The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is pressing ahead with ambitious steps to revamp its organizational structure, ensuring it remains aligned with global developments and meets the aspirations of Member States. These accelerated efforts reflect ICESCO’s commitment to its role in advancing its areas of competence and reaffirming its strategic vision as a beacon of cultural and intellectual influence for the Islamic world.
As part of these efforts, ICESCO has established new specialized sectors, including Media and Communication, as well as dedicated centers for Poetry and Literature, Calligraphy and Manuscripts, and Training. This restructuring received unanimous approval from ICESCO’s Executive Council during its 45th session, held on Wednesday, 26 February 2025, in Tunis under the patronage of President Kais Saied.
On this occasion, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, emphasized that the new organizational structure aims to expand the Organization’s scope in creative fields. He highlighted ICESCO’s recent initiatives in environmental studies, foresight, artificial intelligence, and space sciences and their applications, where the Organization has either pioneered innovative programs or made significant strides in helping Islamic countries catch up with global advancements.
Dr. AlMalik further noted that ICESCO’s achievements over the past five years stem from several key factors, including attracting top talents from across the Islamic world, securing innovative funding sources beyond the general budget, promoting creativity and innovation, empowering youth and women, and leveraging cutting-edge technologies to programs outreach.
Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector and former Minister of Information of Egypt, stated that a strategic plan for 2025–2030 has been developed to position ICESCO as a leading international reference in media, communication, and creative industries, and establish it as a hub for the dissemination of knowledge, culture, and human values. The plan includes an international forum for media leaders, the launch of a specialized media platform, a media academy, a women’s media center, and awards for excellence.
Rawda Al-Haj, expert in ICESCO’s Culture Sector and a renowned Sudanese poet, stated that the Poetry and Literature Center will enrich the cultural landscape of the Islamic world, expand horizons in poetry and literature, and strengthen literary ties among countries of the Islamic world, with the aim of making ICESCO a world poetry and literature venue. The Center’s initiatives include releasing the ICESCO Cultural Journal, organizing an international poetry festival and various literary competitions.
Dr. Idham Hanish, expert in the Culture Sector and a prominent Arabic calligrapher, highlighted that the Calligraphy and Manuscripts Center will focus on both traditional and modern calligraphy, integrating digital printing and artificial intelligence while supporting calligraphers and artisans. The Center plans to develop the ICESCO typographic font and publish the Illustrated Dictionary of the History of Arabic Calligraphy.
For his part, Mr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Head of ICESCO Legal Affairs and International Standards Department, stated that the Training Center will serve as a comprehensive platform offering capacity-building programs to develop human resources, empower local communities in Member States in various fields, harness cultural resources for sustainable development, and enhance staff competencies within ICESCO.
ICESCO’s ambitious steps come just one year after a major administrative and structural overhaul in collaboration with the Saudi Institute of Public Administration, a leading institution in institutional development. This led to the creation of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector, the Islamic World Heritage Center, the Chairs, Scholarships, and Prizes Center, and the Digital Transformation Department. The latest structural amendments, approved by the Executive Council, reinforce ICESCO’s ongoing commitment to renewal and progress, ensuring that it continues to serve the Islamic world effectively and driving its development. These efforts seek to uphold a civilization that has led way in science, literature, and arts, and that laid the groundwork for the renaissance shaping the modern world.
