Category: News

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) concluded, in Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan, the 4th International Aerospace Symposium and the training workshop on the design of an educational satellite (CanSat), which the Organization held at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

The two activities took place from 6 to 11 September 2025, in cooperation with the Kazakh Space Agency, the Kazakh Aerospace Committee, Kazakhstan’s National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO, and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, with the participation of over 60 young trainees from ICESCO Member States and 13 international speakers and experts.

During the six-day workshop, participants received intensive hands-on training on how to design, assemble, program, and launch small educational satellites. They used microcontrollers, sensors, cameras, and ground stations to launch miniature satellites using drones and rockets. Participants also made an exceptional visit to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where they witnessed the launch of a Soyuz-2.1, a rocket carrying supplies to the International Space Station.

Alongside the training workshop, the Organization also held the 4th International Aerospace Symposium, where Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor in ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector, reviewed, in its opening session, the Organization’s initiative on space science applications and its commitment to advancing education and innovation in the field of space across all its Member States.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held, from 12 to 14 September 2025, in Phnom Penh, the Kingdom of Cambodia, a training course titled “Methodology of Teaching Arabic Language Skills to Non-Arabic Speakers”, in cooperation with MS Asia for Educational Services and Development.

The training, which was organized at the invitation of the Union of Islamic Educational Institutions in Cambodia, was attended by over 40 teachers. Participants were introduced to theories of teaching core and supportive language skills, while also enhancing their teaching competences in improving communication skills in Arabic. They were also provided with effective strategies to advance the teaching and learning of Arabic, and encouraged them to adopt modern teaching methods in language skills instruction.

The training was supervised by Dr. Adham Mohamed Ali Hamawiya, Expert at ICESCO’s Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, and Dr. Mutawakkil Al-Fadni, CEO of MS Asia for Educational Services and Development.

As part of its strategic partnership with the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with MS Asia for Educational and Development Services, launched the second phase of its regional project “Language Immersion for Arabic Learners in Southeast Asia.” The two-month program began on Thursday, 11 September 2025, in Phnom Penh, the capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The opening ceremony was attended by high-level officials, including Mr. Nos Sles, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Vice-chair of the National Committee for Lifelong Learning; Mr. Qumri Ibrahim, Adviser to the Cambodian Government; Mr. Hassan Saleh, Director of the Union of Islamic Educational Institutions in Cambodia; Sheikh Ashary Saleh, President of Cambodian Muslim Cooperative; and Dr. Mutwakil Abdellatif Elfadni, Director of MS Asia for Educational and Development Services, along with prominent social and cultural figures.

ICESCO was represented at the ceremony by Dr. Adham Ali Hamawiya, expert at ICESCO Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers. In his address, he highlighted the Organization’s commitment to the Arabic language through a range of projects, programs, and initiatives aimed at promoting Arabic and strengthening its global presence. He stressed that ICESCO aspires for its language immersion program to become a hallmark of its efforts to advance Arabic, inspired by global language immersion models.

Following the ceremony, ICESCO’s representative held a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, who expressed his appreciation for choosing Cambodia as one of the host countries for the Language Immersion for Arabic Learners Project. He also voiced his desire to build long-term sustainable cooperation with ICESCO and its strategic partners in the fields of education, science, and culture to promote the values of tolerance and coexistence in Cambodian society.

Drawing on its deep commitment to solidarity with its Member States and its role in promoting human values, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) expresses its unwavering support for the State of Qatar in the wake of the treacherous attack on its territory perpetrated by the Israeli enemy, and prays to God Almighty to protect the country from plots and evil.

ICESCO welcomes the measures taken by the Qatari government in response to this aggression and reiterates its call for solidarity among the countries of the Islamic world at this historic moment. Cooperation between forces committed to justice and peace is required to preserve international security, enable development, and promote the values of human solidarity.

Finally, ICESCO once again extends its condolences to the Qatari government and prays to Almighty God to grant peace and understanding to our countries.

Communication in times of crisis and its adaptation to national plans: areas of focus for the ICESCO delegation at the forum

A delegation from the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the 14th edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF), organized by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (United Arab Emirates), under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The event was held at the Sharjah Expo Center under the theme “Communicating for a Better Quality of Life” and concluded its activities on Thursday, September 11, 2025.

On the second day of the Forum, Ms. Sally Mabrouk, Director of the Office of the Director General, Supervisor of the Strategy and Organizational Excellence Sector, spoke at a session titled “Government Communication for Sustainable Lifestyles.” She emphasized that adapting government communication to national sustainable development plans has become essential to ensuring policy coherence, strengthening trust between institutions and communities, and building more resilient systems capable of meeting future aspirations.

