Category: News update

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Ahmed Fakak, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities of the Republic of Iraq, explored means for enhancing cooperation between the Organization and the Ministry in the fields of culture and heritage preservation.

During the meeting, which was held on Sunday, December 4, 2022, at the Ministry’s headquarters in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, Dr. AlMalik emphasized that ICESCO attaches particular importance to preserving, protecting and valorizing the Islamic world’s heritage, explaining that the Organization is working on inscribing historical sites and cultural elements on its Islamic World Heritage Lists. He added that ICESCO holds a range of sessions and workshops aimed at training heritage professionals in its Member States on preserving and protecting cultural heritage and preparing nomination files for the inscription of cultural elements on heritage lists, noting that the two parties can cooperate to hold such events in the Republic of Iraq.

ICESCO DG lauded Iraq’s rich heritage which bears witness to the country’s ancient history, highlighting that this cultural wealth must be safeguarded and that the illicitly trafficked antiquities must be recovered.

The meeting touched upon proposals for programmes and projects that represent potential avenues of cooperation between ICESCO and Iraq, as well as a proposal to celebrate the city of Baghdad as the culture capital of the Islamic World in the years ahead.

For his part, the Iraqi Minister praised ICESCO’s distinguished roles in its areas of competence, stressing the Ministry’s keenness to foster cooperation with the Organization in its commendable programmes and projects.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held a meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Iraq in Baghdad, with Dr. Falah Mahmood Al-Qaissi, Deputy Minister, with the presence of Dr. Alaa Abed Oudha Al-Wayly, Secretary-General of the Iraqi National Commission for Education, Science and Culture.

During the meeting, held on Sunday, December 4, 2022, the two parties reaffirmed their keenness to promote cooperation in the Organization’s areas of competence, within the framework of ICESCO’s new vision and action strategy, which adopts establishing communication with the Member States to take stock of their priorities and needs to design suitable programs and projects.

The meeting also discussed the activities of the Director-General’s official visit to Iraq, which include reviewing proposals for future cooperation between ICESCO and Iraq, especially about building young people’s capacities and increasing the participation of the Iraqi youth in ICESCO’s activities, contests and programs.

For his part, Dr. Al-Qaissi expressed his thanks to ICESCO and its Director-General, commending the Organization’s keenness to implement practical and innovative initiatives, programs and projects to support its Member States’ efforts to develop their education system, promote scientific research and innovation and safeguard heritage.

Dr. Anas Al-Nuaimi, Expert at the Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, also attended the meeting.

His Excellency the President of the Republic of Iraq, Dr. Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, received Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), on December 4, 2022, at the Presidential Palace in the capital, Baghdad, as part of ICESCO’s Director-General official visit to Iraq.

Dr. AlMalik started the meeting by expressing his gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency the Iraqi President and the government and people of Iraq for their warm hospitality and invitation to attend the 6th edition of the Ancient Civilizations Forum, hosted by Baghdad under the auspices of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressing ICESCO’s eagerness to develop distinguished relations with Iraq in fields of education, science and culture.

He reviewed the main components of ICESCO’s new vision and strategic orientations, as well as the priority the Organization accords, in its ambitious programmes and projects, to build the capacities of youth and women and training them in leadership for peace and security, consolidating the values of coexistence and civilizational dialogue, supporting and training youth in the fields of technology, innovation and artificial intelligence, encouraging Member States to invest in Space science, valorizing and preserving the heritage of the countries of the Islamic world and inscribing historical sites and cultural elements on ICESCO’s Tangible and Intangible Heritage Lists.

ICESCO’s Director-General briefed the President of the Republic of Iraq on the most recent publications of the organization, and the key programmes and projects that it is currently implementing for the benefit of its Member States including Iraq.

For his part, the President of the Republic of Iraq appreciated ICESCO’s efforts, stressing his keenness to sustain cooperation between the Iraqi competent authorities and the Organization in its fields of competence, especially in training Iraqi officials. The Iraqi president requested to have copies of all ICESCO’s publications.

At the close of the meeting, ICESCO Director-General presented the Organization’s shield to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Iraq.

