Category: News update

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) congratulates the Board of Trustees of the Academy of Arabic Poetry at Taif University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for successfully organizing the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Prize for Arabic Poetry in its fifth edition. ICESCO also extends its congratulations to the winners of the prize in its various branches in Morocco, Sudan, Egypt, and Lebanon.

ICESCO commends the prize’s significant impact on intellectual spheres across different nations, enriching poetic creativity in the Arabic language, as demonstrated by the number and quality of the contributions from talented poets worldwide in this fifth edition.

ICESCO reaffirms its full readiness to cooperate in such pioneering initiatives that highlight the central role of creativity and culture in preserving identity and building a bright future for generations to come, aligning with the Organization’s vision and strategic directions. Moreover, it underscores its high regard for poetry and poets, along with its keenness to support them through the signing of a partnership and cooperation agreement in 2021 with the Academy of Arabic Poetry at the Taif University, in the presence of H.R.H. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah Region.

In this context, ICESCO has organized numerous activities to celebrate poetry and poets, and established the ICESCO Forum of Women Poets, which brings together poetesses from across the Islamic world and beyond. Additionally, during last year’s World Poetry Day celebration, ICESCO announced the establishment of the Poetry Forum of the Islamic World and issued several poetry collections that reflect the new trends in poetry, highlighting its revival and development.

An Omani Faculty of national defense delegation visited the Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) Headquarters in Rabat on Sunday 3 March 2024.

The delegation, headed by Ambassador Ahmed bin Salim Ba Omar from the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was received by Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, in the presence of Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Head of the ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue, and Dr. Salim Bin Hilal Al Habsi, Director of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences at ICESCO.

During the meeting, Dr. Benarfa highlighted the unprecedented turnout of visitors to the exhibition and museum since its public opening in November 2022. He noted that people of all ages from across the kingdom, as well as residents and tourists of Morocco, visit it regularly.

Dr. Benarfa added that ICESCO’s decision to host this great Museum, which is headquartered in Al Madinah Al Munawwarah, stems from a strategic tripartite partnership between the Organization, the Muslim World League, and the Mohammedia League of Scholars, and marks the first edition of its kind outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

During the tour, the delegation received explanations about the various sections and pavilions of the exhibition, which included a detailed simulation depicting the life of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. They learned about the importance of the exhibition and the museum, which is to convey the message of Islam through values such as justice, peace, mercy, tolerance, and coexistence. The exhibition utilizes cutting-edge technologies to immerse visitors in the dimensions of the Prophet’s Seerah and historical scenes and artifacts, providing an experience akin to being in the heart of the Prophetic era.

Ambassador Ahmed bin Salim Ba Omar and the accompanying delegation expressed their joy at visiting the exhibition and the museum. Amb. Ba Omar commended the organizers for their efforts in enabling visitors to learn about the Prophet’s Seerah and virtually experience life during His time.

At the end of the visit, the Omani Ambassador presented commemorative shields to representatives of ICESCO, the Muslim World League, and the Mohammedia League of Scholars, as a token of appreciation for their valuable efforts.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Ministry of National Education in Charge of Civics Training and the National Commission of the Gabonese Republic, launched a project to promote women and girls’ literacy and economic empowerment through income-generating projects and activities. The project benefits 50 women and girls at the Literacy Center in Libreville.

The three-month project, which kicked off on Monday, February 26, 2024, aims to consolidate the gains of newly literate girls and women through programs of educational support in reading, writing and arithmetic. It also aims to build their professional capacities through applied workshops on running small income-generating projects, provide them with the necessary modern technical skills in the fields of sewing and embroidery, and supply them with literacy programs’ machinery and equipment, in addition to tools to furnish the training hall.

During the Project’s launch ceremony, Ms. Camélia Ntoutoume-Leclercq, Minister of National Education in Charge of Civics Training, commended ICESCO’s leading roles in fighting social vulnerability, improving newly literate girls and women’s income resources, countering unemployment and investing in marginalized groups’ education.

For his part, Mr. Aziz El-Hajir, Program Director at ICESCO’s Education Sector, stressed the significance of literacy programs, small projects and income-generating activities and highlighted their socio-economic impact in developing countries.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance, launched the first phase of the Program, “Promoting the Arabic Language in the Bilingual Education System of the Union of Comoros”.

