Category: News

The INNOverse 50+ Forum, organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in cooperation with the Ministry for Youth Affairs of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, Kazan Federal University, and the Academy of Youth Diplomacy, opened on Thursday, 27 August 2026, in Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation. Held under the theme “For a Resilient Future,” the two-day forum brought together more than 50 experts, innovators, entrepreneurs, and influencers from around the world, alongside young talents from Tatarstan, and took place in parallel with the Kazan Global Youth Summit.

The opening high-level session featured remarks by Mr. Timur Suleimanov, Aide to the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, Head of the Regional Department of the Russian “The Movement of the First”; Mr. Azat Rifgatovich Kadyrov, Minister for Youth Affairs of the Republic of Tatarstan; Mr. Timirkhan Alishev, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation at Kazan Federal University; and Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Head of the Office of Director-General, Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector at ICESCO.

The speakers underscored the importance of empowering young people, investing in their creative potential, and strengthening their role in anticipating the future and developing solutions to rapidly evolving global challenges. They also stressed the value of international platforms that enable young people to exchange perspectives and expertise, engage with experts and academic and innovation institutions, and expand opportunities for cooperation and joint action.

The forum features the interactive youth experience “Factory for Innovation,” which enables participants to collaborate, network, and transform ideas into projects with tangible impact. Participants were divided into groups addressing five themes linked to contemporary crises, risks, and challenges: health and biosecurity; social and economic crises; reputation and communication; climate change and the environment; and cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

Under expert supervision, the groups will analyze the risks and challenges associated with each theme, exchange insights and experiences, examine their implications and response mechanisms, and develop practical projects and solutions. The methodology positions participants not merely as beneficiaries, but as partners in developing responses to emerging risks and challenges.

Through the INNOverse 50+ Forum, ICESCO seeks to create an international platform for innovation and networking, bringing together experts and innovators to exchange knowledge, expertise, and success stories. The forum also aims to make innovation a driver of youth capacity development by strengthening analytical and critical-thinking skills, fostering innovative solutions for a resilient future and sustainable development, promoting cooperation among organizations, institutions, and research centers, and supporting initiatives that give younger generations greater space to articulate and advance their visions.

The Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), International League of Islamic Literature Malaysia (ILILM), and Omani Research and Studies Centre IIUM, held an academic lecture titled “Islamic Literature and Its Challenges: Concept, Mission and Creativity.” The lecture brought together professors, researchers, and master’s and doctoral students from several Malaysian universities.

The lecture was delivered via videoconference on Monday, 24 August 2026, by Dr. Anas Al-Nuaimi, Head of the International Leadership Support Division for Arabic Language at ICESCO’s Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers. He explained that the mission of Islamic literature is to produce literary works that combine artistic beauty with a noble message and express the ideas, feelings, and emotions of societies in the Islamic world in all their cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity.

Dr. Al-Nuaimi also addressed the concept, mission, and characteristics of Islamic literature, presenting creative examples from poetry and various forms of prose, including essays, short stories, plays, novels, translations, autobiographies, and literary translation. He stressed that the current generation of young writers should pay close attention to artistic expression, including metaphor, figurative language, and imagery, as well as the musical qualities specific to poetry, to elevate their work to the level of distinguished examples of world literature.

The lecture formed part of efforts to strengthen academic and scientific cooperation among ICESCO, higher education institutions, and organizations concerned with the Arabic language and literature in the Organization’s Member States.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures at the University of Hamburg in Germany, ETH Zurich, and the Faculty of Archaeology at Ain Shams University in Egypt, held an open research day titled “Textual and Material Evidence in the Dating of Islamic Manuscripts.” The event drew strong participation from specialists in Islamic manuscripts.

In his opening remarks during the event, held via videoconference on Monday, 24 August 2026, Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of ICESCO’s Culture Sector, conveyed the greetings of Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, to the participants. He expressed his satisfaction with this distinguished scholarly partnership, which reflects the importance of international cooperation in advancing the study of Islamic manuscripts and developing specialized research in the field.

Dr. Zinelabidine highlighted the special attention ICESCO devotes to manuscripts through its Calligraphy and Manuscripts Center, its scholarly and cultural programs, and its strong partnerships with universities and research centers, in addition to its ongoing cooperation with experts and specialists.