After two days of rich discussions and exchange of expertise, experiences and ideas, the International Conference on “Women Leadership in Higher Education: Context, Challenges and Prospects” concludes its proceedings on Friday, December 2, 2022. The event, which saw a high-caliber presence, was held by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and its affiliated Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), in partnership with Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The second day of the Conference began with a session on “Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University: A Success Story,” which was attended by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG) and featured interventions by Saudi women leaders who discussed the women empowerment ecosystem in the Kingdom and the University, the factors contributing to women’s success and the importance of cooperation between academia and industry through postgraduate programmes and projects in supporting women entrepreneurship. The session also reviewed the success stories of the major Saudi women leaders who graduated from the University.

In his contribution to the session, Dr. AlMalik commended the role and success of women universities, underscoring the need to draw on the experience of Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University which could successfully position itself as a leading women university and an example to be followed.

The second day also featured a session during which several women university rectors and international experts discussed the role of women in developing industrial skills, emphasizing that higher education institutions must bridge the skill gap. Another session then followed, in which various female postgraduate students from several ICESCO Member States shared their experiences and perceptions of future universities, discussed the role of students in the university of today and tomorrow and explored the prospects and challenges thereof.

In conclusion, Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of ICESCO’s Science and Technology Sector, delivered an address in which he thanked the participants for their ideas and recommendations to enhance the role of women in higher education leadership and extended his thanks to the people involved in Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University, stressing ICESCO’s pride in its cooperation with this distinguished University.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held the Third Training Session of the International Program, MESHKAT for Arabic Continuous Training and Professional Development in the Field of Arabic for non-Arabic Speakers, in cooperation with Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance.

The training session was held at MESHKAT Hall at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, on 30 November – 1 December 2022, both in-person and via videoconference, under the theme, “Teaching Arabic Phonetics and Grammar to Non-Arabic Speakers.” The Session benefitted 203 trainees from among educational professionals working in the field of Arabic for non-Arabic speakers from Chad, Nigeria, Benin, Guinea, Cameroon, Malaysia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Bashkortostan, Vietnam, Turkiye, and Morocco.

During the session, Dr. Ezzat Abu Al-Wafa, Expert in Educational Training, explained and analyzed ways to teach the Arabic phonetic system to non-Arabic following the latest teaching approaches, stressing the importance of rules in international reference frameworks. The expert also moderated applied workshops where participants were introduced to modern methods to teach Arabic phonetics, and grammar to non-Arabic speakers by relying on the best teaching strategies that have proven effective in classrooms.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Mariem Mohamed Fadel Dah, First Lady of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, during her visit to ICESCO Headquarters on December 1, 2022, to attend the International Conference on Women Leadership in Higher Education, where she was the guest of honor and delivered an address at the opening session.

Dr. AlMalik started the meeting by welcoming the first lady at ICESCO Headquarters, stressing that her attendance at the conference, which ICESCO is organizing in partnership with Princess Noura bint Abdul Rahman University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represents support for women in the countries of the Islamic world, and confirms the depth of the relations between the Organization and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. He noted that the partnership between the two parties will witness a new start during the celebration of Nouakchott as the Culture Capital of the Islamic World for 2023, as part of ICESCO’s programme, which will continue throughout the year in the capital and other Mauritanian cities.

For her part, Dr. Mariem Mohamed Fadel Dah confirmed that she is happy to participate in the conference because advocating for women’s issues is her main concern, commending ICESCO’s role in supporting women.

The meeting touched upon ways to develop cooperation between ICESCO and Mauritania in the Organization’s areas of competence, mainly in educational, social and humanitarian issues, and how Mauritania can benefit from the Organization’s programmes and projects.

The meeting also dealt with ICESCO’s role in protecting the heritage of the countries of the Islamic world through inscription on heritage lists. ICESCO’s Director-General handed to the Mauritanian First Lady certificates of inscription of several Mauritanian historical sites and cultural elements on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage Lists.

After the meeting, Dr. Mariem Mohamed Fadel Dah wrote a speech in the golden record of ICESCO visitors, before Dr. AlMalik accompanied her on a tour to the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization, currently held at ICESCO headquarters, where she listened to a detailed explanation.