The program, which was launched at a major ceremony held in Moroni, on Monday, February 26, 2024, features a variety of activities, including a meeting of educational experts and officials, on “Promoting the Arabic Language in the Bilingual Education System of the Union of Comoros”, technical and consultative meetings on revamping the headquarters of ICESCO’s Delegation in Moroni, and educational workshops and meetings in the field of teaching Arabic in Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli, over the period 1-5 March 2024.

At the Program’s launch ceremony, at Imam Chafiou Faculty of Arabic Language and Islamic Studies in Moroni, Mr. Adel Bouraoui, Advisor to the Director-General in Charge of ICESCO’s External Bodies in the Field of Arabic, conveyed ICESCO’s full support for promoting Arabic in bilingual education systems (Arabic-French), noting that the Program comes in application of the outcomes of ICESCO Director-General’s visit to Moroni last July.

For his part, Mr. Suleiman Saleh, Secretary-General of the Ministry of National Education, Scientific Research, Training and Professional Integration in the Union of Comoros, commended ICESCO’s initiative to support Arabic in the Comorian education system, calling for capitalizing on the Program’s launch activities, particularly the meeting of educational experts and officials, to build national capacities in the field of training Arabic teachers and developing specialized national school curricula.

The training session organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in partnership with the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication kicked off on Monday, 26 February 2024, with the rallying call, “Inclusive Wellbeing in Practice.” The training aims to build the capacities of youth centers’ directors and facilitators in Marrakech–Safi region and to train them on psychosocial first aid and skills to deal with vulnerable groups and crisis scenarios.

At the outset of the three-day training, held in El Koudia Youth Center in Marrakech, Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of the Human and Social Sciences Sector, praised the fruitful partnership between ICESCO and the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, stressing the importance of prioritizing psychological and mental health, especially in the post-Covid era and amid the climate change concerns, natural disasters and continuous tensions.

For her part, Ms. Kenza Abourmane, Head of Youth Department at the Ministry, stated that this training is part of the efforts and orientations of the Ministry aiming to advance the status of social and cultural facilitators and ensure their training and continued professional development.

Moreover, Aziz Moatassim, Regional Director of the Youth Sector in Marrakech-Safi, confirmed that the youth centers in the region remain ever-engaged in the dynamism of building capacities and supporting professionals in the field.

Following these opening remarks, the morning sessions tackled the psychological and mental impact of crises and disasters and first aid intervention. In contrast, the afternoon sessions focused on the principles and rules of providing assistance responsibly while observing peace, human rights and dignity.

Following two days of working sessions and rich scientific discussions on the concepts, values and latest developments in media and information education, the International Conference, “Media Education: Horizons and Aspirations”, concluded its proceedings with a series of practical and applicable recommendations. These include the importance of consolidating the values of global citizenship to help build a more just and peaceful world through the development of media education, calling for the development of a series of guidelines to strengthen the presence of this type of education, raising young people’s awareness of digital ethics in the production and circulation of content, and establishing a professional, legislative and ethical code of honor for the use of artificial intelligence in the media field.

ICESCO and the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia organized this two-day conference at ICESCO headquarters, in cooperation with the League of Arab States represented by the Information and Communication Department of the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers of Information, and the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication in the Kingdom of Morocco. The conference produced a series of recommendations, including calling on educational authorities to integrate media education into curricula in order to raise a generation capable of understanding the media field; training curriculum developers, teachers and media professionals; capitalizing on artificial intelligence to produce responsible media content; and supporting research and studies in the field of media education.

The recommendations of the international conference, attended by eminent international figures and specialized researchers from 16 countries, stressed the importance of coordination and cooperation between the media and educational and security institutions, consolidating the role of the media in promoting human values, urging media institutions to contribute to media education programs, and creating interactive digital spaces that bring young people together.

The second day of the conference opened with a session on, “Prerequisites for integrating media education in the education system”, followed by a session on, “The foundations for the conscious management of media, social networks and information sources”, and a session on “Artificial intelligence and the future of media education”. During these sessions, scientific papers were presented and rich discussions took place in which participants exchanged ideas and proposals on media education.

At the closing session, Dr. Ahmed AlBanyan, Head of the Section of Education for All at ICESCO’s Education Sector, read out the conference’s recommendations. Dr. Koumbou Barry, Head of the Sector, along with Dr. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Alharfash, Vice President for External Relations at Naif Arab University, gave closing remarks commending participants’ valuable input and the quality of the Conference’s recommendations.