Category: News

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, has launched the “Mishkat Educational Leadership” program for 2026–2028 under the theme “Creative Practice: Our Way to the Skills of Tomorrow.” The program aims to train educational leaders in 16 countries across Africa and Asia through 40 workshops to be held over two academic years.

On Thursday, 8 October 2026, the Mishkat Hall at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat hosted a preparatory meeting for the program’s experts and coordinators, attended by 24 experts and educational officials. ICESCO was represented at the meeting by Mr. Adel Bouraoui, Adviser to the Director-General, Supervisor of the Mishkat Al Arabiya Program, alongside the participation of Dr. Mohammed Ismaili Alaoui, the Program’s academic coordinator and Director of the University Center for Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers at Morocco’s Sultan Moulay Slimane University.

In this regard, Mr. Bouraoui stressed that this edition falls within ICESCO’s strategic vision, which focuses on moving from implementing activities to generating a sustainable impact, with the ultimate goal of achieving international leadership. He highlighted the importance of investing in the professional development of educational leaders to advance Arabic language teaching and respond to the rapid changes taking place in the education sector.

Representatives of the participating entities expressed their appreciation to ICESCO and the Hamdan bin Rashid Foundation for launching the Program, and stressed that it responds to an urgent need for specialized training opportunities that equip Arabic language teaching professionals with modern leadership and pedagogical skills and help them benefit from artificial intelligence technologies.

The first program workshop is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, under the title “Educational Guidance and Professional Development for Teachers of Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers.” Training will be delivered by a team of 10 specialized international experts, using practical approaches that incorporate digital applications and artificial intelligence tools to achieve the Program’s objectives.

The Program forms part of the ICESCO–Hamdan bin Rashid for supporting the Arabic language in countries where other languages are spoken. It aims to develop the pedagogical and leadership competencies of Arabic language teaching professionals and enable them to use digital applications and artificial intelligence tools to enhance their teaching practices.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Ibdaa Academy for Research and Arabic Language Teaching in Belgium, launched the Training Program in Arabic Language Research and Teaching on Wednesday, 7 October 2026. The program aims to strengthen the capacities of more than 50 professors, teachers, researchers, and stakeholders involved in Arabic language education in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom through regular training workshops running until May 2027.

The program’s launch ceremony, held in person in the Belgian capital, Brussels, and online, featured remarks by Mr. Ahmed Ouzzine, Director of the Ibdaa Academy for Research and Arabic Language Teaching. He stated that the partnership with ICESCO seeks to build sustainable academic and educational bridges among institutions, experts, and Arab professionals working in Arabic language education across Europe.

Dr. Majdi Hajj Ibrahim, Head of ICESCO’s Center for Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, delivered remarks emphasizing the importance of continuous teacher training. He noted that the program’s focus on didactics, pedagogy, and artificial intelligence reflects a profound awareness of the transformations shaping education today.

The ceremony was also attended by Dr. Youssef Ismaili, Head of the Language Training Department at ICESCO’s Center for Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers and the coordinator of the program, and Dr. Anas Hussam Saeed Al-Nuaimi, Head of the Department of Support for International Excellence of the Arabic Language at the Center.

The program covers three main areas: Arabic language teaching, didactics and pedagogy, and artificial intelligence. It is grounded in a vision that considers continuous teacher training essential to improving the quality of Arabic language education. The program also places particular emphasis on artificial intelligence as a promising tool that can be used responsibly to prepare activities, develop educational resources, and analyze learners’ errors.

Training workshops will be held weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the program. Experts from ICESCO’s Center, in cooperation with experts from the Ibdaa Academy, will lead the workshops and provide relevant academic expertise on developing teaching practices, designing activities and resources, and integrating modern technologies into Arabic language education.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the International Institute for World Music, held the ninth session of its “Artists of the World, Guests at ICESCO” program under the theme “The Status of Music in Today’s World and Its Role in Tomorrow’s World.” Bringing together a distinguished group of artists, experts, and researchers, the session aimed to explore the future of music and its role in promoting intercultural dialogue.

