Category: News update

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is taking part in the 15th session of the General Meeting on Cooperation between the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which kicked off on Monday, July 18, 2022, at the United Nations Office at Geneva, with the high-level participation of representatives of over thirty (30) UN and OIC specialized agencies, funds and programmes.

During the first day of the meeting, which will conclude its proceedings on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, the participants reviewed developments in the cooperation between the two Organizations and appraised progress in the implementation of joint activities. The meeting also touched upon means and mechanisms to foster partnership in the fields of science, education, culture, human sciences, the environment and food security, consolidate dialogue among cultures, and promote peace and security among peoples by countering all forms of extremism and discrimination.

Ms. Amira El Fadil, Head of ICESCO’s Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, Ms. Rime Jirari, Head of the Organizations and Bodies Department in the Sector, and Mr. Salem Al Habsi, Programme Director at the General Secretariat of National Committees and conferences, represented ICESCO at the meeting.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Mr. António Vitorino, Director-General (DG) of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), received the Head of ICESCO’s Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and the Head of the Organizations and Bodies Department in the Sector, at IOM’s headquarters in Geneva, and was briefed on ICESCO’s vision aimed at contributing to the achievement of comprehensive and sustainable development in the Islamic world and beyond. The two parties discussed global challenges and explored prospects for implementing joint programmes and projects in areas of common interest, particularly in building youth and women’s capacities and mitigating the risks of irregular migration.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Chairman of the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, and President of ICESCO’s General Conference, and reviewed with him the latest developments of cooperation between ICESCO and Egypt in the Organization’s fields of action.

During the meeting, held on Saturday 16 July 2022 at the headquarters of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Cairo, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the main programs, projects and activities currently being implemented by ICESCO, in line with its vision and strategic orientations. He also reviewed several projects that are proposed for implementation in cooperation with Egyptian universities in 2022-2023, and the agreement on the International Professional Training Certification in Education (IPCT) project. This project includes professional development programs with standard specifications that are among the best and latest scientific trends and experiences in the field of education worldwide and delivers reliable professional certificates in the field of education.

ICESCO Director General commended Egypt’s pivotal role in the fields of education, science and culture, thanks to its prominent position in the field of creativity and culture, and praised the Egyptian higher education system as a center of intellectual, cultural and educational influence in the Islamic world.

He also commended the remarkable development of Egypt and its educational institutions under the leadership of H.E. President Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi, and the great efforts made by the parties in charge of the cultural sector in the programmes celebrating Cairo as the Islamic World Culture Capital.

For his part, Dr. Abdel Ghaffar praised ICESCO’s cultural and educational role, stressing his desire to strengthen cooperation with the Organization in its various fields of action, and Egypt’s willingness to provide all necessary means required to support the activities and programmes carried out by ICESCO.

The meeting also discussed the main programmes and activities due to being implemented in partnership between the Arab Republic of Egypt and ICESCO in 2022, particularly as part of the celebration of Cairo as the Islamic World Culture Capital and the official launch of the Year of Youth 2022-2023, under the auspices of His Excellency Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The two sides also discussed preparations to implement President Al-Sissi’s recommendation at ICESCO General Conference, held in December 2021 in Egypt to establish a fund for supporting talents in the Islamic world.

At the end of the meeting, both parties affirmed their commitment to sustain their action to consolidate the outstanding partnership between ICESCO and the Arab Republic of Egypt in all of the Organization’s fields of action. This will be done through the implementation of programmes and activities bearing tangible results which will be agreed upon in accordance with the priorities and needs of the competent Egyptian authorities in each field, and to maintain expert meetings to develop and follow up the implementation of these programmes.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Ashraf El-Azzazi, Head of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Missions at the Ministry, Dr. Reem Derbala, coordinator of the Professional Certification for Teachers Project, rapporteur of the Education Committee of the Egyptian National Commission and Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Director of Cabinet of the Director General of ICESCO.

The world celebrates 15th July every year as World Youth Skills Day, and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) seizes this occasion to celebrate the importance of youth capacity-building and the necessary skills they need to integrate into the labor market, to play their role in achieving sustainable development in their societies, as well as encouraging creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship in various fields, as part of ICESCO’s priorities and within the framework of its new vision and strategy.

Since the development of youth skills is the basis for building prosperous societies, ICESCO calls on all countries to cooperate and join efforts at the national and international levels to invest in youth skills and capacities by strengthening cooperation with civil society, technical and vocational education and training institutions and international organizations and bodies operating in the field of youth capacity-building.

In this regard, ICESCO stresses the necessity of the international community’s solidarity and joint action to achieve the following:

• Intensifying international efforts for social and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic;
• Contributing to reducing poverty, promoting equality and keeping pace with the rapid technological transformation;
• Involving women, girls, and youth with special needs and vulnerable groups in development projects;
• Providing opportunities to enhance the skills of young people who have dropped out of school and who are not working, and contribute to the rehabilitation of young human capital in the field of modern technologies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Aware of the growing needs of youth in the Islamic world, and in light of the current global transformations and changes, ICESCO is preparing several programs, projects and training sessions in many areas related to the Organization’s competencies, aimed to exchange experiences in the fields of technology and innovation, space sciences, the Metaverse, renewable energy, food security, environment protection, and training youth on how to set up and develop small projects in the field of technology and innovation, through training camps and intensive sessions in several ICESCO Member States.

