Category: News

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with H.E. Mr. Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on Thursday, 5 November 2026, in Almaty. They discussed prospects for strengthening cooperation between ICESCO and Kazakhstan in the fields of higher education and scientific research.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik commended the remarkable academic momentum in Kazakhstan and its success in attracting prestigious international universities and scientific research centers to establish branches in the country, either independently or in partnership with Kazakh academic and research institutions. He noted that these efforts contribute to the development of the higher education system and enhance its competitiveness. He also praised the high rankings achieved by several Kazakh universities in international rankings and welcomed the growing number of international students pursuing undergraduate and doctoral studies at these institutions.

The ICESCO Director-General stressed that the achievements made over the past five years offer a distinctive experience that deserves to be shared with Member States, enabling them to benefit from Kazakhstan’s expertise in developing their university and research systems.

For his part, H.E. the Minister affirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to expanding cooperation with ICESCO and its Member States through the relevant ministries, universities, and research centers.
He noted that Kazakh academic institutions welcome young people from across the Islamic world to study a wide range of disciplines.
Dr. AlMalik also proposed that Kazakhstan host the ICESCO Conference of Ministers of Higher Education in 2027. The Conference would provide an opportunity to discuss the future of higher education in the Islamic world and the challenges facing some Member States, as well as to exchange experiences and benefit from expertise in developing higher education systems and building academic partnerships, particularly by drawing on Kazakhstan’s experience. The event would bring together ministers, academic leaders, and experts from various countries.

At the close of the meeting, H.E. the Minister thanked Dr. AlMalik for his visit to Kazakhstan and his participation in the Second International Conference on Al-Farabi.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the first session of the Regional Committee of the Revised Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in the Arab States, convened by UNESCO with representatives from 19 Arab countries and relevant regional organizations.

The session, held on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, at UN House in Doha, Qatar, following the Convention’s entry into force on 18 April, aimed to establish the institutional and organizational mechanisms needed to monitor its implementation, strengthen mutual recognition of higher education qualifications, facilitate academic mobility, and advance cooperation among Arab countries in this field.

ICESCO was represented at the meeting by Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Head of the Education Sector, Supervisor of the Translation and Publishing Center, and Dr. Kuanysh Yergaliyev, Head of the Science and Environment Sector, reaffirming the Organization’s commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation in education, science, and higher education.

In his address during the second session, devoted to discussing the transitional action plan, Dr. Albanyan welcomed the draft plan, commending its unified framework for country profiles and the network’s digital platform. He stressed that the recognition of qualifications has become an essential means of expanding employment opportunities and fostering academic and professional mobility.

In this context, Dr. Albanyan announced ICESCO’s readiness, through its Education Sector and Translation and Publishing Center, to provide technical and in-kind support for implementing the transitional action plan. This support includes developing a unified Arabic-English-French glossary of terminology on the recognition of qualifications, in coordination with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO); preparing guidelines for translating academic documents; contributing to the translation of information materials on the Convention; and building the capacities of national information centers.

The session is particularly significant as the Regional Committee’s inaugural meeting. The Committee plays a pivotal role in monitoring the Convention’s implementation and further developing its mechanisms.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has published a new book titled “Proceedings of the Second International Conference: Modern Approaches and Smart Applications in Teaching Arabic Grammar and Morphology to Non-Arabic Speakers”. The publication features contributions by 53 researchers from 16 countries, following their participation in the Conference on this topic, organized by ICESCO in Bursa, Republic of Türkiye, in cooperation with Bursa Uludağ University in April 2026.

The two-volume publication, totaling 1,124 pages, contains 52 peer-reviewed research papers by specialists and university professors. The authors sought to present innovative scientific insights that would help transform the teaching of grammar and morphology from a purely theoretical subject into an effective and integrated learning experience, by empowering learners, making use of modern technologies, and adopting interactive approaches based on discovery and application.

The book covers the following themes:
• Challenges in teaching grammar and morphology;
• Grammar and morphology in textbooks for teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers;
• Assessment of grammatical and morphological competence;
• Modern strategies for teaching grammar: from rote learning to empowerment;
• Artificial intelligence and modern applications in teaching grammar.

ICESCO is making the book available for free download through its website via the following links:
Volume 1:
https://icesco.org/icesco.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/كتاب-مؤتمر-بورصا-الثاني-الجزء-الأول-web-1.pdf
Volume 2:
https://icesco.org/icesco.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/كتاب-مؤتمر-بورصا-الثاني-الجزء-الثاني-web-.pdf

As part of its Leadership Training in Peace and Security (LTIPS) program, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a webinar on 3 November 2026 titled “Peace and Sustainability: Why Environment, Food Security and Natural Resources Matter in Peacebuilding?” The webinar was organized in preparation for the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), being held this November in Türkiye. Representatives of international organizations, experts and young civil society leaders took part to examine the close links between environmental protection, food security, natural resources and sustainable peace.

Speaking at the webinar’s opening session, organized by ICESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector and Science and Environment Sector, Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of the Social and Human Sciences Sector, highlighted the success of the LTIPS program, which has trained 227 Young Peace Ambassadors from 81 countries. She stressed the importance of sustained youth engagement in environmental action, the need to move beyond treating environmental issues, food security and peacebuilding as separate concerns, and the importance of adopting a comprehensive, integrated approach.

