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    Category: News update

    News

    ISESCO: Complementarity between tourism and culture sectors is crucial to fighting poverty

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    Dr. AlMalik extends invitation to hold the 2020 Joint Meeting of Arab Ministers of Tourism and Culture at ISESCO headquarters.

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), presented ISESCO’s approach to complementarity between the sectors of tourism and culture, which he said reflects the Organization’s awareness of the positive impact of this complementarity on the economy, the social fabric, the fight against poverty, creation of job opportunities for young people, development of local communities’ economies, and promotion of sustainable development efforts, especially with regard to investing in cultural heritage and employing countries’ rich and diverse historic and cultural capacities.

    “This approach is part of ISESCO’s new vision to addressing the issues falling within its areas of competence, namely education, science, and culture”, the Director General stated in an address he gave at the opening session of the Second Joint Meeting of Arab Ministers of Tourism and Culture, which kicked off today, in Tunis. He added that ISESCO’s new approach to safeguarding cultural heritage in Member States and rehabilitating its components to become a destination for cultural tourism through upgrading the work, tasks and roles of the Islamic World Heritage Committee (IWHC), particularly regarding inscribing more historic sites and elements of intangible, natural and industrial heritage. Dr. AlMalik also talked about other measures, which included setting up the Islamic World Heritage List and networking it with the Word Heritage List, and creating the Heritage Projects Support Fund for the Arab and Islamic world, and the Heritage Observatory to monitor the situation of cultural heritage and explore ways to invest therein to develop cultural and environmental tourism.

    Moreover, the Director General stressed the need to follow through with the implementation of the new vision through ISESCO’s action plans and cultural tourism programmes for the benefit of Member States. “This can be achieved through building partnerships among Member States in the field of cultural tourism, adopting tourism as a vehicle of publicizing Arab-Islamic heritage and a backbone for safeguarding, investing in, developing and highlighting the developmental potentials of such heritage”, the Director General underscored.

    In the same vein, Dr. AlMalik underlined that ISESCO’s new line of action did not neglect building the capacities of workers in the fields of culture and tourism, stating that efforts were geared towards promoting cooperation programmes on this matter with specialized regional and international organizations in order to build outstanding capacities and raise their awareness of the cultural facilities, historic sites, archeological landmarks, environmental pathways as sustainable destinations for cultural tourism.

    At the close of his address, ISESCO Director General extended his invitation to hold the 2020 Joint Meeting of Arab Ministers of Tourism and Culture at ISESCO headquarters. He also called on the ministers taking part in the meeting to support ISESCO’s effort and establish cooperation and partnership channels with the Organization to help it achieve its set goals.

    ISESCO calls on Muslim countries to render heritage pillar of sustainable development

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    Dr. Amina Al-Hajri, Deputy Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), underlined that the Organization gives great importance to involving local communities in the efforts exerted to safeguard, rehabilitate and invest in rural heritage, through implementing programmes and activities that aim to valorize heritage and promote its role in anchoring cultural identity and achieving socio-economic development.

    In the Organization’s address she gave at the opening session of the 19th Annual General Assembly of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), being held in Marrakesh, under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI of Morocco, the Deputy Director General also announced, that ISESCO intends to inscribe no less than 100 historic site  before the end of 2019 and 500 sites in 2020.

    In this regard, Dr. Al-Hajri maintained that this comes as part of implementing ISESCO’s new strategy, which is based on a more holistic and realistic vision to safeguarding cultural and civilizational heritage in the Islamic world. She added that this strategy has been actively applied since a few months, whose positive outcomes are becoming more evident, which encourages forging ahead to provide more protection to heritage components, at the foremost of which is the cultural and civilizational heritage of Al-Quds Al-Sharif.

    Likewise, the Deputy Director General stated that ISESCO had provided the necessary working tools for such task, most notably the Islamic World Heritage Committee (IWHC), whose scope of tasks has been expanded, working mechanisms developed and roles promoted, especially with regard to inscribing more historic sites and elements of intangible, natural and industrial heritage in the Islamic world. She also maintained that the Organization  set up the Islamic World Heritage List to inscribe these sites in accordance with applicable standards and criteria; and created IWHC’s Assisting Scientific Commissions and the Heritage Observatory to monitor the situation of heritage in the Islamic world and point out the dangers it is facing. She also added that the Heritage Projects Support Fund was inaugurated so that the Organization can provide necessary support through the competent parties in charge of heritage in Member States.