The International Conference on “Women Leadership in Higher Education: Context, Challenges and Prospects,” is being held by the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), which is affiliated with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, kicked off, on Thursday (December 1, 2022), with high-level participation.

The opening session featured a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by the address of Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General, wherein he explained that the Organization, in partnership with Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, celebrates the leading roles of women in universities, which constitute one of the fields showcasing the efforts and success of women.

He added that when women take the initiative, humanity thrives and progresses. “We are then reassured about the future of the next generations as the great challenges and accelerating transformations require us to be decisive,” he stressed.

Moreover, Dr. AlMalik called on women leaders in universities to raise the level of ambition to fulfill the lofty mission of universities and contribute to strengthening the leading role of women, referring to ICESCO’s approach to increase the percentage of women in leadership positions to reach 50%, and proclaiming 2021 as the year of women, which was celebrated under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and saw large participation, adding that ICESCO has implemented many programmes and activities to build women’s capacities.

In her address, Dr. Mariem Bint Mohamed Fadel Ould Dah, First Lady of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, commended ICESCO’s keenness to preserve the rich heritage of the Islamic world, stressing that this forward-looking conference is a qualitative addition to enhance the status and position of women through their rehabilitation.

In his address, Dr. Abdellatif Miraoui, Moroccan Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, delivered on his behalf by Dr. Mohamed El-Khalfaoui, Secretary General of the Ministry, commended ICESCO’s efforts to consolidate the foundations of meaningful dialogue in Muslim countries, stressing that the conference is an opportunity to deepen discussion about the status and empowerment of women to assume leadership positions.

For his part, Dr. Yousef Bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, Saudi Minister of Education, in an address delivered on his behalf by Dr. Nasser bin Muhammad Al-Aqili, Undersecretary for Research and Innovation, lauded the organization of this conference and reviewed the initiatives and programmes being implemented in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, within the framework of 2030 Vision, which stresses the important role of women in leadership positions.

In his address, Dr. Muhammad Ayman Ashour, Egyptian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, delivered on his behalf by Dr. Ashraf Al-Azazy, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, stressed the need to prepare women for leadership roles given their creative productive energies. He also underscored Egypt’s keenness to enhance cooperation with ICESCO in this field.

In her address, delivered through videoconference, Dr. Einas Bint Suleiman Al-Eisa, President of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, reaffirmed that the rehabilitation of women begins through education, highlighting that the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision made a qualitative shift in the life of Saudi women, who have become a key element of the Kingdom’s strength, reiterating Saudi Arabia’s keenness to develop the talents of women and girls, capitalize on their energies and provide them with appropriate opportunities to build their future and contribute to socio-economic development.

She emphasized that Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, which is the largest women’s university worldwide in capacity, number of students, faculty members and disciplines, is one of the examples of this vision.

The conference’s first day included two working sessions on “women in university leadership and the future of higher education” and “academia-industry relationship and entrepreneurship for women in higher education.”

The two-day Forum and Workshop on “Metaverse: Global Expectations and Challenges” concluded its activities at the Headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat, on November 30, 2022, after two days of discussions and training to explore the future of metaverse and the best ways to deal with its challenges, with the participation of a group of experts and researchers specialized in the field and several officials from international organizations, institutions and companies.

The second day of the Forum kicked off with a speech by Dr. Britt Rios Ellis, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Oakland University, USA, in which she highlighted the University’s eagerness to share its experience in the field of virtual and augmented reality with ICESCO Member States, hoping that this cooperation will be fruitful for youth and women around the world.

A team from VR/AR Association presented the first part of the Workshop on virtual and augmented reality experiences and HoloLens technology, in the presence of Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, where the latest applications of HoloLens technology, virtual reality and augmented reality were introduced through applied activities. More than 60 participants of university students discovered the great potential of this field, exchange knowledge and experiences and discuss the challenges posed by these modern technologies and how to benefit from them in building a prosperous future.

During the second part of the Workshop, CEOs of several international companies working in the field of modern technology delivered presentations on the metaverse design and creative economy and how to support innovative ideas. At the close of the activities of the workshop and Forum, students received certificates of participation.