Category: News

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has welcomed the decision of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to reinstate the membership of the Syrian Arab Republic. The decision was issued during the 20th Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 7 March 2025. It includes the reactivation of relations between Syria and OIC Member States, as well as with all its bodies, institutions, Islamic universities, standing committees, and the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, described the decision as a significant step toward strengthening cooperation among OIC Member States and deepening fraternal ties. He emphasized that it reflects the Member States’ commitment to fostering unity and solidarity among Islamic nations and opens new avenues for joint efforts in various fields, particularly education, science, and culture, ultimately benefiting Muslim communities worldwide.

The ICESCO Director-General also underscored the importance of this decision in promoting regional stability, reaffirming shared Islamic values, and demonstrating a collective will to work towards a better future for the peoples of the Islamic world.

The headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat hosted the second meeting of the scientific forum “Ramadan Journey into the Depths of the Human Soul” on Tuesday, 11 March 2025. The event was organized in collaboration with the Spouses of Arab Ambassadors and Heads of International Organizations in Morocco.

During the session, Dr. Khadija Abouzid, Professor at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, delivered a lecture titled “Stories and Lessons from Ya’quubian Education.” The session was attended by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, along with several ambassadors accredited to Morocco and members of the group.

The session opened with an address by Dr. Yousra Bint Hussain Al-Jazairy, a member of the group, in which she noted that the discussion on Ya’quubian Education would delve into the story of Prophet Ya’qub (Jacob, peace be upon him) and draw lessons from his patience and unwavering faith, applying them to contemporary life. She highlighted that the Holy Quran extensively addresses family and parenting issues due to the fundamental role the family plays in shaping individuals and society. She further pointed out that the Quran is rich with educational guidance and family-related instructions, emphasizing the importance of instilling correct beliefs, reinforcing moral values, and fostering dialogue, kindness, and compassion in parent-child relationships.

Following this, Dr. Khadija Abouzid began her lecture, explaining that Surah Yusuf focuses on parenting and illustrates the father’s role in guiding and advising his children within the family, complementing the mother’s role in accordance with the Quranic approach. She elaborated that education in the Quran is a gradual process that nurtures children step by step until they reach their fullest potential.

Dr. Abouzid then explored Prophet Ya’qub’s educational approach through the story of Prophet Yusuf (Joseph, peace be upon him), portraying it as a distinctive model in parenting and family leadership. She outlined key educational principles derived from this approach, beginning with the importance of overlooking minor faults. The second principle emphasizes practicing patience without complaint or dissatisfaction, following the example of Prophet Ya’qub in facing the tribulations concerning his son. The third highlights the necessity of restraining anger, while the fourth stresses maintaining optimism and complete certainty in eventual resolution and improvement.

Dr. Abouzid concluded by affirming that the education of Prophet Ya’qub represents a prophetic educational model filled with profound lessons. Among its key takeaways is the importance of considering the psychological aspect of child-rearing, requiring parents to be deeply aware of their children’s emotions and to guide them in managing these emotions appropriately.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a grand celebration at its headquarters in Rabat on Monday, 10 March 2025. The event was attended by the Organization’s Director-General, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, and included the honoring of a group of outstanding female employees in appreciation of their contributions across various fields. Additionally, a training workshop was organized to develop and enhance personal and professional skills.

The celebration began with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by an address from Dr. AlMalik, in which he highlighted inspiring stories of prominent female scholars and writers throughout Islamic history, from the era of the Prophet to the golden age of Islamic civilization and into the modern era. He further emphasized ICESCO’s firm belief in and support for women’s vital role in society and its commitment to strengthening their position.

Dr. AlMalik expressed ICESCO’s pride in its distinguished female workforce, who are highly valued and provided with equal opportunities in a fair and reliable work environment. He affirmed that this recognition reflects the Organization’s dedication to fostering a culture of appreciation and professional development. Concluding his address, he recited a poem he composed specifically for the occasion.

Coach Ikram El Ouariachi led a training workshop on self-development and skill enhancement. The session introduced innovative ways to balance emotions and logic to optimize personal and professional performance.

Subsequently, a video presented success stories of talented ICESCO female employees, highlighting how they discovered and nurtured their skills, including in fields traditionally less explored by women. The presentation was followed by an honorary recognition ceremony, during which the Director-General personally honored the outstanding employees for their excellence and contributions.

Before concluding, Ms. Rawda El Haj, an expert in ICESCO’s Culture Sector, recited a poem titled “She is a Woman Like All Women.” The celebration ended with a choral performance by the Qatr Al-Nada ensemble.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), participated on Monday, March 10, 2025, in a meeting to discuss arrangements for the 6th Vice Chancellors’ Forum of Universities in the Islamic World (VC Forum 2025). The event will be organized by the Higher Education Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in partnership with ICESCO, COMSATS University Islamabad, and the British Council in Pakistan. Scheduled to take place on May 12-13, 2025, in Islamabad, the forum will be held under the theme: “Rethinking Higher Education in the Islamic World: Innovation, Sustainability, and Global Impact.”