    In the same vein, the ISESCO official called on ministries of culture in the Islamic world and specialized regional and international organizations to support the efforts of applying ISESCO’s new vision to render heritage, with its different elements, a pillar of sustainable development, reaffirming ISESCO’s eagerness and readiness to host a future session of ICOMOS Annual General Assembly at its headquarters in Rabat.

    It is worth noting that ICOMOS Annual General Assembly is one of the largest international meetings of specialists in valorizing and safeguarding heritage and experts in restoration. The current session is dedicated to “Rural Heritage, Landscapes and beyond” and the importance of safeguarding and incorporating them in the development of local communities.

    Meeting of International Organizations: ALECSO, ISESCO and ABEGS concludes its proceedings in Tunis

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    The Fifth Meeting of International Organizations: ALECSO, ISESCO and ABEGS concluded its proceedings today in Tunis, Republic of Tunisia. The meeting kicked off yesterday under the theme “From Cooperation to Partnership”, with the participation of Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO); Dr. Ali bin Abdul Khaliq Al-Karni, Director General of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS); and Dr. Mohamed Walad Amor, Director General of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO).

    At the close of today’s session, the parties adopted the final report of the meeting, which included changing the name of this event to “Cooperation Meeting of ALECSO, ISESCO and ABEGS” starting from the next meeting. The final report also stated that, given its being a periodic meeting, the sixth session will be held in Riyadh, in October 2020, while welcoming the offer of ABEGS to host this meeting at its headquarters in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    The closing session reviewed ways to foster partnership among the three organizations in  concrete field actions for the benefit of Member States, in conformity with the new forward-looking vision of the three organizations’ respective directors general. In this connection two papers were presented, namely “From Cooperation to Partnership”, by the expert Dr. Abdul-Salam Al-Jufi, and “Ways and Mechanisms to Foster Partnership among International Organizations and National Commissions”, by Mr. Mohamed Ghemari, Director of the Secretariat of the Executive Council, General Conference and Specialized Ministerial Conferences at ISESCO.

    The two papers underscored that the three organizations are facing various common challenges including illiteracy, rapid technical advancement, new trends in education, and need to give more attention to programmes of publicizing Arab Islamic identity and its position within human identity; and stated that adequate tackling of such challenges requires joining the three organizations’ efforts as part of effective partnership.

    In addition, the two papers proposed drafting a joint strategic vision to achieve coordination, complementarity and benefiting from cooperation with international organizations; and agreeing on implementing joint programmes and projects and determining mechanisms for following up, assessing and publicizing them. The two papers also called for promoting the existing cooperation between the three organizations and National Commissions, especially at the level of planning and implementing programmes for the benefit of Member States; and developing such partnership in terms of programmes as well as at the technical and financial levels.

    Training on educational methods in teaching Arabic language to non-Arabic speakers in Malaysia

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    Today at ISESCO Educational Centre in Malaysia, a “training session on educational methods in teaching Arabic language to non-Arabic speakers in Malaysia” kicked off in coordination with the Directorate of Education of the Islamic Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), and in cooperation with the Islamic Education Department at the Ministry of Education of Malaysia and the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).

    This two-day session, held in Fadenj Sojana High School in Jerantut City, Pahang Darul Makmur, aims to provide participants with mechanisms and methods to benefit from modern technologies in the field of teaching Arabic language through training on the use of computer educational programmes in teaching Arabic language to non-Arabic speakers.

    The training, which brings together forty two (42) teachers from primary schools in Pahang Darul Makmur State, is the first of its kind held in this region for the benefit of Arabic language teachers. The training is supervised by the expert and associate professor, Dr. Jan dine Sardi from Universiti Teknologi MARA.

    Tunis hosts ICCM High Preparatory Committee Meeting

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    The Ministry of Cultural Affairs of the Republic of Tunisia hosted today the Meeting of the High Preparatory Committee of the 11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers (ICCM), and the closing ceremony of the celebration of Tunis as Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019, to be both held in Tunis, on 17-19 December 2019.

    The Meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, and Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), and together they reviewed the latest organizational arrangements for the Conference and the celebration. Representatives of the ministries and administrations concerned also made presentations on the preparations carried out by their respective departments to ensure a good organization for the two events.

    In this connection, the two parties agreed to mobilize all resources to hold the conference in line with ISESCO’s new vision, which gives more importance to implementing field activities and projects for the benefit of Member States; and adopt a new approach to the relations with National Commissions as part of a modern vision that takes into consideration regional and international mutations.

