Category: News

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, held the first High-Level Dialogue on Science Diplomacy and Global Cooperation on Monday, September 21, 2026, in New York, United States. The event brought together officials from government bodies, international organizations, and scientific institutions to discuss ways of leveraging science diplomacy to strengthen international cooperation in higher education and translate scientific and technological capacities into tangible impact.

The dialogue, held as part of this year’s Science Summit in conjunction with the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81), opened with remarks by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General. He highlighted the importance of science diplomacy in advancing knowledge and progress, stressing that many scientific discoveries capable of protecting societies from contemporary challenges remain out of reach because countries lack the necessary infrastructure and partnerships.

Dr. AlMalik expressed his appreciation to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education for its cooperation with ICESCO in organizing the dialogue, noting that science diplomacy lies at the heart of the Organization’s priorities. He added that ICESCO is developing its areas of competence through an approach based on impact, inclusiveness, creativity, and sustainability.

In this regard, the ICESCO Director-General stated that the Organization is working to develop a framework for the mutual recognition of academic qualifications in 15 countries, as well as permanent mechanisms for science diplomacy to connect scientists with diplomats, universities with governments, and scientific research with policymaking.

Following, Dr. Yergaliyev Kuanysh, Head of the Science and Environment Sector at ICESCO, moderated a panel that saw the participation of Dr. AlMalik; Mr. Didar Temenov, Director of the Multilateral Cooperation Department of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ms. Dima Al-Khatib, Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation; Dr. Saule Sagintayeva, President of Abylkas Saginov Karaganda Technical University in Kazakhstan; Ms. Susie Kitchens, Director of Science Diplomacy at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis; Dr. Saifur Rahman, Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Climate Magazine, Director of the Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute, Dr. Brando Okolo, Head of the Science, Technology and Innovationat the African Union Development Agency; and Mr. Seán Kelly, Member of the European Parliament.

At the conclusion of the dialogue, participants issued the “New York Declaration on Science Diplomacy for Inclusive Global Development,” affirming the commitment of participating institutions to employ science diplomacy to advance cooperation among countries, governments, universities, research institutions, the private sector, and civil society. The Declaration aims to promote innovation, sustainable development, and the contribution of Global South countries to science, particularly in the face of contemporary challenges, foremost among them climate change, security, and health. It emphasized that science diplomacy provides a practical means of developing research infrastructure, modern technologies, and the capacities of future generations of scientists and diplomats.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stressed the importance of cooperation and the exchange of expertise among countries, organizations, and international civil society institutions to build a future marked by peace, social cohesion, and innovation, with people at its heart. He noted that the future humanity seeks to build must be founded on shared values that transcend differences among civilizations and societies, creating a better world for future generations.

Dr. AlMalik made these remarks in a recorded address delivered at the opening session of the Second World Public Assembly, held on 18 and 19 September 2026 in Moscow, Russian Federation, under the theme “New World: Values That Unite.” The event brought together more than 5,000 speakers representing 154 countries, alongside officials, diplomats, experts, scientists, and cultural and youth figures.

Dr. AlMalik explained that societies are undergoing rapid transformations in modern technology and artificial intelligence. He highlighted education, science, and culture as pillars of human development, noting that education enables individuals to understand the world, science empowers them to change it, and culture provides the wisdom needed to harness change in the service of humanity.

Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s efforts to build young people’s capacities, foremost among them the Youth Knowledge Forum, held for the second time at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat through a partnership with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme. He underscored the responsibility of institutions to provide young people with the knowledge, confidence, and platforms needed to strengthen responsible leadership skills and develop solutions to challenges.

Furthermore, Dr. AlMalik called for a new generation of partnerships that transcend borders and institutional constraints, guided by a forward-looking approach capable of anticipating and responding to future changes and helping to shape the future. He concluded by commending the Second World Public Assembly’s role in advancing knowledge and intellectual exchange among individuals and institutions.

As part of the Assembly, Mr. Waqas Afridi, Expert in ICESCO’s Education Sector, participated in a high-level panel discussion titled “International Organizations: Effective Partnerships in Science and Education.” He presented the Organization’s education initiatives, notably the ICESCO Global Green Education Progress Tracker, launched in partnership with UNESCO, and the ICESCO Digital Library, as well as the development of the first tool for assessing standards and identifying best practices for teachers and school leaders in the Islamic world, in partnership with the International Baccalaureate.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, met with Prof. Mahmut Erol Kılıç, Director-General of the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), on Friday, 18 September 2026, to explore avenues and mechanisms for cooperation in organizing seminars and workshops on prominent figures of the Islamic world, heritage manuscripts and the art of calligraphy.

During the meeting, held at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. Benarafa reviewed the Organization’s efforts, programs and initiatives to highlight the deep-rooted history of the Islamic world and the richness of its heritage and cultures. He stressed the importance of developing a partnership between ICESCO and IRCICA that is grounded in sound scholarship and delivers tangible impact. He also called for concerted efforts to advance the cultural priorities of Islamic world societies through joint seminars, conferences and workshops in the coming period, foremost among them a symposium on the legacy of wisdom in conflict resolution and the consolidation of security and peace.

