His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin
Muhammad Al-Qasimi, Member of the Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab
Emirates, Ruler of Sharjah, President of the University of Sharjah, today at
the University of Sharjah, received Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director
General, FUIW Secretary General; Dr. Ahmed Al-Ameri, Rector of Imam Muhammad
Ibn Saud Islamic University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, President of the 7th FUIW
General Conference, Chairman of the Executive Council; in addition to the
following members of the Federation’s Executive Council: Dr. Zeidan kafafi,
President of Yarmouk University in Jordan; Dr. Hamid M. Al Naimiy, Chancellor
of the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates; Dr. Imad Abu Kishek,President of Al Quds University in
Palestine; Dr. Adel Sadeq Mubarak, President of Menoufia University; and Dr. Noureddine
Medra’i, representative of the University Hassan II Casablanca in Morocco.
During the
meeting held today on the sidelines of the 23rd session of the FUIW
Executive Council, the FUIW Secretary General and the Council expressed their
thanks to His Highness for the hosting by the University of Sharjah of this
session of the Council, briefed him on the decisions they adopted to promote
the position of the Federation and give shape to the new vision to develop the
Federation’s working methods and revisit its structure and internal
regulations.
Talks during
this meeting also touched on the importance of the Federation and its future
action areas, while reaffirming that the Federation will be a civilized approach
manifest in cooperation between Islamic world universities through student
exchange, scholarships, university chairs, and research networking.
For his
part, His Highness urged the Executive Council and the Secretary General to
ensure that the Federation become a platform for the sharing of knowledge, science
and thought among universities, and discharge its assigned role toward joint
Islamic action.
At the close
of the meeting, a group photo was taken and Dr. AlMalik presented a commemorative
shield to His Highness.
His Highness Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad
Al-Qasimi, Member of the Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler
of Sharjah, President of the University of Sharjah, received Dr. Salim M.
AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Secretary General of the Federation of the
Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), on the sidelines of the proceedings
of the 23rd Executive Council of the Federation, hosted by the
University of Sharjah and which will conclude its work today.
During this meeting, which aims at
examining the promotion of cooperation between ICESCO and the Emirate, Dr.
AlMalik reviewed the new vision of ICESCO, which makes it a beacon of influence
for the Islamic world in the fields of education, culture and science. He
invited H.H. to be a guest speaker at the Cultural Forum of ICESCO, launched by
the Organization’s General Directorate to welcome leading intellectuals inside
and outside the Islamic world to discuss intellectual and cultural issues.
The two parties also discussed the outcomes
of the 40th Executive Council of ICESCO, held on 29-30 January 2020
in Abu Dhabi, whose decisions constitute a qualitative leap and a new stage in
ICESCO’s future action. These include the adoption of the new name of “ICESCO”
in order to avoid any confusion about its non-Da’wa missions, the opening of
wider perspectives on the international scene, as well as the adoption of the
following documents: Amendment to the Organization’s Charter and Rules of
Procedure, ICESCO’s New Strategic vision, the Establishment of a Development Waqf
Fund to ensure the sustianable financing of ICESCO’s programmes for the benefit
of Member States, and the Establishment of the Organization’s International Consultative
Council, in addition to other important decisions.
In this connection, the Director
General expressed his thanks and gratitude to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah
for hosting the proceedings of the FUIW Executive Council at the University of
Sharjah, as well as for his unfailing support to ICESCO through his sponsorship
of the Organization’s Regional Office in Sharjah. The two parties also
discussed the promotion of the Office’s action to keep up with the new
developments of ICESCO.
On his part, His Highness welcomed
this new vision that makes of ICESCO a major international organization in its
fields of competence, reaffirming his willingness to support ICESCO and its
future action programmes.
The meeting took place in the
presence of Dr. Hamid M. Al Naimiy, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah; Mr.
Mohamed Ghemari, Director of the Secretariat of the General Conference,
Executive Council and Specialized Ministerial Conferences; and Dr. Obaid
Al-Hajri, Director of ICESCO Regional Office in Sharjah.