    Prior to the Committee’s Meeting, the Minister of Cultural Affairs and ISESCO Director General had held a bilateral meeting wherein they explored ways to promote cooperation and partnership between the Ministry and the Organization, and reviewed the ongoing preparations for holding ICCM.

    5th Meeting of International Organizations kicks off in Tunisia: Exploring cooperation between ALECSO, ISESCO and ABEGS

    Posted on by amine

    The Fifth Meeting of International Organizations: ALECSO, ISESCO and ABEGS kicked off today in Tunis, Republic of Tunisia. It is a periodical meeting to promote cooperation and complementarity among these three organizations and explore the ways and mechanisms to boost their partnership with Member States’ National Commissions.

    During the opening session, addresses were given by the representative of Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the League of Arab States; the representative of Dr. Hatem Ben Salem, Minister of Education and President of the Tunisian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture; and the representative of Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Minister of Cultural Affairs.

    In his address during the opening session, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, the Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), reaffirmed that the common denominators among ISESCO, ALECSO and ABEGS are crystal-clear in their objectives and missions as provided for in their Charters, action programmes and initiatives in vital the fields that determine our present and future destiny (education, science, culture, information and communication) which are the foundations of action marked by the multiplicity of aspects and the complementarity of fields.

    Dr. AlMalik also stressed that, in light of ISESCO’s new strategic plan, further attention will be given to the implementation of field activities and projects for the benefit of Member States, adoption of a new approach with regard to the relation with the National Commissions as part of a comprehensive innovative vision and a modern methodology that is mindful of all regional and international changes.

    On his part, Dr. Ali bin Abdul Khaliq Al-Karni, Director-General of Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS), gave an address wherein he stated that this Meeting is quite important and very special as we all face challenges with determination to make achievements while looking toward the future, especially as we have the brains, wills, experiences, expertise and hopes necessary for creativity.

    Afterwards, Dr. Mohamed Walad Amor, the Director-General of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), gave his address stressing the importance of cooperation between ISESCO, ALECSO and ABEGS and the need to promote, develop and upgrade this cooperation to reach the level of partnership.

    During the opening session, Dr. AlMalik and Dr. Walad Amor signed the Framework Cooperation Agreement between ALECSO and ISESCO. This agreement aims to set a joint framework of action for the period 2020-2021 in the fields of education, culture, heritage, information, communication and special programmes, including the programmes for Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the threats thereto, programmes geared to educational, cultural and scientific conditions in Palestine, programmes designed for the countries with special needs, and the programmes for unstable countries.

    During the same session, the participants watched a video on the 8th Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers, which was held on 2-3 October 2019 in ISESCO headquarters in Rabat and brought together a large number of participants, including ministers and officials of environment from Muslim countries, as well as the heads of regional and international organizations operating in the field of environment protection and sustainable development.

    On the sidelines of the opening session, the Directors General of ISESCO, ALECSO and ABEGS inaugurated the publications exhibition of the three organizations.

    Moreover, Dr. AlMalik met a number of the National Commissions’ secretaries general, and together they explored the fields of cooperation between ISESCO and their respective countries as part of ISESCO’s new vision.

    Opened by His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah with a keynote address: ISESCO Director General as guest of honor of Majlis Ilmu Conference in Brunei

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    Today morning, in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei Darussalam, the Majlis Ilmu Conference kicked off under the presidency of His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, with the participation of Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), as the guest of honor. The Conference was also attended by Government members and officials in Brunei, the ambassadors accredited to the Sultanate, and a large number of academic and cultural figures from the Islamic world and beyond.

    In his opening address to the Conference, His Majesty Sultan Bolkiah welcomed the participants from various countries and stressed the importance of unity and determination in supporting cultural projects in the country and publicize the civilizational heritage of Brunei.

    During the opening session, Dr. AlMalik congratulated Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah for holding this Confence and reiterated his thanks to His majesty for his invitation and his keeness to hold this event concurrently with ISESCO Programme of the Celebration of Bandar Seri Begawan as the Asian region’s Islamic Culture Capital for 2019.  He also stressed ISESCO’s willingness to contribute to the action aiming to publicize this event and support the educational, scientific and cultural initiatives of His Majesty.

    This year’s session of this annual conference is marked by the inauguration of the National Manuscript Exhibition, which dispalys significant historical manuscripts and documents of Brunei, including precious and rare manuscripts from the Sultan’s treasury. The participation of ISESCO Director General in this conference is part of his current visit to the Sultanate of Brunei, the first among his scheduled visits to ISESCO Member States, initiated by his meeting with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in ‘Istana Nurul Iman’.