The event, whose sessions were moderated by Dr. Idham Hanash, Head of ICESCO’s Calligraphy and Manuscripts Center, featured five scholarly presentations delivered by Dr. Ahmed Abd El Baset, expert at the Center; Dr. Konrad Hirschler, Director of the Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures at the University of Hamburg; Dr. Said Aljoumani, researcher at the Centre; Dr. Hassan Ebeid, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Archaeology at Ain Shams University; and Dr. Irka Hajdas, Professor at ETH Zurich.

The event concluded with an open discussion between the experts and participants, featuring rich exchanges on the material and textual dimensions of manuscripts.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Iraqi Academy of Sciences, held a scientific seminar on pathways to research excellence in Arabic language sciences and literature.

The Seminar aimed to support the Arabic language and advance specialized scientific research in Arabic language sciences and literature. It brought together a distinguished group of leading figures in language, thought, and literature from the Republic of Iraq.

In his remarks during the Seminar, hosted by the Iraqi Academy of Sciences in Baghdad on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, Dr. Muhammed Hussein Al Yassin, President of the Academy, praised the bilateral cooperation with ICESCO. He noted that this cooperation seeks to strengthen scientific research and organize outstanding activities and programs. He also called for establishing a scientific partnership that serves the Arabic language and enhances its international presence.

For his part, Dr. Anas Al-Nuaimi, Head of the International Leadership Support Section for the Arabic Language at ICESCO’s Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, affirmed that the Organization pursues a policy of openness toward scientific institutions within the Islamic world and beyond. He explained that ICESCO seeks to publish outstanding research across various fields, with the Arabic language at the forefront, driven by a firm belief in the importance of intensifying efforts to advance, protect, and promote the Arabic language in countries around the world.

The Seminar also featured an introduction to one of ICESCO’s latest publications, titled Morphological Parsing (Al-I‘rāb al-Ṣarfī), authored by Dr. Anas Al-Nuaimi. In his presentation, the author discussed the book and its innovative approach to grammatical parsing in light of modern phonetic studies.

The Forum is organized jointly by ICESCO, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, and the United Nations Development Programme

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is preparing to organize the fifth edition of the Youth Knowledge Forum. The event will be held for the second time at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, Morocco, on 7 and 8 September 2026 under the theme “From Crisis to Sustainability.”

The Forum is organized as part of the partners’ joint efforts to empower youth and strengthen their role in shaping the future by providing a knowledge platform that brings them together with decision-makers, experts, and specialists. The event will address pressing global challenges and explore innovative solutions to strengthen societies’ ability to respond to crises and transform challenges into opportunities that support sustainable development pathways.

Over two days, the Forum will feature a diverse programme of panel discussions, interactive dialogues, and success stories addressing a range of topics related to crises, sustainability, and the future of youth. The event will bring together leading officials, experts, and specialists from the local, regional, and international levels.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, stressed that hosting the Forum for the second time reflects the Organization’s commitment to supporting youth, developing their creative skills, and equipping them with the knowledge and expertise needed to contribute to a more prosperous future for their countries. Dr. AlMalik stated: “Effective future strategies that address challenges and capitalize on opportunities cannot be developed without involving young people, who represent a significant proportion of societies across the Islamic world. They are best positioned to understand the tools of their time and the realities of their present and future, which ultimately belongs to them.” He added that ICESCO’s involvement gives the Forum an international standing and opens up broader prospects across its 53 Member States.

For his part, Dr. Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, said: “The Youth Knowledge Forum reflects MBRF’s firm commitment to providing young people with a dynamic platform that empowers them and fosters a culture of entrepreneurship and investment at the local and regional levels. These joint efforts, led by the United Arab Emirates, stem from a deep conviction in the importance of such dialogues in advancing the business landscape and encouraging innovative entrepreneurial ventures, thereby driving economic development and strengthening the role of youth in society.”

The first day’s programme will feature a panel discussion on the interconnected global crises of 2026 and sustainability as a framework for response, alongside expert perspectives and insights. Another session will examine the role and responsibility of young people in leading action to address crises, highlighting effective approaches to crisis response and recovery, as well as ways to transform challenges into opportunities for growth in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

On the second day, the Forum will focus on the future of jobs and skills through a session exploring the impact of crises on the nature of work, the skills required to keep pace with a rapidly changing labour market, ways to bridge the gap between education and employment, and approaches to creating more inclusive pathways for youth to enter the workforce. The session will also draw on national experiences in guiding career choices and future projects. Another session will showcase youth-led crisis response models in ICESCO Member States, lessons learned from resilience-building initiatives, available tools and mechanisms, and practical pathways for moving from commitment to implementation through integrated, phased action plans.