Category: News update

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) extends its sincere congratulations to the leadership and the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the occasion of the first celebration of the “Foundation Day” anniversary corresponding to February 22, 1727 AD. This Occasion represents a fundamental milestone in the prosperous history of the country of the Two Holy Mosques, which is characterized by stability and security, and the bright future and aspiration under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and his Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

ICESCO values the choice of the slogan of the foundation day “The Day We Began,” which indicates the historical, civilizational and cultural depth of the Saudi state since its foundation three centuries ago by Imam Muhammad bin Saud who announced the first Saudi state in the capital Diriyah in 1139 AH – 1727 AD.

ICESCO commends the profound, lofty and glorious significance of the Saudi Foundation Day, which is a symbol of the values of Saudi culture, heritage, pride, identity and history.

The Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the International Workshop on the “Framework of Reference for Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers: Authoring, Teaching and Training.” The Workshop was held by the Arabic Language Education Center for the Gulf States in Sharjah, in cooperation with several organizations, ministries, institutions, universities and centers active in the field of Arabic.

Dr. Majdi Hajj Ibrahim, in his capacity as Head of the Center of Arabic for non-Arabic Speakers, represented ICESCO in this workshop, held on Saturday 19 February 2022, via videoconference. In his opening remark, the ICESCO official noted that there is a need for an Arab framework of reference for teaching Arabic for non-Arabic speakers, similar to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. He added that this framework should be the adopted standard guideline for designing Arabic curricula and teaching tools for different levels, creating and implementing lesson plans, exam evaluation, teacher training, addressing learners’ needs and assessing their levels in placement tests.

The Workshop aims to introduce the general rationale for the framework of reference for teaching Arabic for non-Arabic speakers while taking into account the specificities of Arabic as well as its culture, skills and elements; and be on par with the international frameworks of reference for teaching world foreign languages. The Workshop brought together more than 350 participants from different parts of the globe.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held on Friday, February 18, 2022, a meeting of the committee in charge of following up on the preparation of ICESCO’s Guide on Psychological and Social Support for Families, Communities and Education Personnel to discuss the guide’s topics and completion timeline in preparation of its publication. The guide aims to support the efforts of the Organization’s Member States to address different crises.

During the meeting, which saw the participation of several Committee members via videoconference, Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of ICESCO’s Human and Social Sciences Sector, emphasized the importance that the Organization attaches to this guide. She explained that this guide would contribute considerably to strengthening the capabilities of Member States in addressing crises and weathering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On behalf of the team in charge of preparing the guide, Dr. El Mostafa Rezrazi delivered a presentation on the guide’s framework, outline, content, preparation approach and completion timeline.

The Committee members provided observations and suggestions regarding the guide’s orientations, objectives and content. This would enable experts to produce a guide that meets the exacting needs and requirements of ICESCO’s Member States and Muslim communities around the world.

Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of ICESCO’s Strategic Foresight Center, Mr. Mohamed Hedi Sehili, Director of the Legal Affairs and International Standards Department, and Ms. Jihane Charfi, Head of the Human Resources Department, attended the meeting as members of the Steering and Follow-up Committee, along with Dr. Jalal Noureddine, one of the experts assigned to prepare the guide, and several research assistants.

ICESCO Center for Arabic Language for Non-Arabic Speakers at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization held an international symposium under the theme “Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers: Reality Challenges and Future Stakes,” in partnership and cooperation with the Higher School of Education and Training at Sultan Moulay Suleiman University in Beni Mellal in the Kingdom of Morocco and the University’s laboratory of Literary, Linguistic and Dialectical Studies.

The Symposium’s opening session, held yesterday, Thursday, February 17, 2022, at the headquarters of the Faculty of Science and Technology in Beni Mellal, began with a speech by Dr. Nabil Hmina, President of Sultan Moulay Suleiman University, and then a speech by Dr. Magdy Haj Ibrahim, President of the Arabic Language Center for Non-Arabic Speakers

The Symposium touched upon the challenges related to the reality of the Arabic language and its future stakes at the international level and the need to intensify efforts and coordination to reach practical results and effective recommendations for the development of curricula for teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers. Afterward, Mr. Ali Lamnawar, Director of the Higher School of Education and Training in Beni Mellal, delivered his speech which was followed by a recorded speech of Dr. Maszlee bin Malik, former Malaysian Minister of Education. The opening session was concluded by a speech of Dr. Mohamad Alaoui, Director of the Literary, Linguistic and Dialectical Studies Laboratory at Sultan Moulay Suleiman University.

