Category: News update

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) welcomed the second cohort of its Young Professionals Program (YPP) on Monday, 10 November 2025. The group comprises 13 professionals from diverse nationalities selected to join a 24-month professional training across ICESCO’s sectors, departments, and specialized centers.

During the welcome ceremony, participants were introduced to ICESCO’s areas of work and flagship programs and projects through presentations delivered by various sectors and departments. These sessions outlined the Organization’s structure and operational mechanisms.

The program aims to enhance participants’ practical and professional skills through field training and direct involvement in project and activity implementation. It provides a multicultural international work environment that strengthens their expertise and prepares them to lead impactful initiatives in the future.

ICESCO selected the new cohort based on rigorous criteria of competence, excellence, and potential to contribute to institutional development. Candidates underwent multiple evaluation and testing stages, with attention to geographic and gender balance, as well as proficiency in digital, administrative, and project management skills. This aligns with the Organization’s strategic direction to strengthen its programs by investing in young talent capable of generating tangible impact and transferring expertise to work environments in Member States after the training period.

The YPP is part of ICESCO’s strategic vision to empower human capital, particularly youth, by refining their professional, digital, linguistic, and administrative skills. It also offers them the opportunity to work alongside international experts and build cross-border cooperation networks.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) reaffirmed the importance of digital technologies in achieving sustainable development and strengthening economic and social security during a workshop organized by the Organization’s Sector of Science and Environment under the theme: “The Role of Digital Technologies in Inclusive and Sustainable Development: Spotlight on SMEs and Cooperatives.”

Held virtually on Monday, 3 November 2025, the workshop brought together over 50 experts and specialists. Representatives from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), ZeroE company, and the Act4Community initiative of Morocco’s OCP Group, alongside local sustainability experts, contributed to the session.

In his address, Professor Raheel Qamar, Head of ICESCO’s Sector of Science and Environment, stressed the need to make technologies accessible to all and to adapt them to local contexts. He highlighted the pivotal role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and cooperatives in driving sustainable growth and enhancing economic and social security.

As part of the workshop proceedings, a discussion session was moderated by Dr. Issam Krimi, Dr. Adel Smaida, and Dr. Fahman Fath Al-Rahman, experts from the Sector of Science and Environment. The session explored the challenges and enablers to technology adoption among resource-limited institutions.

The workshop also examined several key themes, including strategies for leveraging open data to help SMEs and cooperatives meet Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards and expand into global markets. It further presented a case study from Safi, Morocco, showcasing how digital tools can be utilized to enhance competitiveness and ensure compliance with sustainability requirements.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) launched on Sunday, November 9, 2025, the animated film, “Show Me Your Smile”. The launch was part of the activities of the International Children’s and Youth Book Fair in Casablanca, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication in the Kingdom of Morocco, the Global Network of Religions for Children, and the Conference of Education Ministers in French Speaking States (CONFEMEN). The film screening saw the participation of 50 children, along with officials, experts, educators and media professionals.

The film “Show Me Your Smile” was produced as part of a program supervised by ICESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector and carried out by the Organization’s Media and Communication Sector. The film aims to combat bullying in schools through a creative visual story that raises awareness about the dangers of bullying and highlights ways to prevent its psychological, educational, and social impacts.

During the launch ceremony, Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of ICESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector, explained that the production is part of the “StopBully Program”, which includes a range of educational tools designed to protect childhood and promote well-being in schools through value-based education and the development of positive interaction skills.

For her part, Ms. Kenza Abourmane, Director of the Youth Sector at Morocco’s Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, commended the Ministry’s cooperation with ICESCO in producing educational content for children and adolescents. She highlighted the alignment of this project with national efforts to combat violence in schools and expressed the readiness of cultural institutions under the Ministry to host screenings and parallel discussions that emphasize the film’s messages and values.

In a video address, Mr. Abdel Rahamane Baba-Moussa, CONFEMEN Secretary-General, extended his thanks to Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, for this initiative that conveys moral and educational messages. He stressed that the film serves as an educational tool directed at students of different age groups.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mustafa Y. Ali, Secretary-General of the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC), stressed that “a safe child is the foundation of a safe world,” which is in line with ICESCO’s vision and its continuous support for initiatives that promote and uphold this principle.