The webinar, held on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, via videoconference, opened with remarks by Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of the Culture Sector at ICESCO. He emphasized the importance of music as a universal human language and a common thread linking various forms of creativity and cultural expression, highlighting its role in bringing peoples closer together and fostering mutual understanding and civilizational exchange.

During his presentation, Dr. Fakher Hakima, Director of the Higher Institute of Music of Sousse, shared his experience in discovering young talent. He highlighted the importance of developing musical skills and turning artistic practice into specialized career paths, thereby strengthening the creative industries and opening new opportunities for rising generations.
For his part, Manuel Delgado, Spanish musician and prominent figure in contemporary flamenco, explored the intersections between flamenco, musical traditions, and dance forms in the Eastern world. Drawing on his international artistic experiences, he explained how they had enriched his creative journey and affirmed music’s ability to transcend geographical and cultural boundaries and build bridges of communication among societies.

Margaret Dechenaux, Founder and Director of the International Institute for World Music in France, underscored the importance of promoting musical heritage as a living legacy and strengthening music education as a space for dialogue. She also highlighted music’s role in supporting international cooperation and addressed the challenges modern technologies pose to the future of artistic creativity.

Lotfi Ben Salah, Tunisian architect, discussed the historical and aesthetic links between music and architecture, stressing the importance of incorporating acoustic dimensions into the design of urban spaces. Meanwhile, André Fertier, President of the European Center for Cultural Accessibility (Cemaforre,) called for strengthening cultural citizenship, guaranteeing the right of access to music and arts education, and maintaining a balance among diverse cultural expressions amid the growing use of music as a soft-power tool.

The webinar concluded with discussions on music’s contributions to preserving cultural memory and transmitting knowledge and the arts across generations. Dr. Idham Hanash, Head of the Center for Calligraphy and Manuscripts at ICESCO, highlighted its historical role in safeguarding oral narratives and artistic and intellectual heritage through the successive stages of transcription and documentation.

Al Quds-based expert presents current state of archaeology and architecture in Palestine

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held its first scientific seminar, titled “Mosque Architecture in Al-Quds and the Land of Palestine,” on Wednesday, 7 October 2026. The event, part of its new “Architecture and Civilization” series, was organized in cooperation with the Khaled Al-Hassan Foundation for Studies and Research in Rabat and the ATIQ for Antiquities and Heritage in the State of Palestine. The seminar was presented by Dr. Abedrazeq Mataney, Head of the ATIQ for Antiquities and Heritage, researcher in Islamic antiquities and architecture, with the participation of a distinguished group of officials, specialists, researchers, experts and academics in architecture, heritage, antiquities, history and civilizational studies.

Organized by the ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue and held both in person at ICESCO headquarters and via videoconference, the seminar presented Dr. Mataney’s research study, titled “Mosque Architecture and Urban Development in Palestine over Fifteen Centuries: Insights from History and Civilization.” The study traces transformations in religious architecture, examines the region’s urban and civilizational history, and reviews the current state of antiquities heritage in Palestine amid the neglect and destruction it faces.

The seminar opened with introductory remarks by Ambassador Khaled Fatahalrahman, Head of the ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue, who highlighted the importance of architecture as a living product that reflects the development of civilization. He noted that the seminar marks a starting point and a bridge for civilizational communication, bringing together frameworks and perspectives and linking architectural memory with civilizational memory.

For his part, Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, addressed the vibrant relationship between civilization and architecture, stressing that architecture is a defining element of civilization, most vividly exemplified by the design and aesthetics of mosques.

Following, Dr. Said Khaled Al-Hassan, President of the Khaled Al-Hassan Center for Studies and Research, discussed the distinctive relationship between architecture and civilization, highlighting the seminar’s importance in shedding light on the foundations of civilizational identity and its centrality to the Arab Palestinian presence.