During this session, which brought together government communications officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, various successful national experiences in this field were reviewed. These experiences have contributed to achieving objectives with a success rate of around 40%, compared to the success rate of around 20% achieved through traditional approaches.

Ms. Sally Mabrouk also pointed out that, through its international partnerships, ICESCO is working to enable Member States to establish a government communications system based on trust, transparency, and community participation. The aim is to transform national plans into concrete development practices.

The session also welcomed Dr. Zaid Nawaiseh, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Government Communication of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, who discussed government communication tools aimed at promoting active citizenship and engaging society in sustainability issues.

Mr. Abdulrahman Majrashi, Director of the Government Communication Centre and spokesperson for the Saudi Ministry of Information, emphasized the importance of collaboration between government communication and soft social forces, using social influencers as an example.

Finally, Ahlam Al Feel, Director of Corporate Communication and Chief Happiness and Positivity Officer, Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, UAE, made a presentation on ethical frameworks in government discourse on sustainability.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is participating in the 14th edition of the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF), held at the Sharjah Expo Centre, on 10-11 September 2025.

The Forum is organized by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah. This year’s event brings together 237 speakers from around the world.

ICESCO’s delegation includes Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of Media and Communication Sector; Ms. Sally Mabrouk, Director of the Director-General’s Office, Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector; and Ms. Mina Elfaiz, Governance, Compliance and Risk Management Officer at the Sector.

On the Forum’s first day, Mr. Osama Heikal participated in a panel discussion titled “Quality of Life and Government Communication at the Heart of Crises.” In his address, he stated that the right to accurate and reliable information during a crisis is not a luxury but a fundamental human right and a true measure of institutional maturity.

Mr. Heikal explained that misinformation has become a pollutant threatening public life and social trust. He noted that effective, rapid, and transparent government communication is the first line of defense against information pollution, asserting that “Quality of life begins with quality of information.”

He reviewed several global crises, highlighting their impact on ICESCO Member States and commending successful national experiences in crisis response. These successes, he noted, were achieved through transparent and accurate government discourse that leverages the latest technologies. Mr. Heikal also stressed the importance of a media narrative that elucidates policy decisions by transforming them into humanitarian messages, ensuring fairness and involving citizens in the decision-making process.

Furthermore, the Head of Media and Communication Sector highlighted the critical role of artificial intelligence in helping governments analyze big data to quickly monitor citizens’ needs, measure the impact of official discourse, and adapt strategies accordingly.

The session was moderated by Emirati media professional Youssef Al Hammadi. Other participants included Mr. Khaled El-Balshy, President of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate; Mr. Moataz El Demerdash, Senior Media Professional; Mr. Alaa Alghatrifi, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper; and Mr. Salem Omar Salem, Director of the ICESCO Regional Office in Sharjah.

On Thursday, September 11, Ms. Sally Mabrouk is scheduled to participate in a session entitled “Communicative Governance for Building Sustainable Lifestyles.” She will discuss ICESCO’s efforts to support its Member States in developing integrated national communication models and its role in establishing ethical benchmarks for institutional communication across the Islamic world.

Held under the theme “Communication for Quality of Life,” the Forum features 51 panel discussions addressing the future of food security, public health, education, the green economy, and sustainability, alongside more than 110 other events.

In a pioneering initiative exemplifying humanitarian solidarity and highlighting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s civilizational role in supporting the Syrian people, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU) announce the allocation of 30 scholarships for Syrian students to pursue their undergraduate and graduate studies in various disciplines. The scholarships are allocated as follows: 5 scholarships for doctoral studies, 5 scholarships for master’s degrees, and 20 scholarships for bachelor’s degrees.

ICESCO affirms that this initiative comes in line with the wise vision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may Allah preserve them, who attach special priority to supporting sisterly Syria in various fields, foremost of which is empowering its youth through quality education.

Moreover, ICESCO will undertake full coordination with the Syrian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to ensure the selection of students according to the highest standards of academic excellence and the admission requirements of PMU, through the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd Scholarship Program, thereby maximizing the real benefit of these scholarships and ensuring their sustainable impact on capacity building.

On this occasion, ICESCO calls on universities of the Islamic world in particular, and international universities at large, to follow the example of PMU and contribute by offering scholarships to Syrian students, in order to take part in Syria’s reconstruction. This reaffirms that education is the cornerstone for achieving development, peace, and stability.

With this initiative, PMU sets a notable precedent as the first university in the Islamic world to grant Syrian students the opportunity to study abroad.