Further to the meeting of Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), with Mr. Salah Khaled, UNESCO Representative to the Gulf States and Yemen, Director of the UNESCO Office in Doha, held on 28 June 2022 on the sidelines of their participation in the Transforming Education Pre‐Summit in Paris, an ICESCO team held a remote meeting with the UNESCO Office for the Gulf States and Yemen to discuss several programs and activities likely to be implemented jointly.

During this meeting held on 7 July 2022, Mrs. Amira El Fadil, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector at ICESCO, and Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Advisor to the Director-General for Partnerships and International Cooperation, Supervisor of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences, discussed with Mr. Salah Khaled the areas of common interest between ICESCO and the Office, particularly with regard to developing the dissemination of publications, reports and scientific research, protecting the environment and strengthening the mechanisms of artificial intelligence and modern technology tools.

They also discussed issues related to strengthening the position of the Arabic language in the educational and cultural systems and coordinating the modalities of participation in regional and international conferences.

The meeting was attended by Ms. Rime Jirari, Head of the Department of Organizations and Agencies in the Sector of Partnerships and International Cooperation, and Mr. Salim Al Habsi, Director of Programs in the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the 9th Session of the General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which concluded on Thursday, July 7, 2022, at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

Dr. Walid Al-Seif, Chairman of the Islamic World Heritage Committee, Mr. Nasim Mohand Amar, Expert at the Culture and Communication Sector, and Ms. Somia Djakta, Director of ICESCO Office and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, represented ICESCO at the Meeting.

The 9th Session, which kicked off on July 5, saw the adoption of several resolutions related to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, including those related to operational directives, such as financial matters, as well as resolutions regarding the accreditation of non-governmental organizations to act in an advisory capacity to the Convention, including organizations belonging to ICESCO Member States.

After the meeting, Dr. Walid Al-Seif stated that among the most important resolution of the 9th Session of the General Assembly of the States Parties to the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is:
Adoption of 33 non-governmental organizations to act in an advisory capacity to the Convention, including organizations belonging to ICESCO Member States.

He added that Mauritania has been elected to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which has 24 Member States, after the expiry of the four-year mandate of the State of Kuwait. The General Assembly approved the resolution concerning the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Convention in 2023.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) will hold a major International Forum on space sciences, on Monday, July 18, 2022, with the participation of a high-level group of officials, international experts, astronauts, researchers, professors and students the Islamic world and beyond. The Forum will include an international symposium aimed at examining the latest developments in space science and a training workshop for the design of the educational satellite (CanSat), under the theme “Building Tomorrow’s Global Workforce”.

The five-day Forum, due to be held at ICESCO in person and via videoconference, in partnership with the International University of Rabat and the University of Cadi Ayyad in Marrakesh in the Kingdom of Morocco, aims to provide practical training on how to design a model satellite and to introduce the basic concepts in the fields of physics and engineering to participating university students from around the world, highlighting the opportunities and advantages provided by knowledge derived from space-related activities, developing innovative ideas for young graduates seeking opportunities in the space industry, encouraging university researchers and scientists to exchange experiences in the aerospace data collection and presenting experiences of successful astronauts and officials in the field.

The Forum also aims to identify ways and mechanisms to support academic institutions in adopting space-related curricula, establishing relations with the space industry in developing countries, promoting entrepreneurship in space sciences among researchers at universities and holding a forum for networking, communication and interaction in the field of space sciences.

The agenda of the first day of the Forum includes the organization of an International Aerospace Symposium, followed by practical workshops to form groups and introduce “CanSat” and the applications used in its design. The second and third days will witness several specialized sessions at ICESCO Headquarters, on how to develop the CanSat model and its structural design. An experimental test will be organized on Friday, July 22, 2022, at the Astronomical Observatory in Oukaimeden, and certificates will be given to the workshop participants at Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech.

For those wishing to participate in the workshop, they can register via the link:
https://icesco-accelerator.org/cansat

The activities of the Forum will also be broadcasted live through ICESCO’s official page on Facebook, via the link:
https://www.facebook.com/ICESCO.En/live

The Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) concluded on Thursday, July 7, 2022, the Training Session for trainers of teachers of Arabic for non-Arabic speakers in religious secondary schools, at the headquarters of Sultan Abu Bakar School of Language and Religion, in Pahang State, Malaysia, in cooperation with Pahang Islamic Religious Affairs Department and MS Asia in Kuala Lumpur.

Forty teachers representing various educational institutions in the state of Pahang participated in the five-day training session. They benefited from theoretical and applied fundamentals and the basic methods of integrating language skills in teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers, through combining the students’ culture with the Arabic language and the ability to change teaching methods, strategies and objectives based on the learners’ needs.

Dr. Haji Zulkifli Bin Haji Ali Hafiz, Pahang Islamic Religious Affairs Department, chaired the Training Session, and Dr. Majdi Haji Ibrahim, Head of ICESCO Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, Dr. Mahmud Muhamad Ali, educational advisor to the said Department and Dr. Mutawakkil Abdullatif Al Fadini, director of MS Asia in Kuala Lumpur, supervised its activities.

At the closing ceremony, the trainees commended the theme of the training session and its well-organized activities. For his part, the Director of the Religious Affairs Department expressed his gratitude to ICESCO for its efforts in spreading the Arabic language and strengthening its position in non-Arabic speaking Islamic countries, hoping to hold more training sessions in other Malaysian states.