The meeting, attended by representatives from Pakistan’s most prestigious universities, commenced with an address by Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. He emphasized that the upcoming forum will focus on strengthening investment in the future of higher education in the Islamic world, enhancing cooperation and partnerships between universities, and harnessing the latest emerging technologies.

For his part, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik described the meeting as an excellent opportunity to promote fruitful collaboration for the advancement of higher education in the Islamic world. He expressed confidence that the sixth edition of the forum will stand out due to its meticulous preparations, which will feature several discussion sessions on the future of education in the region.

The meeting also covered the latest preparations for the forum and ways of bringing together the largest possible number of prestigious universities in the Islamic world, in addition to stepping up joint efforts with a view to achieving the forum’s objectives. Participants also stressed the importance of securing private sector sponsorship for its activities.

Moreover, participants discussed the holding of a cutting-edge technology exhibition to showcase state-of-the-art technological innovations and their applications in the educational process, as well as the possibility of increasing the number of scholarships granted to young people from the Islamic world at a number of prestigious universities.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector; Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of the Science and Environment Sector; Ms. Sally Mabrouk, Director of the Office of the Director-General and Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector; Dr. Omar Halli, Advisor to the Director-General for the Federation of Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW); and Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor at the Science and Environment Sector at ICESCO.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) organized a series of bilateral meetings in Paris with the Ambassadors of Azerbaijan, China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan. Meetings were also held with Mr. Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture; Mrs. Krista Pikkat, of the Culture and Emergencies Entity in UNESCO’s Culture Sector; and Mr. Lazare Eloundo, Director of the World Heritage Centre. Another key meeting took place with Mr. Chafki Abdelamir, Director General of the Arab World Institute, as well as Mrs. Nathalie Bondil, Director of the Institute’s Museum and Collections.

These meetings aimed to present ICESCO’s new vision and response to the alarming condition of World Heritage sites in its 53 Member States. In May 2024, ICESCO conducted an extensive research study on World Heritage sites included in the list of endangered sites. The findings issued an urgent call for action.

This concerning situation demands immediate international attention and targeted interventions. In response, ICESCO has taken significant steps, including supporting the process of preparing and adopting the Desired State of Conservation to remove endangered properties from the list, proposing corrective actions for cultural and natural heritage sites in Africa, enhancing collaboration to host international conferences focused on conflict and post-conflict reconstruction efforts in the Islamic world, and organizing capacity-building workshops, promoting the training of trainers, considering local contexts, and creating a pool of experts for each region.

The ICESCO delegation also participated in an information meeting regarding UNESCO’s action toward the reconstruction of Gaza.

To advance these initiatives, ICESCO is calling for the active participation of Member States and global partners. An information meeting was approved to brief both Member and non-Member States present at UNESCO on ICESCO’s priorities and actions in the field of culture and heritage. This effort seeks to strengthen the ICESCO-UNESCO partnership in the context of key upcoming events, including the 47th World Heritage Committee session and Mondiacult 2025.

The ICESCO delegation to Paris included Mr. Anar Karimov, Director of Partnerships and International Cooperation; Mr. Webber Ndoro, Director of the Islamic Heritage Centre; Mrs. Somia Djacta, Director of ICESCO Office at UNESCO; and Mr. Muhammad Aba Osman, expert at ICESCO’s Culture Sector.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) invites researchers, experts, and specialists in cultural heritage preservation and studies on the impact of climate change on culture to participate in preparing a strategic study aimed at enhancing the role of culture and heritage in addressing environmental challenges resulting from climate change. The study also seeks to foster joint efforts to preserve cultural identity in the countries of the Islamic world.

The strategic study aims to achieve a sustainable balance between technological advancement and the preservation of cultural heritage by harnessing modern technology and artificial intelligence to develop innovative solutions that mitigate the accelerating effects of climate change, address its imposed threats, and explore effective measures in this regard.

How to apply:
Interested individuals are invited to send their resumes to the email address heritage@icesco.org, attaching a summary of no more than 300 words explaining how they can contribute to the study, along with a letter of intent highlighting their reasons for wanting to participate. The deadline for submission is March 31, 2025.

The primary language of the study is English, with subsequent translations into Arabic and French. The study will be finalized and prepared for publication in September 2025.

For details and to download documents related to the strategic study, please visit the following links:
https://icesco.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Strategy-of-the-Islamic-World-to-Enhance-the-Role-_250304_111834.pdf
https://icesco.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Call-for-Participation-in-the-Preparation-of-a-Str_250304_111907.pdf