Ibn Zohr University; as well as some officials from the education sector in the Kingdom of Morocco.

Dr. AlMalik stressed that ICESCO is anticipating a new educational era, which is the era of the digital school that relies on AI innovations, noting that the pandemic has accelerated the pace of this transition. In this regard, he stressed, countries of the Islamic world must be well prepared to be among the first countries to embrace the new trend and develop their educational systems.

ICESCO DG also commended the dynamics, projects, and forward-looking plans of the Moroccan educational system, guided by the wise strategic vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, congratulating the Moroccan Monarch for his major and noble efforts to overcome the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

For his part, Dr. Said Amzazi hailed the fruitful cooperation with ICESCO and its efforts to support its Member States’ education systems, as well as its remarkable achievements over the past two years.

The distribution of the electronic tablets to many students in the Dakhla Region is part of the cooperation program between ICESCO, the Moroccan Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture.

Following the ceremony, the participants took part in the inauguration of the Higher School of Technology (EST) of Dakhla. Established with a nearly 40 million MAD budget, the school has a capacity of 1000 students. This project is part of the diversification of the university offer in the region, by providing new specialties.

The participants in the roundtable on “Reimagining Youth Skills Post-Pandemic,” that the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) held, presented a set of ideas on ways to adapt educational systems to the needs of young people, and the importance of reconciling educational curricula with the skills necessary for addressing the changes and challenges of the labor market. The meeting gathered several experts and specialists yesterday Thursday, July 15, 2021, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat.

In his speech, Dr. Salim Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), stressed that the Organization takes into account the importance of building the capacities of young people and developing their creative potentials to excel in their professional lives through holding a series of training courses to provide them with the necessary tools to face future challenges, enhance their proactive capabilities and contribute to the sustainable development of their societies.

Dr. AlMalik added that ICESCO seeks to support the countries of the Islamic world in all fields related to education, science, and culture, especially in building the capacities of youth and women, using artificial intelligence, and instilling the values ​​of dialogue and coexistence. He pointed out that the roundtable is a step towards further cooperation with the UNICEF in protecting the rights of children and young people to help them meet their needs and increase their opportunities to achieve their aspirations.

Ms. Giovanna Barberis, UNICEF Representative in Morocco, indicated that the global repercussions of the Covid 19 pandemic prompt us to act to enhance youth resilience. She stated that the roundtable is an opportunity to listen to young people’s views and aspirations, and review their skills and ways to develop them; and as such, it is a starting point for a series of fruitful activities and meetings with ICESCO.

Then, Mr. Khalid Chenguiti, Education Specialist at UNICEF, made a presentation on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people and their skills and indicated that in order to develop them, there is a need to proceed with the implementation of a methodological and comprehensive vision of education in the countries of the Islamic world. Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of ICESCO’s Center for Strategic Foresight, explained the importance of foresight for young people and gave an overview of the work of the Center and its role in promoting a culture of foresight in the countries of the Islamic world.

Mr. Ahmad Outizki, a pedagogical inspector of Arabic at the Moroccan Ministry of Education, emphasized that the “Maharati” (My Skills) project has contributed to the improvement of young people’s skills within the school, through the promotion of teachers’ pedagogical approaches. For her part, the high school student Sabrine Amiziane reviewed her experience in the program “UpShift” Morocco, as well as the methods used in her workshops to develop skills other than those acquired at school. Ms. Oumaima Fariq, the program coordinator at “Douar Tech”, touched upon the importance of disseminating digital skills-focused programs among young people.

This roundtable also saw the participation of Dr. Koumbou Barry, Head of the Education Sector at ICESCO, who emphasized the important role of the family in the development of young people’s capacities to become active actors and to contribute to bringing about change within societies to facilitate their transition to professional life.

The roundtable concluded with a discussion session during which participants shared their views and opinions.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the fields of education, childhood development, youth capacity building, development of training on tomorrow’s professions, and artificial intelligence applications to strengthen human capital, protect the rights of children and youth, and preparing and qualifying them to face the future.

Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, the supervisor of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector at the Organization, and Ms. Giovanna Barberis, UNICEF Representative in Morocco, signed the MoU, during a ceremony organized July 15, 2021, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, in the presence of several directors of Sectors and Departments and advisors at ICESCO, and some UNICEF officials.

In his speech during the ceremony, Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman stressed the importance of signing the MoU between ICESCO and UNICEF in protecting the rights of children and youth, helping them meet their needs, and upgrading their capacities to acquire the skills necessary for social and economic integration.

Ambassador Fathalrahman pointed out that ICESCO supports the countries of the Islamic world in all fields related to education, science and culture, and works to qualify women and enhance the capacities of youth through the use of artificial intelligence and strategic foresight to find adequate solutions to future challenges.

Mrs. Giovanna Barberis expressed her happiness at signing the MoU, noting that the areas of joint action of ICESCO and UNICEF will contribute to promoting the rights of children and youth in Morocco, and constitute an opportunity to share information, experiences and good practices in the fields of education, early childhood, youth, and social integration.

The MoU between ICESCO and UNICEF provides for cooperation in sharing information and knowledge on projects and programs related to education and childhood development, and the social and economic integration of youth, to benefit from the experiences and expertise of each party; cooperation in holding the Early Childhood Conference in 2022; promotion of a culture of foresight among youth to raise awareness among them about the future opportunities; launching the “Future from a Youth Perspective” campaign, and participating in organizing forums and workshops on topics of common interest.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) launched on Thursday, July 15, 2021, “ICESCO Network of International Digital Platforms for Culture, Arts and Heritage.” The Network is part of ICESCO’s “Paths towards the Future Program” and aims to promote cultural awareness among young people in the Islamic world through providing artistic, literary, and scientific tools. The Network also aims to build women and young people’s capacities through encouraging cultural entrepreneurship.

ICESCO launched the Network in a meeting that brought together ICESCO leaderships and experts and several young interns at the Culture and Communication Sector, who made presentations on the components of the Network. In his remarks on the presentations, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), commended the efforts that both ICESCO leaderships and interns exerted, calling on all parties to continue their work to promote heritage, arts, and literature in the Islamic world. He also stressed the importance of promoting creative cultural industries and heritage handicrafts that most adequately reflect the Islamic civilization and culture.

ICESCO DG expressed his delight at launching such a network, which embodies ICESCO’s new vision in its anticipation of the future, embrace of the protection of the Islamic civilization heritage and promotion of its role in preserving identity and promoting sustainable development.

The ICESCO Network of International Digital Platforms for Culture, Arts, and Heritage is composed of two main categories. ICESCO International Art Programs, the first category, includes ICESCO Fund for Creative Intelligence, the Digital Library, and ICESCO Center for Cinema and Pictures (ICESCO Web TV). It also includes three platforms, namely the Interactive Platform for Creative Intelligence and Cultural Industries, the Youth Interactive Platform, and the Young Creations Platform.

As for ICESCO Arts Center, the second category, it includes ICESCO Portal for Heritage in the Islamic World, the Virtual Museum, the Virtual Opera House, and the Literature House. It also includes ICESCO Museum for Contemporary Art, and ICESCO Forum Platform, an interactive platform for intellectuals, researchers and creative people across the globe.

These unique digital platforms are the result of the hard work of a host of creative and young ICESCO interns, under the supervision of ICESCO’s experts and leaderships, as part of the Organization’s strategy and plans to train and build the capacities of young people. Under the same strategy, ICESCO launched several leadership incubators to equip young people across the Islamic world with the proper future leadership skills in the fields of education, science and culture.