For his part, Mr. Karimov underscored the need to build bridges of civilizational dialogue and facilitate the exchange of expertise among organizations, institutions and centres across the Islamic world, with a view to disseminating knowledge and best practices in areas of common interest. He also highlighted the contributions of Islamic civilization to the enrichment of human civilization.

Prof. Kılıç expressed IRCICA’s readiness to cooperate with ICESCO in raising awareness of the various styles of Arabic calligraphy and organizing a series of specialized seminars and workshops on prominent figures of the Islamic world, in recognition of their scientific and intellectual contributions throughout history.

At the close of the meeting, which was attended by Mr. Murad Aliyev, Expert in ICESCO’s Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, Prof. Kılıç visited the International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization, hosted at the Organization’s headquarters.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) received the Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain Award for Creativity in the Service of the Arabic Language, Institutions Category, for its “Mishkat” project, during a ceremony held on Thursday, 17 September 2026, at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo, Egypt.

Dr. Anas Hussam Saeed Al-Nuaimi, Head of the International Leadership Support Section for the Arabic Language at ICESCO’s Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, received the award shield. The award was granted jointly to ICESCO and Al-Azhar’s Center of Education Development for Envoys and Foreign Students, with each institution receiving the full prize amount of USD 60,000, in recognition of their efforts to support the teaching of Arabic to non-Arabic speakers.

The ceremony brought together high-level participants, led by Mr. Nabil Fahmy, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States; Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Al Yamahi, Speaker of the Arab Parliament, Chairman of the Award’s Board of Trustees; Mr. Saud Abdulaziz Al-Babtain, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Al-Babtain Cultural Foundation; and Dr. Nahla El-Seidy, Advisor to His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar for International Student Affairs, as well as a distinguished group of thinkers, academics, and media professionals from countries across the Islamic world.

As part of the ongoing dialogue to advance cultural rights led by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the European Centre for Cultural Accessibility (Cemaforre) announced its support for ICESCO’s Draft Charter of Cultural Rights during the 50th session of the International Thinkers Guests of ICESCO Program, held under the theme “Cultural Rights in the Islamic World.” The session was attended by Mr. André Fertier, Writer and Founding President of “Cemaforre,” and Ms. Myrha Govindjee, Director of the Centre and specialist in cultural accessibility.

The session, held via videoconference on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, was opened by Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of the Culture Sector at ICESCO, who reviewed the Organization’s initiative to advance cultural rights. He affirmed that ICESCO’s current priority is to ensure that everyone is recognized in their diversity, calling for an approach to cultural rights that takes into account the cultural diversity of ICESCO Member States and enables them to progressively put these rights into practice, as recognition is only a first step.

In his remarks, André Fertier outlined the motivations that led him to author the book “La citoyenneté culturelle: Réalités juridiques, enjeux et perspectives,” (Cultural citizenship: Legal realities, challenges and perspectives) considered the first intellectual work devoted specifically to this concept. The book calls for creating an environment that enables every individual to effectively exercise their cultural rights, and for establishing a form of cultural citizenship that transcends the boundaries of national affiliations.

For her part, Myrha Govindjee presented the book “Culture et handicap. 50 ans d’histoire : L’historique d’un demi-siècle d’évolutions dans les concepts, les politiques et les pratiques,” (Culture and disability. 50 years of history: The history of half a century of developments in concepts, policies and practices) which she co-authored with Fertier. She highlighted the need to develop the concept of cultural accessibility to ensure the full participation of all people in cultural life.

During the session, Sidi Ahmed Djawad, Young Professional in the Culture Sector at ICESCO, presented the Organization’s initiative on cultural rights and the Draft Charter, which comprises 20 articles covering three categories: legislation governing culture, the right to culture, and cultural rights in their comprehensive sense.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the International Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE), the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, and the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), launched the third, enhanced edition of the multilingual “Data and Artificial Intelligence Glossary” on Thursday, 17 September 2026, during the fourth UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Riyadh.

The new edition aims to update definitions, incorporate emerging terms in data and artificial intelligence, and enhance consistency among Arabic, English, and French equivalents. It thus keeps pace with the rapid development of these fields and facilitates the use of their concepts in scientific, educational, and professional settings.

During the launch session, Dr. Kaïs Hammami, Director of ICESCO’s Center for Foresight and Artificial Intelligence, highlighted the Organization’s contribution to strengthening the initiative’s international and multilingual dimensions. He explained that ICESCO’s participation is guided by three objectives: enriching reliable digital content, establishing a common technical language among Member States, and contributing to the production and dissemination of knowledge.

He stressed that the glossary can support education and capacity building through its use in teaching, teacher training, curriculum development, policy documents, and media content, making artificial intelligence concepts more accessible to users in different languages.

Regarding future editions, Dr. Hammami proposed adopting knowledge needs, expected impact, and the availability of a trusted institutional partner as criteria for adding new languages. He noted that Russian, Chinese, and Portuguese are being considered, while emphasizing the need to safeguard scientific and linguistic accuracy and ensure conceptual equivalence across languages.

The launch of the third edition builds on efforts to strengthen specialized knowledge content and make it available in multiple languages. This supports broader participation by countries and regions in discussions on artificial intelligence and helps clarify and standardize concepts as a prerequisite for any effective global dialogue on the governance and ethics of this technology.