Dr. Mohamed Salem Echarkaoui, the director in charge of the management of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds, stated that institutional action to protect Palestinian heritage is a demanding undertaking that requires genuine political will. He stressed that architecture in Palestine stands as enduring testimony to the Arab and Islamic presence.

Subsequently, Dr. Matani reviewed the current state of antiquities and architecture in Palestine during the seminar, which was moderated by Dr. Hani Albalawi, expert at the ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue. He explained that mosques extend beyond their religious role to serve as integrated centers of civilization. He added that his study, based on field and archival surveys, traces architectural development from the early Islamic openings through the late Ottoman period. He further emphasized that Palestine, particularly Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa Mosque, is home to some of the finest architectural expressions embodying the history of Islamic civilization.

The expert warned of the severe assault on Palestinian heritage and holy sites through attempts at erasure and Judaization. He pointed to policies aimed at destroying antique remains through land-leveling or “green colonialism,” which seeks to conceal Arab landmarks behind afforestation. He also drew particular attention to the heritage catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, where approximately 50 archaeological sites have been destroyed.

Participants commended the study’s academic and field excellence in documenting the chronological development of mosque architecture in Palestine. They also highlighted the strength of its political implications and the importance of using digital documentation and technology to preserve this heritage, while underscoring the need to establish a theoretical framework that brings to the fore the civilizational role of mosques as spaces of memory and learning.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the “High-Level Regional Dialogue on Improving Student Outcomes in the Gulf and MENA Region” and the consultative meeting of regional and international education organizations, held under the theme “From Coordination to Integration.” The two meetings were held virtually and in person in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on 4 and 5 October 2026, respectively, and were organized by the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States, with the participation of representatives of ministries of education and regional and international education organizations.

ICESCO was represented by Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Head of the Education Sector, Supervisor of the Translation and Publishing Center, who delivered a presentation titled “From Assessment Results to Impact-Driven Policies: A Regional Vision for Improving Student Learning Outcomes in the Gulf and the MENA Region in Light of the PISA 2025 Results.” The presentation was delivered during the regional dialogue, co-organized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), on Sunday, 4 October.

Dr. Albanyan began by emphasizing that the results of the international assessment should not be viewed as a ranking of countries, but rather as a reflection of the quality of the relationship among curricula, teachers, laboratories and the school environment. He explained that the results revealed a profound educational paradox and outlined the main regional challenges, including disparities in teaching quality among schools, the limited translation of curricula into cognitive tasks, and the growing digital presence without adequate pedagogical design.

Concluding his remarks, Dr. Albanyan announced two ICESCO initiatives to address these challenges: developing a “Regional Scientific Thinking Toolkit” for curriculum developers, and launching a teacher training program on science diplomacy and critical inquiry in partnership with its Member States.

In his address at the consultative meeting on Monday, 5 October, Dr. Albanyan delivered a presentation on integration and coordination among regional and international educational organizations in support of ministries of education. He highlighted the weak links among various educational institutions and initiatives, reflected in several ways, including the proliferation of dialogue platforms and the overlap of certain programs. Dr. Albanyan proposed a practical framework for cooperation and for structuring these relationships, based on defining priorities and roles, coordinating joint programs, and establishing mechanisms for accountability, funding and review.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) launched, on Monday, 5 October 2026, a joint project to develop ICESCO’s School Teachers and Leaders Standards and Practice Instrument. The project aims to provide an evidence-based framework for advancing educational performance while taking into account the diversity of educational, cultural and institutional contexts across the Islamic world.

The launch took place during a ceremony organized by ICESCO at its headquarters in Rabat to mark World Teachers’ Day. Officials, experts and representatives of national and international institutions discussed the role of teachers and school leaders in improving the quality of education and building education systems capable of meeting future needs.