**The Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW) should be a vehicle for cooperation and coordination
The Director
General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(ICESCO), FUIW Secretary General, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, stated that in order
for universities to fully discharge their pivotal role in achieving sustainable
development in the Islamic world, the Federation must serve as a vehicle for
cooperation and coordination between these universities, amid the runaway
global economic developments and the increasing demand for human resources
capable of integrating the new labor market based on the growing dependence on
ICTs and AI.
In his
address at the opening session of the 23rd session of the FUIW
Executive Council, kicked off in Sharjah, State of the United Arab Emirates and
will continue for two days, Dr. AlMalik stated that one of the objectives of
the Federation was to endeavor, through cooperation and coordination among
universities, to bridge gaps and share expertise and experiences. However, Dr.
AlMalik deplored, after several decades of work, only 347 universities from the
Islamic world joined the Federation and that out of 1150 universities in the
Arab region, only third of that number are members in the FUIW, which make up a
very small portion of the overall number of universities in the Islamic world.
Moreover,
ICESCO Director General highlighted that amid the vast expansion of higher
education around the globe and the mounting competition between all the higher
education styles, higher education and scientific research in most Islamic
world countries is struggling with various problems and challenges, such as
unclear priorities and strategies of higher education, underfunding, lack of
awareness of the importance of new scientific research, networking
opportunities and databases, limited scope of international cooperation and human
capital flight to industrially and technologically advanced countries.
In the same
vein, Dr. AlMalik stressed that efforts will be made to advance higher
education in Islamic world countries under ICESCO’s new vision through which
the Organizations seeks to become a beacon of global outreach. These efforts
include focusing on sustainable development issues, eradicating of poverty, countering
extremism and hate speech, empowering women and the youth, supporting civil
society, ensuring education for refugees and displaced people, preserving
heritage and learning from the enormous developments in AI and future learning
styles so as to turn the Federation into a platform for knowledge and science
and a vehicle for cooperation and coordination.
Today, the
23rd session of the Executive Council of the Federation of the
Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW) kicked off today and will continue
over two days at the University of Sharjah, State of the United Arab Emirates.
The opening
session started with an address by Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, Chairman of the
Department of Government Relations in Sharjah, wherein he hailed the holding of
the Executive Council in Sharjah, wishing every success to the participants
toward more excellence for joint Islamic action, notably in education and
scientific research.
Next, Dr.
Ahmed Al-Ameri, Rector of Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia, President of the 7th FUIW General Conference,
Chairman of the Executive Council, took the floor and underlined the importance
of the current session of the Council as it will discuss reports on the
evolution of the Federation since its inception and the future prospects of its
action.
Dr. Salim M.
AlMalik, ICESCO Director General, FUIW Secretary General, delivered an address
wherein he first expressed his thanks and gratitude to His Highness Sultan bin
Muhammad Al-Qasimi, member of the Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab
Emirates, Ruler of Sharjah, President of the University of Sharjah, for his
unstinting support to ICESCO through his patronage of ICESCO Regional Office in
Sharjah and his constant willingness to contribute to the achievement of cultural,
scientific and educational development of Islamic world countries.
Moreover,
ICESCO Director General underscored the important role that should be assumed
by the Federation to promote cooperation and coordination between Islamic world
universities in the next stage so that it will turn into platform for science
and knowledge and leverage for cooperation, complementarity and exchange
between universities.
At the close
of his address, Dr. AlMalik thanked the administration of the University of
Sharjah, on top of it its Chancellor, Dr. Hamid M. Al Naimiy, for the hosting and
good reception and organization of this session of the Executive Council.
For his
part, Dr. Hamid M. Al Naimiy, made an address in which he expressed his delight
for the University’s hosting of this important event, lauded the role of the
Federation in supporting cooperation among universities and welcomed the
participants wishing them every success in their work.
