Category: News update

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a meeting with a team of educational experts from the Faculty of Education (FSE) of Mohammed V University in Rabat, to prepare for the launch of the “Project for the Development of an Elementary Education Model in the Kingdom of Morocco,” in cooperation between ICESCO, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Moroccan Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research.

During the meeting, held on Friday, 2 July 2021 at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, the participants discussed a presentation made by the team of experts, concerning the components of the project and the modalities of its implementation, which consist of preparing and experimenting with three new models in the educational system, namely: a model of new teaching methods for students and educational executives; a new model for governance and management of educational institutions; and a model determining the quality resources and tools necessary for implementation.

During the meeting, Dr. Koumbou Barry, Head of ICESCO’s Education Sector, and Mr. Aziz El Hajir, Specialist in Information and Communication Technologies for Education, underlined the importance of this project as a pioneering initiative that focuses on an innovative educational model with a new vision of the concept of inclusive elementary education, which will benefit the Kingdom of Morocco and the ICESCO Member States, prioritizes vulnerable groups, especially girls in rural and remote areas, and includes the concepts of lifelong learning and change management.  

The training session on “Capacity-Building in Peace Education and the Socio-economic Empowerment of Women” that the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) organizes, in cooperation with the Conference of French-speaking Ministers of Youth and Sports (CONFEJES), at ICESCO Regional Center for Education on the Culture of Peace (CRECP), in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, concluded its proceedings. The training falls within the framework of ICESCO Year of Women 2021 and the Leadership Training Program for Peace and Security.

The participants in the workshop, held from 28 June through 02 July 2021, both face-to-face and via videoconferencing, received training in the fields of education on peace and women empowerment through lectures of international experts in the field.

During the closing ceremony, the participants stressed the need to develop and sustain such trainings for a larger number of women and young people, civil society activists and local leaders, promote cooperation between ICESCO and CONFEJES on issues of peace, empowerment of young people and women, and delivering certificates of participation to the beneficiaries.

Ms. Deniba Saganogo, representative of the beneficiaries, expressed her thanks to ICESCO and CONFEJES for the good organization, stressing her and the participant’s willingness to share this experience with other colleagues in their sectors.

For her part, Ms. Ramata Almami Mbay, Director of ICESCO’s Human and Social Sciences Sector, reaffirmed that the Organization will continue to contribute to peace and empowerment of women and youth to build peaceful, comprehensive and cohesive societies.

 Dr. Omar Halli has joined the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and, Cultural Organization (ICESCO) as Advisor to the Director-General (DG) for the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW).

Dr. Omar Halli has held several national positions including advisor to the Minister of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research; President of Ibn Zohr University; Member of The Higher Council for Education, Training and Research; Member of the National Coordination Committee for Higher Education; Founding Member and Coordinator of the International Festival of University Theater in Agadir; Founding Member and President of the International Festival of Cinema and Migration Agadir; Founding Member of the International Festival of Culture and Arts and President of Janoub Taqafat Association.

Dr. Omar Halli has published several works and articles in the field of contemporary literature and translation. He has also taught for 33 years.

The Federation of The Universities of The Islamic World (FUIW) was established in 1987 and operates under the umbrella of ICESCO. The Federation has now 347 Member Universities and higher education institutes. ICESCO Director-General holds the position of FUIW Secretary-General.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held a preparatory session on the launch of the Futures Literacy Lab (FLL), which aims to publicize the new foresight approaches that can be used to improve understanding of pressing matters.

The organizers held the session on Thursday, July 1, 2021, face-to-face at ICESCO headquarters and via videoconference and brought together representatives of ICESCO Center for Strategic Foresight, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Francophone University Agency (AUF), and the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC). The session was also attended by several ICESCO interns.

In his address, Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of ICESCO Center for Strategic Foresight, stressed the importance of acquiring the skill of foresight in an ever-changing world. He added that the soon-to-be-launched Foresight Lab will be a step further towards building young people’s foresight capacities.

Dr. Riel Miller, Head of the Future Literacy Division at UNESCO, gave a presentation stating that FLLs are significantly important as they help develop concepts about the future and express relevant imaginative ideas. He also stressed the need to prepare for the future, with all the opportunities and challenges it entails.

Dr. Miller also stated that there are different types of “future,” most notably desirable and probable futures, highlighting the need to encourage the youth to build their foresight capacities to help give sense to the world around them. A discussion session followed Dr. Miller’s presentation where the UNESCO official answered the questions of participants.

ICESCO Center for Strategic Foresight also gave a presentation on the concept of co-design in futures literacy, an overview on the Lab, and a simulation of Phase 1 of “Exploring probable and desirable futures.”

Futures literacy is an acquired skill that helps overcome fear of the future. It also enables individuals, organizations and governments to understand the world and monitor variables.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated, via videoconferencing, in the regional workshop of UNESCO Regional Center for Quality and Excellence in Education (RCQE), held on Tuesday, June 30, 2021, under the theme “Teaching Science and mathematics in Arab countries”. The event brought together intellectuals, experts and specialists representing several local, regional and international bodies.

The Workshop reviewed the outcomes of the scientific study which was conducted under the supervision of the RCQE on “Reality and Means of Developing Science and Mathematics Teaching in Arab Countries”. The study aimed to provide a forward-looking vision for the future of teaching science and mathematics in Arab countries through exploring the reality of teaching the two subjects at primary and elementary schools in Arab countries. The study targeted the following Arab countries: Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Bahrain, Lebanon while reference countries included Finland, England, Singapore and the United States of America.

The Workshop also discussed recommendations and suggestions likely to ensure the development of mathematics and science teaching at the level of primary and elementary schools in Arab countries.

Dr. Youssef Abou Daka, Mr. Aziz Elhajir and Dr. Ahmed El Zonfoli, Program Managers at ICESCO’s Sector of Education, represented the Organization in the Workshop.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the General Secretariat of the National Commission for Education, Science and Culture in the State of the United Arab Emirates held on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, via videoconference, a working session to discuss the programs and activities to be implemented in cooperation between ICESCO and several Emirati institutions. The working session focused on programs targeting women and brought together the representatives of the Ministry of Community Development, the Gender Balance Council, the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi, and the General Women Union.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General (DG), and Ms. Salma Darmaki, Secretary-General of the Emirati National Commission, chaired the working session with the participation of a number of ICESCO Advisers and Heads of Sectors and Departments.

In his address at the opening of the meeting, Dr. Benarafa reaffirmed that ICESCO’s proclamation of 2021 as the Year of Women, under the slogan “Women for the Future”, reflects the Organization’s commitment to women empowerment, noting that the Organization launched a number of initiatives that aim to highlight women’s leading roles in various walks of life.

Ms. Darmaki commended ICESCO’s efforts to promote the situation of women and hailed the Organization’s proclamation of 2021 as the Year of Women and its keenness to develop cooperation relations with UAE institutions.

Following the opening remarks, the representatives of the Ministry of Community Development, the Gender Balance Council, the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi, and the General Women Union gave overviews of their respective institutions’ history, strategic goals, working mechanisms, future action plans, and major programs and activities in progress.

ICESCO Heads of Sectors and Departments and advisors highlighted the major trends in the Organization’s vision and gave presentations on its strategic action plans and major sector-specific programs and activities that focus on supporting, empowering and building the capacities of women to enable them to assume their role as key element in achieving sustainable development. The ICESCO officials noted that such programs and initiatives can be the subject of cooperation between ICESCO and the Emirati institutions.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to select a number of practical and goal-oriented initiatives and programs. They also agreed to reconvene to lay down the executive plans of these initiatives and programs.