Category: News update

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received yesterday, September 21, Mr. Nicolaos Argyos, Ambassador of Greece to Morocco.

The two officials explored cooperation prospects between ICESCO and Greece.

At Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s great progress over the past year following the Executive Council’s adoption of the General Directorate’s plans.

The reshuffling included the modification of Organization’s name, becoming the “Islamic World Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).” The update reflected the nature of the civilizational message and objectives, widening its international influence and opportunities.

Dr. AlMalik also highlighted ICESCO’s recent strategy to ensure effective communication and inclusion with Member and non-Member States, international organizations, and civil society institutions.

“ICESCO seeks partnerships that ensure the right to inclusive and equal education for all, support scientific research and innovation benefitting humanity, and preserve cultural and civilizational heritage as a mean to preserve identity,” elaborated the Dr. AlMalik.

He continued that “Greece has an extensive background in the preservation and conservation of heritage. We should cooperate and capitalize on its experience in this field.”

Ms. Elena Vlachogianni, representative of the Minister of Culture and Sports of Greece, took part in the International Virtual Conference on “Combating Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property and its Restitution, held by ICESCO last July.”

ICESCO adopted a new Charter allowing non-Member States to join the Organization as observers. The membership gives full access to ICESCO’s activities, albeit not the right to vote.

Observers can also hold agreements and partnerships, and exchange expertise with countries of the Islamic world. The DG invited Greece to join ICESCO as an observer state.

Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s major initiatives, programs, and activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Organization and donors supported Member States to ensure schooling continuity, access to prevention tools, training in best-cost sanitizer production units.

The Organization established specialized centers for strategic foresight, Artificial Intelligence, Arabic courses for non-native speakers, heritage, dialogue, and cultural diversity, added Dr. AlMalik.

ICESCO also organized ministerial conferences and international forums during the pandemic, with the participation of the heads of states and renowned international figures.

Ambassador Argyos commended ICESCO’s work during the outbreak and the promotion of intercultural, inter-civilizational and inter-religious dialogues.

The Greek ambassador also stressed his country’s interest in cooperating with ICESCO and his intention to take an active step in moving forward with it.

Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) explored today, September 21, with Mr. Pekka Hyvönen, Ambassador of Finland to Morocco cooperation prospects between the Organization and Finland.
The discussions focused on education, given the republic’s pioneering successful educational system.

Dr. AlMalik highlighted ICESCO’s open-door policy. He added that the Organization seeks to sustain productive partnerships in education, science, and culture with non-Member States, international organizations, and civil society institutions. The desired outcome is to benefit countries of the Islamic world and Muslim communities in non-Member States.
Dr. AlMalik also listed the amendments to ICESCO’s Charter, internal regulations, and the recent observer status. The measure ensures the active participation of non-Member States in the Organization’s activities, programs, and conferences, except the right to vote.
He seized the opportunity to invite Finland to join ICESCO as an Observer State.
The DG underlined ICESCO’s substantial initiatives, activities, and programs to support Member States’ efforts mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Comprehensive Humanitarian Coalition” is one of ICESCO’s major initiatives, stated the DG, noting that Finland’s institutions and major corporations are welcome to join the coalition.
The talks also revolved around ICESCO’s specialized centers for strategic foresight, artificial intelligence, Arabic courses for its non-native speakers, heritage, dialogue and cultural diversity.
The DG underscored the vital role the centers play in foreseeing the progress and changes in the Islamic world, based on sound scientific foundations and in-depth studies. He added that these centers also seek to consolidate peaceful coexistence and safeguard cultural and civilizational heritage.

Dr. AlMalik stated that the ICESCO’s recent videoconferences and international forums yielded strong outcomes. Heads of states, ministers, and prominent international figures brought a significant added value to the events.
The meeting also addressed education as one of the main prospective areas of cooperation between ICESCO and Finland.
The country’s robust educational system is based on three key pillars: great respect and appreciation for teachers, premium training for teachers, and harnessing students’ creativity and honing their skills.

ICESCO’s DG and the Finnish Ambassador explored ways for the Organization’s Member States to benefit from Finland’s success story.
The two parties also reviewed the participation of Finnish officials in ICESCO’s future events, especially in the field of education.
The Ambassador reaffirmed his country’s willingness to cooperate with ICESCO. He also commended the Organization’s new strategy and the work carried out throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first training workshop on strategic planning for decision-making kicked off today, September 17, in Ifrane, Morocco. The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held the workshop in cooperation with the German Konrad-Adenauer Foundation.
The workshop benefitted executive directors and faculty members of Al-Akhawayn University.

The two-day workshop comes as part of ICESCO’s Strategic Foresight Center program. Similar workshops will benefit other universities, companies, and civil society stakeholders in the Organization’s Member States.

The purpose is to train executives on decision-making skills based on scientific studies. The event comes amid the COVID-19 crisis that proved foresight to be an efficient tool in addressing changes.