During the first working session, Dr. Youssef Ismaili, Expert at ICESCO Center for the Arabic Language for Non-Arabic Speakers, delivered a presentation entitled “ICESCO’s Experience in Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers,” in which he reviewed the Center’s key initiatives and training workshops for the benefit of teachers of Arabic language in inside and outside ICESCO’s Member States.

The evening session included a training session entitled: “The Quranic Approach and its Role in Developing the Reading Skill for Non-Arabic Speakers” with the aim of developing an understanding of the latest methods and strategies in introducing the Arabic language to students in easy and accessible ways. More than 70 teachers working in the field of teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers have benefited from this training session in various educational institutions in Morocco.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the regional cultural talks for the Arab region, in preparation for the UNESCO World Conference for Cultural Policies in Mexico (Mondiacult), to be held next September in Mexico. The two-day event saw the participation of Arab countries’ ministers of culture in addition to representatives of international and regional organizations.

Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of the Sector of Culture and Communication, represented ICESCO in the talks, held via videoconference, Thursday, February 17, 2022. Dr. Zinelabidine reaffirmed that ICESCO anticipates new cultural goals which it works on achieving for the benefit of the Islamic world, starting with the creation of ICESCO’s International Center for Comprehensive Policies and Cultural Development. He further explained that the Center aims to convince the Member States the significance of raising the budget of culture ministries to reach 1% of the global budget, increasing the productivity of the sectors of comprehensive development at the national and regional levels, and promoting the sector of heritage and antiquity.

The cultural official stated that ICESCO calls for developing the resources and supporting the budgets of social security funds for the benefit of creators and cultural intellects to better their living conditions and enable them to deal with their social and health situations, noting that there is a need to pass bills focusing on artists and art professions and allocate more funds to support literary, intellectual and artistic copyrights.

Dr. Zinelabidine stated that ICESCO proposes that each country funds about 1,000 projects from among youth initiatives and startups, as part of their support for cultural investment in the fields of digital economy, creative industries and cultural and social solidarity economy. He also stressed the need to reform cultural policies to foster cultural gross domestic product in such a way as to consolidate the role of culture on sustainable development, expand the resources of arts, handicrafts and traditional industries, the book and audiovisual industry, cultural and creative industries and the cultural and social solidarity economy.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection (FM6E), and the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) organized a symposium aimed at reflecting on the outcomes of the twenty-sixth UN Climate Change Conference and the climate pledges of the Islamic world and African continent. Participants in the symposium unanimously agreed that concerted efforts are needed to mitigate carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, rehabilitate ecosystems, enhance regional and international cooperation, strengthen solidarity with the least developed countries and invest in scientific research and innovation.

The symposium took place on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, under the theme “Adaptation and Mitigation: Joining Efforts to Activate Climate Action,” at the headquarters of the Hassan II International Environmental Training Center in Rabat, and via videoconference. The symposium was organized in cooperation with UNESCO, the Climate Change Competence Center, the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, and the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa.

Participants in the symposium discussed the outcomes of the twenty-sixth UN Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow and the measures that should be undertaken to address the impacts of climate change through adaptation, mitigation and financing. They also stressed that the Islamic world needs to contribute to environmental conservation through the development and implementation of initiatives and programs aimed at managing the effects of climate change.

In his address, Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of ICESCO’s Science and Technology Sector, emphasized that the joint efforts of international and regional organizations, institutions and centers interested in environmental conservation, are needed to sustain life on earth and curb climate change.

At the outset of the symposium, the participants agreed to issue several recommendations, including the need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050; conserve biodiversity and promote “climate justice” to stimulate sustainable development in a post-COVID-19 world. These recommendations also include calling on developed countries to support various African initiatives and programs in the area of renewable energies, increase investment in scientific research and technological innovation, particularly in the transfer of technologies; training young people and women on environmental safety and environmental human rights, and harnessing artificial intelligence to facilitate and accelerate climate action globally.