The event began with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by opening remarks by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, delivered on his behalf by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General. The remarks underscored the importance of elevating the standing of teachers and supporting school leaders in developing learning environments that foster sustained improvements in learning outcomes.

Dr. Benarafa explained that, through the project, the Organization seeks to establish a reference framework defining the knowledge, skills and practices underpinning effective teaching and sound school leadership. Member States will be able to draw on the framework in line with their priorities and needs, supporting the profession’s development and strengthening its impact across the education system.

In recorded remarks, Ziauddin Yousafzai, Co-Founder of the Malala Fund, father of Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Prize laureate, stated that great teachers inspire their students and transform their lives, encouraging them to learn, revisit prior knowledge and free themselves from misconceptions.

For his part, Mr. Karim Hamidouche, Secretary-General of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, described teachers as the main drivers of any education reform. He noted that the impact of technology, curricula and infrastructure depends on teachers’ competence, passion, recognition and professional empowerment. He also highlighted the close cooperation between ICESCO and the Moroccan Ministry of Education through field projects and practical approaches that place teachers at the heart of educational transformation.

The event continued with a joint presentation by Mr. Waqas Afridi, Expert in ICESCO’s Education Sector; Ms. Pamela Bender, Global Head of Education Standards at IBO; and Mr. Marc Neesam, Education Systems Solutions Manager at IBO. The presentation outlined the new project’s objectives, phases and timeline, the interim findings of a comparative analysis of international and regional standards, the methodology for developing the instrument, and the project’s implementation steps.

Following this presentation, Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Head of ICESCO’s Education Sector, Supervisor of the Translation and Publishing Center, moderated a panel discussion titled “Standards Transforming into Impact for Building a Future-Ready Teaching Profession.” Representatives of national, international and academic institutions explored ways to apply the standards within educational institutions, use them in teacher preparation, training and continuous professional development, and support school leadership.

The ceremony concluded with an interactive professional development workshop for nearly 30 teachers from Moroccan public schools, led by experts from ICESCO and the IBO. The workshop focused on connecting the teaching profession and professional policies with everyday educational practice and exploring the skills needed to keep pace with the rapid changes in education.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held the Third Session of the Research Group on “Women’s Thought and Creativity in the Islamic World,” under the theme “Arab Resonances: Women’s Voices, Arts and Knowledge.” Bringing together 24 women from 11 countries across the Islamic world, the session explored women’s contributions to intellectual and artistic production and their role in driving social transformations.

Held via videoconference on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, the session was organized as part of the International Forum “Culture to Rethink the World” and within the framework of the cooperation program entitled “ICESCO–Arab World Institute: Shared Culture,”. Its activities focused on movement expression, philosophy and poetry.

The session opened with remarks by Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of ICESCO’s Culture Sector, who highlighted the importance of providing spaces for dialogue and research that advance the status of women and enable discussion of their experiences through an approach that respects diversity and cultural specificities. He also affirmed ICESCO’s commitment to supporting intellectual exchange on issues concerning women in the Islamic world.

The session was moderated by Dr. Zoubeida Boukhari, an international consultant in culture, education, and environmental communication. Presentations under the first theme addressed the performing arts as an expression of identity and a living memory passed down through generations, highlighting their role in preserving cultural practices and protecting them from disappearance. They also examined the ability of movement expression to transcend social barriers, convey experiences of suffering and provide space to express what is difficult to articulate in words.

Under the philosophy theme, discussions focused on the role of women’s creativity in transforming women’s realities and strengthening Arab cultural rapprochement, while dismantling inaccurate stereotypes of Middle Eastern women. The presentations emphasized that creativity extends beyond aesthetics to the production of ideas, dialogue across fields of knowledge and the building of bridges between cultures.

The session concluded with poetry recitations addressing women’s issues, experiences and aspirations. The recitations showcased examples of women’s writing that make poetry a space for self-expression and for listening to the experiences of others.