Dr. AlMalik, ICESCO’s Director-General (DG), stated at the opening session that adopting proactive and foresight skills is no longer a luxury but is instead a strategic choice.

“We live in a rapidly changing world and face immense challenges. To unleash its full potential, we must study its future,” he underlined.

Dr. AlMalik pointed out that ICESCO works to mainstream and entrench foresight thinking in the Islamic world to assist its countries in achieving sustainable development.
He emphasized that foresight is not a new concept in the Islamic world, however countries in the region face the challenge of reviving the practice.

Dr. Amine Bensaid, President of Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, said that the training session aligns with the university’s interest in strategic planning.
The training is particularly relevant in the current circumstances as the university reconsiders its strategies in times of crises, added Dr. Bensaid.
He commended ICESCO’s activities and reshuffling, as well as the innovative initiatives it launched during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr. Steffen Krüger, Representative of the German Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Morocco, stated that cooperation with ICESCO is very constructive. The location of the workshop is a clear statement on the strong relations between the two parties, he continued.

Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of the Strategic Foresight Center, supervisor of the training, and PhD holder in strategic foresight, said that modern studies confirm that the development and the prosperity of civilizations should only be evaluated in future terms.

ICESCO seeks to revive and entrench foresight thought in the Islamic world

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), reaffirmed that “the adoption of proactive and foresight skills is no longer a luxury. It is a strategic decision.”
“We live in a rapidly changing world and face immense challenges. We will not survive without studying its future in detail,” he continued.

The statement came as part of the DG’s address at the opening session of the two-day training workshop on strategic planning for decision-making. The event started today at Al Akhawayn University, Ifrane, Morocco.

ICESCO held the event, in cooperation with Konrad-Adenauer Foundation, to benefit several executive directors and teaching staff at the university.
Dr. AlMalik stated that the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the ensuing ambiguity and fears facing the future of humanity, revealed the systemic weaknesses in dealing with the challenges of foresight.

Foresight and planning require different and innovative methods and models to respond and address them, Dr. AlMalik stated.
In his address he specified that “foresight is not a new concept to the Islamic culture. Today, we face the challenge of reviving this heritage.”
ICESCO disseminates the foresight thinking and knowledge within the codes of ethics, which connect the current generations to future ones.

“It is evident that future foresight is one of the most efficient ways to preserve, develop, and support the cultural, intellectual, social, scientific, and economic heritage to achieve welfare and prosperity. Its importance even increases amid the scientific forecasts of the rise of poverty and illiteracy rates around the globe with the high demographic growth. The world population is expected to reach 9.7 billion people by 2050 and 11.2 billion people by 2100,” added ICESCO’s DG.

Dr. AlMalik also highlighted that foresight is a rational tool to overcome the prevailing ambiguity about the future, dispel fear because of crises, and bring hope, and urge people to invent new working means.
He also suggested teaching people lessons to build a brighter and more sustainable future, adding that ICESCO seeks to achieve these objectives throughout the Islamic world. The Organization employs peer-reviewed studies, scientific forums, and training sessions to build a better future.
Dr. AlMalik stressed that “a strong connection between foresight and the strategic dimension” will “provide the foundations for a collective mobilization and thinking, reflecting the participatory decision-making approach.”

This training is the start of ICESCO’s series of sessions to disseminate and entrench foresight thinking in the Islamic world. “The practice will ensure sustainable and knowledge dissemination,” commented the DG.

The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, held a videoconference with Ms. Parwana Paikan, Acting Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy Afghanistan to France and Permanent Delegation to UNESCO and ICESCO. The two officials explored cooperation opportunities between ICESCO and Afghanistan in education, science, and culture.

Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed that ICESCO’s re-engineered strategy adopts effective communication with Member States to identify their priorities. The Organization implemented country-specific programs in cooperation with the local authorities in each Member State.

The Organization also established an inclusive partnership policy with non-Member States and international organizations to leverage assistance to Member States and Muslim communities around the globe, added Dr. AlMalik.

The DG gave an overview of ICESCO’s major initiatives, programs, and activities to counter COVID-19’s repercussions on Member States. He listed ICESCO’s aid for schooling continuity, the production of best-cost sanitizers, and local communities training.

 “To become a reference for civilization outreach, ICESCO established a number of specialized centers for strategic foresight, artificial intelligence, Arabic courses for non-native speakers, heritage and cultural diversity,” added Dr. AlMalik.

The Organization also held ministerial conferences and international forums during the pandemic yielded significant results and high-caliber participation, continued the DG.

Ms. Paikan stressed her country’s keenness for stronger cooperation with ICESCO following the updated vision. She also highlighted the potential joint programs, including Arabic courses, civilizational dialogue, and the inscription of the Afghan heritage sites on the Islamic World Heritage List.