For his part, Dr. Muhammad Sabieh Anwar, Deputy Head of the Science and Environment Sector, speaking on behalf of the Sector’s Head, Dr. Yergaliyev Kuanysh, emphasized the importance of such participatory initiatives. He commended ICESCO’s “Peace 360°” approach, which offers a distinct and more comprehensive vision for peacebuilding.

The first session was moderated by Mr. Alioune Ndiaye, Head of the Peace Division at ICESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector, with the participation of Mr. Bakytzhan Arystanbek of the Islamic Organization for Food Security, Ms. Esther Marner of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr. Momodou Lamin Joof of the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), and Dr. Fahman Fathurahman, expert at ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector. The session explored the interconnections between the environment and peacebuilding, with speakers presenting the practical approaches implemented by their institutions in this field.

The second session, moderated by Dr. Wissam Chehade, expert at ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector, focused on ways youth and women can contribute to peacebuilding by strengthening environmental resilience and food security. Participants included Mr. Ari Adipratomo of The Climate Reality Project in Indonesia, and Ms. Roukiatou Traoré and Ms. Kumba Jobarteh, ICESCO Young Peace Ambassadors. They shared their field experiences and encouraged young people to take initiative and actively engage in environmental action.

The second Regional Seminar on Cultural Heritage Nomination of Cultural Heritage Properties and Integrated Management continued for a second consecutive day in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), represented by its Regional Office in Baku and the Islamic World Heritage Center, is holding the seminar in partnership with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Culture and Information and the Kazakh Research Institute of Culture. The event aims to strengthen sustainable heritage management skills in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

In a recorded address during the seminar, held from 3 to 5 November 2026, Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of the ICESCO Regional Office, stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation, sharing expertise and building capacities to protect heritage and safeguard its components.

The seminar program includes a training workshop attended by 14 heritage and culture experts and specialists from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The workshop is supervised by Dr. Bilel Chebbi, Program Manager at the Center, Dr. Muhammad Al-Absi and Mr. Mirshod Nishonov, experts at the Center. It aims to finalize a number of nomination files on the Islamic World Heritage Tentative List and enhance the conservation and sound management of the sites concerned with a view to promoting their international recognition.

The seminar is part of efforts to implement the recommendations of the 13th meeting of the Islamic World Heritage Committee, held in Uzbekistan, in February 2026, which emphasized the need to strengthen technical expertise and regional integration in heritage conservation.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and its Federation of the Islamic World Universities (FIWU), in partnership with Westminster International University in Tashkent, held the 3rd edition of the Inclusive Innovation Masterclass Series, titled “Innovation as a Diplomatic Tool: A System Approach,” on 29 October 2026 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The event took place on the sidelines of the International Week of Innovative Ideas (InnoWeek), organized by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

The masterclass brought together 40 entrepreneurs, experts and innovation specialists. They discussed ways of harnessing innovation to strengthen international cooperation and explored the potential of science diplomacy for advancing scientific research and industry and for building human capital capacities in modern technology.

ICESCO was represented at the masterclass by Dr. Issam Krimi, Head of the Innovation and Creativity Division in the Science and Environment Sector. He emphasized that the training aimed to raise awareness of the importance of knowledge in serving communities, highlighting the role of universities, government bodies and the private sector in strengthening innovation systems.

ICESCO’s participation in InnoWeek also included a presentation by Dr. Krimi during a panel discussion titled “Strengthening the Transition from Research to Innovation,” as well as meetings with officials from Uzbekistan’s El-Yurt Umidi Foundation, the Commission and Oxentia to explore cooperation opportunities in areas of mutual interest.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is participating in the Fifth UNESCO Conference on Higher Education in the Arab States, organized by Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education in cooperation with UNESCO and the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science. Held under the theme “The Evolving Landscape of Higher Education in the Arab Region,” the conference brings together senior officials, decision-makers, university leaders, experts, and representatives of regional and international organizations concerned with higher education.

ICESCO is represented at the conference, held on 2 and 3 November 2026 in Doha, by Dr. Kuanysh Yergaliyev, Head of the Science and Environment Sector, Supervisor of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World of ICESCO, and Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Head of the Education Sector, Supervisor of the Translation and Publishing Center.

Speaking on behalf of Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, Dr. Kuanysh Yergaliyev reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to supporting higher education systems in its Member States and its readiness to strengthen cooperation and partnerships with ministries, universities, and academic institutions. These efforts aim to improve the quality and performance of higher education and enhance its contribution to sustainable development. He also highlighted ICESCO’s commitment to deepening cooperation with its various partners and called for intensified joint efforts to exchange best practices, expertise, knowledge, and resources and make them more accessible to universities throughout the Islamic world, thereby strengthening academic integration and expanding opportunities for cooperation, scientific research, and innovation.

Over two days, the conference features a series of high-level dialogue sessions and discussions addressing the key transformations and challenges shaping the future of higher education in the Arab region, ways to develop its systems, and opportunities to strengthen regional and international cooperation in this field. The discussions also focused on reinforcing joint Arab institutional commitment to advancing higher education.