    The FUIW and the Indonesian International Islamic University explore ways of cooperation

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    Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Supervisor of the General Secretariat of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), today at ISESCO headquarters, received a delegation of the Indonesian International Islamic University (UIII), and together they explored ways of cooperation between the FUIW and the UIII in the fields of common interest.

    On this occasion, the delegation expressed the desire of the UIII, recently established, to benefit from the expertise of the FUIW in the fields of developing university education and scientific research, and communicate with similar Member Universities.

    For the record, the UIII is a public university, established in 2016. It includes the faculties of Islamic studies, education, social sciences, human sciences, economics and finance, science and technology, polytechnics, and fine arts.

    ISESCO Director General begins his first visit to Member States by meeting with Sultan of Brunei

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    Dr. Salim M. Almalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), began his first visit to Member States by meeting with His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, on Thursday, at Nurul Iman Palace. During this audience, the two parties reviewed the new ISESCO vision and the development steps drafted in the Organization’s plans and strategies; and the proposed innovative mechanisms to support ISESCO’s financial sustainability, most notably through setting up waqfs and holding donor forums.

    In this regard, ISESCO Director General hailed Brunei Darussalam’s role in supporting ISESCO and promoting joint Islamic action, reaffirming keenness to render Brunei a regular destination for holding international symposia and hosting some ministerial conferences that falls within the realm of ISESCO’s competence.

    The Director General also lauded the celebration of Bandar Seri Begawan as Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019, and the programmes and activities implemented and planned for this occasion.

    It is worth noting that since his appointment, based on the nomination of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the endorsement of the Third Extraordinary Session of ISESCO General Conference (9 May 2019, Makkah Al-Mukarramah), Dr. Salim M. Almalik has been working on turning ISESCO, established on 3 May 1982, into an international beacon in the fields of education, science, culture and communication.

    Moreover, the notable success in organizing the Eighth Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers, held at ISESCO headquarters, on 2-3 October 2019, is a striking example of the transition the Organization currently witnesses. The conference saw the participation of a large number of Member States and regional and international organizations active in the field of environment; and issued key resolutions that set a forward-looking roadmap to protecting the environment and fostering sustainable development in the Islamic world.

    ISESCO gives overview of its efforts in heritage preservation in Islamic world

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    The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) provided an overview of its constant efforts and action in the field of monuments protection and heritage preservation in the Islamic world, during a workshop organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and attended by representatives of Member States and international organizations at expert level to examine ways to protect heritage in the Islamic world. ISESCO was represented in the event by Dr. Najib Rhiati, Director of Culture.

    On this occasion, ISESCO stated that it had already set up an observatory and a fund at its General Directorate to finance cultural projects, within the framework of the Islamic World Heritage Committee (IWHC), to give effect to the resolutions of the Tenth Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers (ICEM), held in Khartoum, on 21 October 2017, namely those relevant to the creation of “ISESCO Fund for Supporting Cultural Projects” to support the projects of protecting, preserving, publicizing and saving the existing Islamic heritage to be managed by ISESCO which shall accept support requests from Member States.

    The resolutions of the conference also provided for the establishment of the “Heritage Observatory” at the IWHC in order to monitor the situation of the monuments of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and submit reports thereon to the competent authorities; follow up the situation of Islamic heritage in war-prone areas; collect information and news on the smuggling and illegal trafficking of Islamic cultural heritage, the destruction of this heritage by extremist groups, and unauthorized search and excavation; and collect information and news on the smear and misconceptions about Islamic heritage propagated in the media, books and the internet.

    As a specialized technical organization in the field of monument protection and heritage preservation, ISESCO launched the “Electronic Portal for the Archaeological and Historic Landmarks in the Islamic World” which will serve as a depository of the archaeological and historic landmarks of civilizational and human significance that abound in Member States. Moreover, ISESCO will set up digital and interactive “bibliographic” database of the various elements of the architectural and urban heritage in the Islamic world. To this end, the Organization contacted Member States’ competent parties on the matter.

    For the record, Paragraph 84 of the final communiqué of 14th Islamic Summit Conference, held in Makkah Al-Mukarramah on 31 May 2019, strongly condemned the crimes committed against cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible, in Syria, Iraq, Mali, Libya and other Member States. It also invited OIC specialized bodies, most notably ISESCO, in coordination with Member States, to strengthen cooperation with competent institutions to monitor the situation of cultural, civilizational and religious heritage across the Muslim world, and take part in countering acts of damage to and looting of heritage.