She also commended ICESCO’s support to Member States and programs during the pandemic.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received yesterday, September 14, Mr. Ahmet Aydın Doğan, Ambassador of Turkey to Morocco, to explore cooperation between the Organization and Turkey in education, science, and culture.

The meeting also touched on the latest developments of the Turkish parliament’s ratification to Turkey’s membership to ICESCO.

Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s recent milestones following enhanced communication with Member States to identify their priorities in education, science and culture. The goal is to implement programs in cooperation with local parties.

The vision is also inclusive of non-Member States and international donors and benefits of Member States and Muslim communities worldwide, added the DG.

Dr. AlMalik stated that ICESCO established many specialized centers for strategic foresight, artificial intelligence, Arabic courses for non-native speakers, heritage and cultural diversity. The Organization also held ministerial conferences and international forums during the pandemic with participation from heads of states and internationally renowned figures.

The DG shed light on ICESCO’s initiatives and programs to help countries counter the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple Member States, in cooperation with donors, joined ICESCO’s efforts to ensure the continuity of distance learning, provide prevention tools, establish best-cost sanitizers production units, and train the local community.

The Turkish Ambassador commended ICESCO’s updated strategy and assistance to its Member States during the pandemic.

Ambassador Doğan highlighted that the accession procedures of Turkey to ICESCO were in the final stage, which is the ratification by the Turkish Parliament. The delay was due to work suspension in many institutions as a result of the outbreak, and the accession will be soon ratified.  

The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, and Mr. Nigel Fyfe, Ambassador of New Zealand to Spain and Morocco, explored cooperation prospects between the Organization and New Zealand in education, science and culture.

During yesterday’s videoconference, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s willingness to build mutually beneficial cooperation with the country, following the Organization’s re-engineered strategy. The Organization adopted an inclusive policy in assisting Member States and Muslim communities around the globe.

He emphasized that ICESCO developed a new charter with an observer status to permit all countries to take part in ICESCO’s activities and programs. The updated status allowed room for stronger agreements and partnerships to share expertise with the countries of the Islamic world.

The DG gave an overview of ICESCO’s major initiatives, programs, and activities during COVID-19. The list included “ICESCO Digital Home,” “Societies We Want,” “Distance Culture,” and “Teaching Arabic to non-Arabic Speakers.”

Dr. Almalik also invited New Zealand to join the “Comprehensive Humanitarian Coalition” for international assistance. The coalition gathers multiple countries and donors.

Talks during the meeting mainly touched on cooperation, particularly in education, where New Zealand is a leader. The two parties explored scholarships opportunities to students in the Islamic world and academic exchange programs between research centers and universities in ICESCO Member States and their counterparts in New Zealand.

The New Zealander ambassador thanked ICESCO’s DG for the meeting and reaffirmed his country’s willingness to cooperate. New Zealand pays special attention to humanitarian, religious, ethical issues and to the promotion of coexistence and dialogue, he added.

Ambassador Fyfe lauded ICESCO’s support to the most vulnerable countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also commended the Organization’s commitment to help ensure the continuity of schooling, cultural exchange, women and young entrepreneurs’ capacity building.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Mr. Marc Trenteseau, Ambassador of Belgium to Morocco, explored the prospects of cooperation between the country and the Organization in education, science, and culture.

During Thursday’s meeting in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik stressed on ICESCO’s inclusive strategy in serving the citizens of Member States and the Muslim community worldwide.

The Organization introduced new regulations for its observer status to allow non-Member States’ participation in all the conferences and activities. The DG invited Belgium to join ICESCO as an Observer State.

ICESCO partnered with international organizations and development donors, amid COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on Member States, specified Dr. AlMalik. The Organization provided financial support and technological equipment to 24 states to ensure the continuity of the distance learning.

It also offered humanitarian aid and virus protection devices to 10 other countries, including financing best-cost sanitizer production units and the training of the local communities.

The DG listed ICESCO’s COVID-19 initiatives and invited Belgium to join the “Global Humanitarian Coalition.” He also reviewed the virtual conferences and webinars with notable participation and highlighted the Organization’s specialized centers.

The primary focus was on centers for strategic foresight, artificial intelligence, Arabic courses for non-native speakers, dialogue and cultural diversity, and heritage.

The goal is to forecast changes in countries of the Islamic world following scientific and in-depth studies, strengthen peaceful coexistence, safeguard cultural heritage, and reposition ICESCO as a reference for international and civilizational outreach.

Ambassador Trenteseau welcomed the DG’s invitation and was pleased with the outcome of the meeting. He stressed on potential collaboration in strategic foresight, civilizational dialogue, scholarships, and exchange opportunities between Belgian and Islamic World researchers.

The Belgian ambassador welcomed ICESCO’s re-engineered vision and actions during the COVID-19 crisis. He stated his desire to work towards a beneficial cooperation between his country and the Organization.