After the
reception, the working sessions saw the examination of the Report of FUIW
Secretary General on the Federation’s General Secretariat between the 22nd and
23rd sessions of the Executive Council; the Federation’s
Financial Report for 2018; the Report of the Secretary General on the
Federation’s Current Situation and Future Prospects; and the membership
applications submitted by many universities of the Islamic world.
Established in 1987, the FUIW works under
the umbrella of ICESCO and has now 347 Member Universities and higher education
institutes.
His Highness
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and
Minister of Finance, received Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the
Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), to
explore ways to promote ICESCO-Hamdan Prize for Voluntary Development of
Education Institutions in Islamic World Countries”, chaired by His Highness.
In a meeting
held today evening at Zabeel Palace in Dubai, ICESCO Director General expressed
his thanks and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan for his support to
the Organization to enable it to fully discharge its human and educational
mission in the Islamic world. Moreover, he highly appreciated the moral and
financial value of the Prize.
In this
vein, Dr. AlMalik invited His Highness to the award ceremony of the Prize at
its first edition to be held in April 2020 by ICESCO at its headquarters in
Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco.
Talks during
the meeting also touched on ICESCO’s activities, development programmes in the
field of education in Islamic countries and future action plans, namely after
the 40th Executive Council, closed at Abu Dhabi a day ago, which
marks a new promising start for ICESCO. The Council adopted the Organization’s
new Vision, Strategic Action Plan, Amended Chart and Internal Regulations, as
well as several decisions likely to allow the Organization to open up to wider
global horizons.
In
attendance at the meeting were Dr. Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Advisor to H.H. the
Sheikh, the Prize’s General Coordinator; and Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Director of
External Relations and Cooperation at ICESCO.
Established
in 2017 with support from His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
and ICESCO, the Prize aims to incentivize authors of voluntary initiatives and
charity works in education, namely in the development of educational
institutions in Islamic world countries.
The Prize is
awarded every other year to three winners from among individuals or
institutions having contributed to developing education institutions in Islamic
world countries. The value of the Prize stands at 300,000 US$. Each winner
receives a shield and a reward of US$100,000 which will go to charity work,
especially developing education institutions.
The
Executive Council of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World
(FUIW) will hold its 23rd session at the University of Sharjah,
State of the United Arab Emirates, on 2-3 February 2020.
The session
will be opened in the presence of Dr. Salim M. Almalik, Director General of the
Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), FUIW
Secretary General; Dr. Ahmed bin Salem Al-Ameri, Rector of Imam Muhammad Ibn
Saud Islamic University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, President of the 7th
FUIW General Conference, Chairman of the Executive Council; and rectors and
representatives of Member Universities at the Executive Council.
The agenda
of the Executive Council features the discussion of the Report of FUIW
Secretary General on the Federation’s General Secretariat between the 22nd
and 23rd sessions of the Executive Council; the Federation’s
Financial Report for 2018; and the Report of the Secretary General on the
Federation’s Current Situation and Future Prospects; and the examination of a
number of membership applications submitted by many universities of the Islamic
world.
The
Executive Council is composed of the following Member Universities: Imam
Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; University of
Sharjah, State of the United Arab Emirates; International Islamic University,
Islamic Republic of Pakistan; International University of Africa,
Republic of the Sudan; Al-Quds University, State of Palestine; University of
Maroua, Republic of Cameroon; Menoufia University, Arab Republic of Egypt; University
of Hassan II, Kingdom of Morocco; Bayero University, Federal Republic of
Nigeria; Russian Islamic University in Ufa, Russian Federation; Yarmouk
University, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; Qatar University, State of Qatar; Azerbaijan
State University of Economics, Republic of Azerbaijan; International Islamic
University Malaysia; and the Islamic University in Uganda.
Established
in 1987, the FUIW works under the umbrella of ICESCO and has now 347 Member
Universities and higher education institutes.
The 22nd
session of the Executive Council was held in December 2018 at ICESCO
headquarters in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco.
Today,
in Abu Dhabi, States of the United Arab Emirates, the 40th session
of the Executive Council of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (ICESCO), held its closing session. This session adopted the Final
Report of 40th Session, which was marked by the start of a new phase
in ICESCO’s history. The Council adopted many decisions, plans and amendments
presented by the Organization’s General Directorate. This Session also enjoyed
the powers of the General Conference, the highest authority supervising
ICESCO’s action, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the 3rd
Extraordinary General Conference, held in the Area of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, on
9 May 2019.
The
opening session kicked off with the adoption of the Final Report of 40th
Session. Then, Dr. Salma Al-Darmaki, Secretary General of the National
Commission, gave an address on behalf of Dr. Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister
of Culture and Knowledge Development of the United Arab Emirates, wherein she conveyed
her congratulations on the adoption of the new start of ISESCO, while
reaffirming the commitment of the United Arab Emirates to support ICESCO so as
to attain its desired objectives based on the belief that achieving a better
future for the progress and prosperity of the Islamic world requires combining
efforts and achieving a cultural and educational resurgence based on solidarity
and collective thinking for the good of Muslim peoples.
Thereafter, H.E. Dr.
Boubakar Doukouré, Chairman of the Executive Council of ICESCO, took the floor
and expressed his sincere thanks and deep gratitude to the United Arab Emirates
for hosting the 40th session of the Executive Council, and to the
Council members for their active interactions with the plans and decisions
presented by the General Directorate as well as the constructive discussion
throughout the sessions. He also stated that, for special conditions, he sent
his resignation to the National Commission of Burkina Faso, and waits for the
appointment of new Secretary General while stressing that he will continue to
support ICESCO.
Besides, Dr. AlMalik
delivered a closing address in which he expressed his thanks to the United Arab
Emirates for the generous hospitality offered to the Council members and
ICESCO’s working team. He also thanked the Council members for their enlightened
opinions, ideas and proposals expressed while examining ICESCO’s strategic
vision and future action plans.
Dr. AlMalik also underlined
that the support of the Executive Council to ICESCO’s consolidates belief in in
a better future for the joint Islamic action in the fields of education,
science, technology, culture and communication while stressing that the
Organization will provide all its efforts to serve Member States and Muslim
communities outside the Islamic world, focus on the priorities and needs
expressed by the national competent parties, and pay special attention to the
most vulnerable and needy regions and groups.
On his part, Dr. Ali Zeidan
Abu Zuhri, President of ISESCO General Conference, in a short address,
expressed his thanks to the United Arab Emirates for hosting the 40th session
of the Executive Council, which he considered as pivotal in the history of the
Organization as it adopted important decisions that will impact its action over
the coming period and enable it to implement its new vision for the benefit of
Member States.
He also thanked Dr. Boubakar
Doukouré for all the services he gave to ICESCO throughout his membership and
chairmanship of the Council.
Afterwards, Dr. Boubakar
Doukouré received a commemorative medal from Dr. AlMalik under huge applaud of
the Council members. He also received a certificate of thanks and appreciation
from Lalla Malika Issoufou, First Lady of Niger, Guest of Honor of the 40th
Session.
The morning session of the
Council’s second day adopted the Project on the Establishment of a Development Waqf
Fund for ICESCO, Project on the Establishment of ICESCO International
Consultative Council, the New Audit Company, and Election of the Financial
Control Committee Members, including Republic of Senegal, State of Kuwait,
Republic of Azerbaijan, Malaysia, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Council also announced
the date and venue of the 41st Session, to be held at the beginning
of next year at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, before the General Conference, to
be held in Malaysia, in 2021.
During this session, the
delegate of the Kingdom of Morocco called on all the national commissions to
attend the workshop organized by Morocco in cooperation with ISESCO this year
so as to share expertise in order to develop the action of these commissions in
line with ICESCO’s new vision.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) paid tribute to Dr. Boubakar Doukouré, Chairman of ICESCO Executive Council, in recognition of his services to the Organization throughout his years as member of the Executive Council, then its Chairman, a position he announced resigning from today, at the closing session of the 40th Executive Council in Abu Dhabi. Dr. Doukouré stated that he sent his letter of resignation to the President of the National Commission of Burkina Faso and informed the said Commission to select another representative in the Council.
During the session, Dr.
Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director General, decorated Dr. Doukouré with a commemorative
medal, amid a standing ovation from the members of the Executive Council. Dr.
Lalla Malika Issoufou, First Lady of Niger, guest of honor of the Executive
Council, also handed the former Chairman a certificate of thanks and
appreciation, in the presence of Dr. Ali Zaidan Abu Zuhri, President of ICESCO
General Conference, and Dr. Salma Al Darmaki, Secretary General of the Emirati
National Commission.
For his part, Dr.
Doukouré expressed his thanks to the Organization for this tribute, stating
that he has fond memories of the Organization’s General Directorate and staff
members; and promised to constantly support ICESCO’s new plans and visions.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik,
Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (ICESCO), stated that the support of ICESCO Executive Council to
the Organization’s new forward-looking vision boosted confidence in a better
future for joint Islamic action in the fields of education, science,
technology, culture and communication.
Dr. AlMalik, in an
address at the closing session of 40th ICESCO Executive Council,
today, in Abu Dhabi, reaffirmed that the Organization will mobilize its
capacities, resources, initiatives and projects, as well as its relations and
partnerships in service of Member States and Muslim communities outside the
Islamic world. He added that ICECSO will focus on the priorities and needs put
forward by national competent parties, while giving special attention to the
most vulnerable regions and categories that are in dire need for help.
In addressing the
Executive Council members, ICESCO Director General stated: “The future ICESCO
we outlined together will be marked by fulfilled commitments and obligations.
To this effect, we will spare no effort to optimally implement the important
decisions that you adopted”.
He added that the
General Directorate, out of its high appreciation of the in-depth discussions,
constructive and objective criticism and pertinent proposals, reaffirms to the
Council members its willingness to draw on all the development-oriented remarks
and guidance suggestions they put forward, driven by their genuine desire to
benefit the Organization and ensure its good functioning.
The Director General also
reiterated his thanks to reiterate to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan,
President of the State of the United Arab Emirates, Emir of Abu Dhabi;
to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of the
Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Deputy Chief of
Staff of the Armed Forces; and to Ms. Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of
Culture and Knowledge Development and her assisting team.
Likewise, ICESCO
Director General expressed his thanks and appreciation to Dr. Boubakar Doukouré,
Chairman of ICESCO Executive Council, who submitted his resignation to the
Council’s Presidency. Dr. AlMalik stated that he tried tirelessly to convince
Dr. Doukouré to reconsider his decision but in vain, wishing him every success
in his responsibilities and missions that pushed him to take this decision,
while commending his expertise and good management of the Council, as well as
his ability to unite positions and bring views closer together.
At the close of his
address, ICESCO Director General thanked all members of the Executive Council
for their valuable participation and remarkable input, reaffirming that the
Organization will continue working with them to forge ahead towards meeting the
level of expectations, and stating that the key projects adopted by the Council
are a responsibility shouldered by ICESCO, be it in terms of implementation,
follow up or revision.
On the
sidelines of the 40th Executive Council of the Islamic World
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Organization
and Educators without Borders (EWB) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU)
covering seven (7) different programmes to be implemented over the period
2020-2022.
The MoU
was signed for ICESCO by its Director General, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, and for
EWB by its Chairwoman, Dr. Karima Matar Almazroui.
The MoU
includes seven projects in the field of education, namely integration of educational
technologies into the Islamic world educational systems, integrated world
toward literacy and adult education, development of the programme on teaching
Arabic for non-Arabic speakers, health education for rural areas populations
and young people in Member States, support for ICESCO Expert Network for
Teaching Arabic for non-Arabic Speakers, and dialogue on women literacy toward
development.
