Category: News update

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is proud to announce that Ms. Faizah Alaoui, Expert at the Organization’s Education Sector, has been appointed as a member of the Advisory Board for the Global Education Monitoring Report (GEMR). This flagship initiative by UNESCO monitors progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on quality education.

Ms. Alaoui will represent ICESCO at the 10th Annual Meeting of the GEMR Advisory Board, to be held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 10–11 June 2025.

This appointment reflects ICESCO’s growing influence in shaping global education policy and its commitment to ensuring that the voice and priorities of the Islamic world are effectively represented in the international arena. It also reaffirms the Organization’s active engagement in the global dialogue on education.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in collaboration with the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS), and El Sewedy University of Technology, organized a regional workshop titled “Cybersecurity and Trust Engineering: Enhancing Knowledge and Skills in Cyber Threats and Cybersecurity.”

The event aimed to strengthen the capacities of participants from ICESCO Member States by providing advanced training in managing cyber threats and deepening their understanding of the impact of artificial intelligence and quantum computing technologies on cybersecurity systems. The workshop brought together several experts and specialists from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Morocco, Iraq, Kuwait, and Somalia.

ICESCO was represented at the three-day workshop, which concluded on Thursday 8 May 2025, by Dr. Adel Smeda, expert at the Science and Environment Sector. Dr. Smeda reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to assisting its Member States in prioritizing digital security as a key developmental and strategic objective.

Representatives of the organizing institutions highlighted the importance of bridging the skills gap and fostering a culture of continuous learning to cultivate talents capable of responding to the escalating challenges in the digital landscape. They also stressed the need to enhance regional cooperation in addressing emerging security threats.

The workshop featured hands-on training sessions and practical exercises covering a range of topics, including malware detection, penetration testing, post-incident recovery, and the protection of digital infrastructure and cloud computing environments. One session was dedicated to examining the impact of artificial intelligence and quantum computing on cybersecurity, with a focus on strategies to strengthen national systems in the future. The programme also included a panel discussion with executives from leading companies in the sector, during which participants explored current challenges and shared best practices in the field of cybersecurity.

At the end of the workshop, the participants took part in a field visit to several specialized centers in cybersecurity and innovation in Egypt, including the Electronics Research Institute (ERI) and the National Center for Computer and Network Emergency Preparedness (EG-CERT).

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) organized a training workshop on “Strategic Foresight for Decision-Making” on 6–7 May 2025, at the headquarters of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture in Rabat, to enhance the capacities of the Commission’s members and the staff of its General Secretariat in future planning and strategic decision-making.

The workshop, organized by ICESCO’s Center for Strategic Foresight and Artificial Intelligence, aimed to equip participants with an understanding of foresight tools as an effective methodology for future planning, addressing complex challenges, and supporting decision-making in the fields of education, science, and culture.

During the workshop, Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of ICESCO’s Center for Strategic Foresight and Artificial Intelligence, emphasized the importance of promoting future-oriented thinking within national institutions. He explained that strategic foresight enables institutions to anticipate major shifts and embrace new opportunities, reaffirming ICESCO’s commitment to building the foresight capacities of its Member States to better address future challenges.

The workshop included theoretical, practical, and interactive sessions, during which participants explored foresight tools such as horizon scanning, trend analysis, and the development of proactive scenarios. Participants expressed strong interest in applying these tools in their institutional and organizational work.

The workshop concluded with a group brainstorming session that underscored the importance of integrating strategic foresight practices into public planning to ensure an effective response to future transformations and to achieve sustainable development that benefits future generations.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), based in Pakistan, held a digital session titled “Leveraging Technology for Better Outcomes in Maternal and Child Health.” The session aimed to explore the transformative role of digital technologies—such as telemedicine, mobile health solutions, and artificial intelligence—in enhancing maternal and child healthcare, particularly in remote areas.

Held on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, the session opened with remarks by Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, Executive Director of COMSATS, and Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector. Both emphasized the need to harness technology to address the pressing health challenges faced by mothers and children worldwide, reaffirming ICESCO’s and COMSATS’ shared commitment to promoting innovation and digital transformation in healthcare.

The discussion, moderated by Dr. Adel Samida, an expert from ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector, featured a panel of international experts from the United States, Pakistan, France, and Zimbabwe. Participants shared experiences and discussed practical solutions to overcome barriers to the adoption of digital health technologies.

The session concluded by underscoring the importance of collaboration among governments, international organizations, academic institutions, and technology providers to ensure equitable access to emerging healthcare technologies for all.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the international scientific conference titled “Maturidism – A Doctrine of Tolerance, Moderation, and Enlightenment,” held in the city of Samarkand, Republic of Uzbekistan, over 29–30 April 2025. The event aims to highlight the contributions of Imam Maturidi and his doctrine to the development of Islamic sciences. The conference witnessed the high-level attendance of prominent scholars, ministers, and representatives of relevant international institutions.

The conference began with opening remarks delivered by Mr. Ruslanbek Kuroltayevich Davletov, Advisor to the President, on behalf of His Excellency President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Subsequently, Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of ICESCO, delivered a speech emphasizing the urgent need to renew “Ilm al-Kalam” (the study of Islamic theology) in alignment with contemporary developments and emerging intellectual and religious challenges. He stated that revisiting the intellectual legacy of Imam Maturidi is an academic necessity commensurate with his intellectual stature—especially as the ongoing technological revolution has given rise to new issues that demand the development of a renewed “Ilm al-Kalam,” much like what Imam Maturidi achieved in his time.

Dr. Benarafa also called for sustainable cooperation with academic institutions in Uzbekistan, referring to ICESCO’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Imam Maturidi International Research Center. The Organization looks forward to launching joint scientific initiatives, including the establishment of academic chairs in heritage, thought, and intercultural dialogue, as part of the project titled “ICESCO Pathways to the Future.”

In addition, Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Director of ICESCO’s Center for Civilizational Dialogue, delivered a presentation during one of the conference sessions titled “Foundational Principles of Cooperation between ICESCO and the Imam Maturidi International Research Center.” In his talk, he reviewed the importance of joint efforts between both sides to promote scientific research and to spread a culture of dialogue and mutual understanding among civilizations.