Mr. Karim Hamidouche, Acting Secretary-General of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, also commended ICESCO’s efforts to strengthen the education system and enhance safeguards for children across its Member States.

Following the screening, a discussion was held with the participating children, who shared their experiences and ideas to help prevent bullying. They emphasized the importance of seeking support when needed, and the role of families, schools, and educators in early prevention of both school and cyberbullying.

The ICESCO Chair for Research and Pedagogical Innovation to Develop Arabic Education in Guinea organized an international seminar under the theme, “The Role of West African Scholars in Promoting Arabic Education, Anchoring Enlightened Islamic Thought, and Preserving Cultural and Civilizational Identity.” The event was held on November 3-4, 2025, at the headquarters of Al-Eamar University, in cooperation with national, regional, and international institutions, as well as universities and research centers in West Africa and France.

Organized within the framework of joint programs between ICESCO and the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation to support the Arabic language in non-Arabic-speaking countries, the seminar aimed to highlight the pioneering role of West African scholars in disseminating and teaching Arabic, consolidating the values of moderation and tolerance, and safeguarding cultural identity in the face of contemporary challenges.

During the two-day seminar, which featured 38 research papers, participants recommended adopting precise educational and professional standards for the recruitment of teachers to ensure competence and high-quality performance. They also called for improving teachers’ living and professional conditions in recognition of their essential role in shaping individuals and anchoring values.

The recommendations further emphasized encouraging researchers and postgraduate students to prepare theses and dissertations on the lives and contributions of West African scholars to human civilization, support the scientific authentication of African manuscripts, and develop strategies to engage families who own manuscripts to raise awareness of their importance in preserving Islamic and cultural heritage.

The seminar was attended by His Excellency Dr. Fahad bin Eid Al-Rashidi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Guinea, alongside a delegation from the Republic of Mali comprising seven university professors. The seminar also brought together numerous Arabic language teachers from Guinean universities and a host of religious leaders, scholars, and academics.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the international conference on “Approaches to Understanding the Arabic Language and Islam in the Era of Globalization: Issues and Solutions,” held on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, by the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan, via videoconference, with the participation of several universities, international institutions, researchers, and specialists in the Arabic language and the culture of the Islamic world.

The Conference aimed to analyze the linguistic, intellectual, and methodological challenges related to understanding Islam in the age of globalization, as well as to promote academic dialogue among researchers on ways to develop Islamic discourse in new global contexts.

ICESCO was represented by Dr. Youssef Ismaili, an expert at the Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, who spoke during the first session entitled “The Communicative Approach and Its Role in Teaching the Arabic Language and Understanding the Teachings of Islam.” He stressed the importance of adopting contemporary methods focused on developing learners’ linguistic and communication skills, particularly in non-Arabic-speaking countries, recalling that the Arabic language is an essential tool for understanding Islamic discourse and strengthening cultural, scientific, and economic exchanges between peoples.

Dr. Ismaili also reviewed the Organization’s efforts to promote the Arabic language through various programs and initiatives that take into account pedagogical and technological developments, anticipating the future of the language and helping to strengthen its status as a symbol of the cultural identity of the Islamic world.

The Center for Heritage in the Islamic World, under the aegis of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), launched a series of digital seminars aimed at discussing the challenges facing cultural heritage in the Islamic world and providing an open platform for experts and specialized international organizations to exchange expertise and build bridges of cooperation in this field.

The seminars will be held periodically every three months. The ICESCO Center for Heritage in the Islamic World organized the first of these seminars on Friday 10 October 2025, under the theme“Risk and Disaster Management for Cultural Heritage Sites.” The session was inaugurated by Dr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the World Heritage Centre at UNESCO, who praised ICESCO’s role in supporting global efforts to protect cultural heritage. He emphasized the need to discuss current challenges and the importance of digital spaces in facilitating the exchange of knowledge among experts worldwide.

For his part, Dr. Webber Ndoro, Director of the ICESCO Center for Heritage in the Islamic World, noted that these seminars contribute to capacity building and to creating a network of communication among Member States. He added that the series provides a vital platform for strengthening cooperation between institutions working in the field of cultural heritage preservation.

The first seminar, moderated by Mr. Mohamed Al-Absi, Expert at ICESCO’s Center for Heritage, featured a distinguished group of international experts from UNESCO, the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), and the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication.